Molecular epidemiological study of hepatitis A virus infections in Dhi–Qar governorate

This study investigated the prevalence of specific IgG antibodies to hepatitis A virus type A among healthy people in the community and anti-HAV IgM antibodies in patients with acute hepatitis, as well as the specific IgM antibodies of some factors such as age and gender, housing, source of drinking water, and contact with field animals. conducted at the public health laboratory in Dhi Qar to investigate the effect on the prevalence of IgG antibodies. The study also aimed to investigate specific anti-HAV IgG antibodies in the sera of some farm animals that could be storage hosts for this virus. Two groups were included in the study; the first group consisted of 142 apparently healthy subjects (68 males and 74 females) with a mean age of 14.46±22.81 years, while the second group consisted of 190 patients (122 males and 68 females) suffering from acute hepatitis with a mean age of 13.37±18.87 years. The row includes 81 different farm animals (sheep, goats and cows). ELISA techniques were used to detect specific antibodies against hepatitis C, B and A viruses. Standard bioenzymatic methods including total bilirubin test, direct and indirect bilirubin test and serum alanine aminotransferase test were used in liver function tests. According to the results of the study, the prevalence of specific IgG antibodies against hepatitis A virus was found to be 73.2%. Of the subjects in the acute hepatitis group, 48 (25.3%) showed positive results for hepatitis A virus-specific antibodies, 17 (8.9%) hepatitis B surface antigen, and 15 (7.9%) hepatitis B antibodies. The specificity of hepatitis C virus (C) did not yield positive results with any virological parameter in 110 (57.9%) patients.