Saturday, 15 July 2023 06:53

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus among newly admitted medical students in Dhamar, Yemen Featured

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Original Research:

Abdulsalam  M. Al-Mekdad, Mohammed Q. Salah, Mohammed H. Al-dholae, Khalil I. Al-Shakhab, Omar S. Belfaqih, Ahmed N. Alareeq

Abstract

Background: Health science students are at increased risk of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection even under accidental infection. The occurrence of HAV infection is routinely diagnosed serologically by detection of specific anti-HAV in a serum sample. Hepatitis A infections in developing countries are substantially underestimated because HAV infections in young children are mostly asymptomatic and therefore unrecognized

Aim: The study aims to determine the seroprevalence of HAV-IgG antibody among medical students to assess the prevalence of acquired immunity to HAV infection.

Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 1styear medical students. Information was collected by pretested structured questionnaire. The anti-HAV-IgG antibodies was assessed, serological results were then added to questionnaire chart of all participants.

Results: The seropositivity of HAV (anti-HAV IgG antibodies) in newly admitted students was 88 (94.6%). Medical student's residence, gender, the household size, the source of drinking water, availability of toilet and individual or family history of hepatitis did not significantly influence the anti-HAV (IgG) positivity in studied subjects (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that majority of the medical students were seropositive for IgG anti-HAV and had acquired immunity to HAV infection and hence at a decreased risk of developing HAV infection as a result of occupational exposure.

 

Keywords: Seroprevalence, hepatitis A virus, Anti-HAV IgG, Medical students, Yemen.

 

Abdulsalam  M. Al-Mekdad1*, Mohammed Q. Salah1, Mohammed H. Al-dholae1, Khalil I. Al-Shakhab1, Omar S. Belfaqih1, Ahmed N. Alareeq2

1Department of Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen
2Department of Medical Laboratory, Al Wahda Teaching Hospital, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen
 
 
*For Correspondence:
Abdulsalam  M. AL-Mekdad
Faculty of Medicine, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen
Tel: +967 771 155 065
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
 
 

References

  1. Krugman S. The Gordon Wilson Lecture. The ABC’s of viral hepatitis. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc 1992; 103: 145-156
  2. Lemon SM, Jansen RW, Brown EA. Genetic, antigenic and biological differences between strains of hepatitis A virus. Vaccine. 1992; Suppl 10: S40–S44.
  3. Feinstone SM, Kapikian AZ, Purcell RH. Hepatitis A: detection by immune electron microscopy of a viruslike antigen associated with acute illness. Science. 1973; 182: 1026–1028.
  4. Ikobah JM, Okpara HC, Ekanem EE, Udo JJ. Seroprevalence and predictors of hepatitis A infection in Nigerian children.Pan Afr Med J. 2015 Feb 12;20:120.
  5. Ślusarczyk J, Hansson BG, Nordenfelt E, Krawczyński K, Karwowska S, Knap J. Etiopathogenetic Aspects of Hepatitis A. II. Specific and Non-specific Humoral Immune Response During the Course the Course of Infection. J Med Virol. 1984; 14: 269–276.
  6. Tong MJ, Thursby M, Rakela J, McPeak C, Edwards VM, Mosley JW. Studies on the maternal-infant transmission of the viruses which cause acute hepatitis. Gastroenterology. 1981; 80: 999–1004.
  7. Juszczyk G, Czerw AI, Walewska-Zielecka B, Mikos M, Banaś T, Deptała A, Ślusarczyk J. Immunity to hepatitis A virus among working professionals in Poland – Results of a 3-year serological survey 2013–2015. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2018; 25(3): 572–575. doi: 10.26444/aaem/91467
  8. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Clinical Laboratory Waste Management: Approved Guideline-SecondnEdition. NCCLS Document GP5-A2. Wayne, PA: NCCLS, 2002;22(3):1-23, 32-4
  9. .Scott DA, Burans JP, al-Ouzeib HD, Arunkumar BK, al-Fadeel M, Nigad YR, et al. A seroepidemiological survey of viral hepatitis in the Yemen Arab Republic. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1990;84:288–91.
  10. Bawazir AA, Hart CA, Sallam TA, Parry CM, Beeching NJ, Cuevas LE. Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses in Aden, Yemen. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2010 Dec 1;104(12):801-5.
  11. Vakili B, Rahimi H, Ataei B, et al. Hepatitis A seropositivity among newly admitted medical students of Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Hamedan: A seroprevalence study. J Res Med Sci. 2014;19 (Suppl 1):S9-S12.
  12. Oncu S, Oncu S, Sakarya S. Hepatitis A and B seropositivity among medical students. Health Policy 2005;74:39-45.
 
 
Read 1242 times

About AMH

Annals of Medicine & Health (AMH) is a peer reviewed medical journal that established and published by a governmental medical faculty titled Thamar University Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences (TUFMHS). 

Address

Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences AL-Mohafadhah St. Dhamar City - Yemen

P.O.Box: 87246

Tel Fax: +967 6 509 578

Tel No: +967 6 509 577

Mail: fmhs@tu.edu.ye

Copyright © 2019 Thamar University - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Annals of Medicine & Health . All Rights Reserved. | Developed By ProSite Yemen

Search