Prevalence of hepatitis E virus IgG antibody levels among blood donors at Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis E Virus is emerging as a public health concern as it causes hepatitis E infection. From 2004, it has gained importance as a transfusion transmissible infectious agent.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus by detecting IgG antibody levels among blood donors in Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi from April 2019 to May, 2020.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Materials and methods: A Total of ninety-five of blood donors from Kenyatta National Hospital Blood Transfusion Unit were recruited into the study. Blood samples were drawn for routine tests and HEV IgG was carried out using HEV immunoglobulin G antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.

Data management: Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Demographic data that was categorical was summarized and presented as frequencies and proportions. Pearson Chi-Square test and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to test association between demographic and laboratory findings.

Results: The socio-demographic data revealed that 78 (82%) of the donors were male while 17(18%) were female. The age of the participants ranged between 17-59 years. The HEV IgG was found to be 5.3 %.

Conclusions: prevalence of HEV IgG among blood donors at KNH Blood Transfusion Unit is 5.3%.

Recommendations: A much broader study at the National level should be conducted to establish the national seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus in blood donors. This can lay the ground for the inclusion or exclusion of Hep E virus in the Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) screened in Kenya.