Seroprevalence of viral hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses in the Hormozgan province southern Iran

Mohammad Amin Behzadi,Mazyar Ziyaeyan,Marzieh Jamalidoust,Victor Hugo Leyva-Grado,Roya Feyznezhad,Hedayat Dorzaban,Mandana Namayandeh,Atoosa Ziyaeyan

doi:10.1186/s12879-019-4661-4

Abstract

BackgroundViral hepatitis is a global public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide, causing thousands of deaths due to acute and persistent infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Providing updated serologic data can improve both surveillance and disease control programs. This study is aimed to determine the seroprevalence of markers for viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D and E) and the epidemiology of such infections in the general population of southern Iran’s Hormozgan province.MethodsBetween 2016 and 2017, a total of 562 individuals with ages ranging from 1 to 86 years, who visited governmental public laboratories for routine check-ups, were tested for the presence of serological markers to hepatitis virus types A to E using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.ResultsThe overall anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody seroprevalence was 93.2% (524/562). The prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies was 15.8% (89/562) among which 1.6% (9/562) of the seropositive individuals also had evidence of recent exposure to the virus (IgM positivity). Two and a half percent (14/562) were positive for hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen, whereas 11.6% (65/562) tested positive for anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) antibodies. Among anti-HBc positive patients, 11% (7/65) had HBs Ag and 5% (3/65) were positive for anti-hepatitis D virus (HDV) antibodies. The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies was 0.7% (4/562). The seroprevalence of anti-HAV, HEV IgG, anti-HBc antibodies, and HBs Ag increased with age.ConclusionThe present study confirms a high seroprevalence of HAV infection among the examined population and reveals high levels of endemicity for HEV in the region. Planned vaccination policies against HAV should be considered in all parts of Iran. In addition, improvements on public sanitation and hygiene management of drinking water sources for the studied area are recommended.

Highlights

Viral hepatitis is a global public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide, causing thousands of deaths due to acute and persistent infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer
The aim of the present study is to determine the current seroprevalence of Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), hepatitis E virus (HEV) as well as the epidemiological factors involved in the presence of the infection in the general population of the Hormozgan province in southern Iran
The results of univariate logistic regression analysis show that HAV prevalence is significantly associated with increasing age (45+ and 26–45 vs. 1–25; Odds ratio (OR) = 11.423, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 3.422–38.135 and OR = 17.551, 95% CI: 5.277–58.376, respectively), and skin type

Summary

Introduction

Viral hepatitis is a global public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide, causing thousands of deaths due to acute and persistent infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Providing updated serologic data can improve both surveillance and disease control programs. Despite the existence of effective vaccines against hepatitis A and B, viral hepatitis is still a major global public health concern [1, 2]. Due to the abundance of asymptomatic or unreported cases, prevalence of such diseases is underestimated even under the best surveillance systems. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is reported as an important cause of acute viral hepatitis, and associated with socioeconomic losses and a significant cause of morbidity in certain areas of the world [3].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion