Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Immunoglobulin G and M Antibodies in Adults: A Hospital-based Study

Sporadic cases of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection occur throughout the year in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HEV immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies in 93 hepatitis B and C-negative patients as such patients are not routinely tested further despite having signs and symptoms of hepatitis. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay technique. Among them five patients (5.4%) were positive for HEV IgG and IgM, with an average age of 30.95 ± 15.35 years. Hepatitis E infection was independent of the sex. Liver function tests of hepatitis E-positive IgG and IgM patients showed increased values of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin that indicate damaged hapatocytes and malfunctioning of the liver.

Keywords
Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay technique, Hepatitis E virus, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, liver function test