Detection of hepatitis E virus in greater Cairo. Two wastewater treatment plants and its prevalence among workers of these plants.

Because of inadequate public sanitation, epidemics of HEV infection have been reported in several developing countries. HEV-specific cDNA was prepared by reverse transcription of the total RNA extracted from water samples. Specified DNA amplification by POR demonstrates the presence of HEV in sewage samples from the inlets (PCR positive 10/36:27.77%), while outlet samples were PCR negative. HEV 1gM was detected in 40 workers out of 78 in these two studied plants (age 20-60 years), with a percentage of 51.25% and HAV 1gM was also detected in 3 workers out of 78 (3.84%). The study of serum ALT and albumin level go with the increase in HEV 1gM in sera. This study which was carried out in two different wastewater treatment plants showed that HEV contamination was higher in one of them (El-Berka) than El-Zenin. A total of 33.33% of influent water samples were positive and 55.25% of workers were HEV 1gM positive in the first plant (El-Berka) and the corresponding figure in the other plant (El-Zenin) showed lower contamination, 22.22% in influent water sample and 40.9% of workers.