Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is one of the major public health problems in developing countries. HEV can cause chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals e.g. thalassemic patients with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In addition there is possibility of HEV transmission throu...

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Main Authors: Doaa Abdelmawla, Dalia Moemen, Ahmad Darwish, Wafaa Mowafy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-01-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867018306901
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spelling doaj-3c3bb9992a6f446e89959d5b35e985472020-11-25T02:58:34ZengElsevierBrazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases1413-86702019-01-012314044Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemiaDoaa Abdelmawla0Dalia Moemen1Ahmad Darwish2Wafaa Mowafy3Mansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Mansoura, EgyptMansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Mansoura, Egypt; Corresponding author.Mansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Mansoura, EgyptMansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Mansoura, EgyptHepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is one of the major public health problems in developing countries. HEV can cause chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals e.g. thalassemic patients with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In addition there is possibility of HEV transmission through blood transfusion. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors of HEV infection in β-thalassemic children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 140 Egyptian children suffering from β-thalassemia, attending the hematology outpatient clinic from April to October 2016. Serum samples from patients were collected and anti-HEV antibodies; Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The seroprevalence of HEV in β-thalassemic chidren was relatively high (27.15%). Anti-HEV IgG prevalence was 24.29% while that of IgM was 2.86%. There was significant association between HEV infection and age, residence, liver enzymes and amount of blood transfusion per year. Conclusions: Thalasemic patients are vulnerable to chronicity and increased risk of morbidity and mortality from HEV infection. Frequent assessment of liver enzymes in thalassemic patients to monitor subclinical HEV is recommended. Close monitoring and HEV screening of blood donations should be taken in consideration. Public awareness about HEV endemicity, modes of transmission, and risk hazards especially in high risk group should be done to reduce the disease burden. Keywords: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), Prevalence, Thalassemia, Transfusionhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867018306901
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Doaa Abdelmawla
Dalia Moemen
Ahmad Darwish
Wafaa Mowafy
spellingShingle Doaa Abdelmawla
Dalia Moemen
Ahmad Darwish
Wafaa Mowafy
Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
author_facet Doaa Abdelmawla
Dalia Moemen
Ahmad Darwish
Wafaa Mowafy
author_sort Doaa Abdelmawla
title Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia
title_short Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia
title_full Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia
title_fullStr Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia
title_full_unstemmed Hepatitis E virus prevalence in Egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia
title_sort hepatitis e virus prevalence in egyptian children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia
publisher Elsevier
series Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
issn 1413-8670
publishDate 2019-01-01
description Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is one of the major public health problems in developing countries. HEV can cause chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals e.g. thalassemic patients with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In addition there is possibility of HEV transmission through blood transfusion. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors of HEV infection in β-thalassemic children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 140 Egyptian children suffering from β-thalassemia, attending the hematology outpatient clinic from April to October 2016. Serum samples from patients were collected and anti-HEV antibodies; Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The seroprevalence of HEV in β-thalassemic chidren was relatively high (27.15%). Anti-HEV IgG prevalence was 24.29% while that of IgM was 2.86%. There was significant association between HEV infection and age, residence, liver enzymes and amount of blood transfusion per year. Conclusions: Thalasemic patients are vulnerable to chronicity and increased risk of morbidity and mortality from HEV infection. Frequent assessment of liver enzymes in thalassemic patients to monitor subclinical HEV is recommended. Close monitoring and HEV screening of blood donations should be taken in consideration. Public awareness about HEV endemicity, modes of transmission, and risk hazards especially in high risk group should be done to reduce the disease burden. Keywords: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), Prevalence, Thalassemia, Transfusion
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867018306901
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