Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Among Pregnant Women in Port Sudan State, Sudan

Background: The hepatitis E virus, which occur in epidemic and sporadic form is one of the major public health problems encountered in developing countries Most outbreak are associated with poor personal hygiene and water borne infections. HEV infection in pregnant women is more common and more often fatal in third trimester. Objective: This cross sectional  study aimed  to determine the seroreactivity,and molecular  HEV RNA positivily among  pregnant women in Port Sudan city, Sudan ,during the period  November December 2015. Methods: Ninety serum samples were collected from pregnant women in obstetric clinics of Port Sudan . Samples were tested for IgG and IgM antibodies using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbentassay( ELISA) and HEV RNA using Real-time PCR. Results: The results showed that 95.6 %( 86/90) of the samples had HEV IgG and 3.3% (3/90) had HEV IgM. HEV RNA was detected in 4.4% (4/90)by using Real time RT-PCR. Conclusion: The high prevalaence of HEV pregnant women in Port Sudan state was documented through detection of HEV-specific antibodies and viral RNA.