title: Epidemiology of hepatitis E virus infection during pregnancy in Benin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the cause of enterically transmitted non-A, non-C hepatitis (an infection that is particularly severe during pregnancy) in tropical and subtropical countries. As there are no published data concerning the prevalence of HEV antibodies in Benin, their presence was investigated in pregnant women undergoing routine HIV screening in a rural area in northern Benin and in pregnant women with acute non-A, non-C hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 278 serum samples were collected from asymptomatic pregnant women in 2011 were tested for HEV and hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies, and the HEV IgM-positive samples were further tested for HEV-RNA. A further seven samples of pregnant women with acute non-A, non-C hepatitis collected during episodes of acute hepatitis in 2005 were also analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 278 samples collected in 2011, 16.19% were positive for HEV IgG and 1.44% for HEV IgM (none positive for HEV-RNA), and 99.64% were positive for total HAV antibodies (none positive for HAV IgM). Six of the seven samples collected in 2005 were positive for HEV IgG and IgM, and two were also positive for HEV-RNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The circulation of HEV infection is significant among pregnant women in Benin, in whom the consequences may be fatal.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Paschale
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceriani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romanò
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cerulli
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cagnin
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavallari
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint Jean de Dieu, Tanguiéta, Bénin.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ndayake
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint Jean de Dieu, Tanguiéta, Bénin.
authors.forename: Dieudonné
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaongo
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint Jean de Dieu, Tanguiéta, Bénin.
authors.forename: Kouma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diombo
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint Jean de Dieu, Tanguiéta, Bénin.
authors.forename: Gianbattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Priuli
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierangelo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clerici
keywords: 
  VHE
  ; Africa; Afrique; Hepatitis viral; femmes enceintes; hepatitis E virus; hépatite virale; immunoblot; immunoblotting; mujeres embarazadas; pregnant women; viral Hepatitis; África