The burden of Hepatitis E virus in the Middle East and North Africa region: a systematic review

Authors

  • Marie Christelle Saade Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Gaëlle Haddad Diagnostic Radiology Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Mario El Hayek Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Yasser Shaib Internal Medicine Department, Gastroenterology Division, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, Lebanon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.15701

Keywords:

Hepatitis E, MENA region, epidemiology, Middle East, North Africa, developing countries

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis E virus is a leading cause of hepatitis in the Middle East and North Africa region. Although several countries in this area were shown to be endemic for hepatitis E, little is known about the epidemiology and possible preventive measures. In this manuscript, we present the results of a systematic review addressing the seroprevalence of hepatitis E antibodies in the Middle East and North Africa region. Subsequently, we discuss the main prevention strategies for this virus.

Methodology: We performed a literature review using the PubMed Database of all the Studies reporting data on hepatitis E seroprevalence (Anti-hepatitis E IgM and IgG) among the 20 countries of the Middle East and North Africa region from January 2000 to July 2021.

Results: Eighty-nine articles were identified and included in our review. Ten of the MENA countries did not have any study that fits our criteria. Egypt and Iran were the countries with the highest IgG seroprevalence for hepatitis E reaching 85.1% and 68.6% respectively. Concerning acute hepatitis E presentations, Iraq and Egypt were shown to have the highest IgM seroprevalence reaching 38.1% and 35.3% respectively. Hemodialysis and poly-transfused patients as well as patients with concomitant hepatotropic viruses’ infections were reported to have a higher seroprevalence than the general population.

Conclusions: Hepatitis E is a major healthcare problem in the endemic Middle East and North Africa region. Even though no definite prevention strategy was described until today, implementing multiple minor precautionary approaches could help reduce the virus spread.

Downloads

Published

2022-05-30

How to Cite

1.
Saade MC, Haddad G, El Hayek M, Shaib Y (2022) The burden of Hepatitis E virus in the Middle East and North Africa region: a systematic review. J Infect Dev Ctries 16:737–744. doi: 10.3855/jidc.15701

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 05: May 2022

Section

Reviews

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC