Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E Viruses among Pregnant Women in Haiti

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019 Jul;101(1):230-232. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0020.

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is associated with a high fatality rate among pregnant women, and gestational complications have been reported among pregnant women infected with hepatitis A virus (HAV). The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HAV and HEV infections among pregnant women in Haiti. We stratified the population (n = 1,307) between West and non-West regions. Specimens were tested for total HAV antibody (anti-HAV), and IgM and IgG HEV antibody (anti-HEV). Overall, 96.8% pregnant women were positive for total anti-HAV, 10.3% for IgG anti-HEV, and 0.3% for IgM anti-HEV. The prevalence of IgG anti-HEV in the non-West region (12.3%) was significantly greater than that in the West region (5.3%) (P < 0.0001). Most pregnant women in Haiti had evidence of past exposure and immunity to HAV. The non-West region had a higher prevalence of HEV. Improvement in water and sanitation will help in the prevention and control of these infections in Haiti.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Female
  • Haiti / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis A / blood
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis A / virology
  • Hepatitis A virus / immunology
  • Hepatitis E / blood
  • Hepatitis E / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis E / virology
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis E virus / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G