title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis e among pregnant women in urmia, iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While hepatitis E virus (HEV) mostly causes self-limited disease in general population, it is more severe in pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG among a population of pregnant women in West Azerbaijan of Iran .
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty six pregnant women referred to urban health centers of Urmia for pursuing pregnancy-related health services were enrolled in a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Anti-HEV IgG antibody was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA; Dia.Pro; Diagnostic Bioprobes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only five (3.6%) of 136 cases had positive results for anti-HEV IgG. There was no significant difference between age (P=0.88), and income level (P = 0.19) of the two seropositive and seronegative groups. All seropositive cases were from urban areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG is low in the population of pregnant women in , similar to the rates reported from developed countries. Effective health services and provision of safe water supplies in Urmia may take role in this low prevalence rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zakieh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rostamzadeh Khameneh
authors.affiliation: Students' Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nariman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sepehrvand
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid-Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Khalkhali
keywords: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Hepatitis E; Pregnancy; Women