Serological detection of recent infections of hepatitis E virus among animal handlers in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
1 Medical Microbiology Unit, Department of Microbiology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
2 Virus and Genomics Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
3 Medical Microbiology and Epidemiology Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, Madonna University Nigeria, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.
4 Department of Medical Bacteriology, Virology, and Mycology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. ORCID number:0000-0002-8877-9295
Research Article
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2026, 11(02), 076-085.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2026.11.2.0046
Publication history:
Received on 25 March 2026; revised on 30 April 2026; accepted on 02 May 2026
Abstract:
One of the groups most impacted by the Hepatitis E virus is animal handlers, which raises major public health concerns that require prompt, comprehensive investigation using IgM ELISA assays. This qualitative cross-sectional study analysed plasma samples from 94 Animal handlers in different markets in Calabar Metropolis, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria. HEV-specific IgM antibodies were examined in plasma samples from 94 animal handlers. This study aimed to investigate the burden and associated factors of Hepatitis E Virus and among animal handlers in Calabar. Plasma samples were screened serologically for the presence of specific HEV IgM antibodies using ELISA kits. Sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were collected by the use of a structured questionnaire. Chi-square was used to assess the statistical significance of different socio-demographic factors to HEV. No statistical association existed between the prevalence of HEV and the socio-demographics factors studied. The IgM results yielded a prevalence of 43.62% for the animal handlers, the Highest prevalent rate for the animal handlers was found in male gender (24.47%), age group 31-40 years (23.40%), married (35.11%), secondary education (25.53%), self-employed (11.70%) and the type of water used (18.09%). This study identifies a possible danger of Hepatitis E Virus and co infections from animal handlers’ transmission to the general population.
Keywords:
Antibodies; Hepatitis E Virus; IgM; Calabar
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