title: [Incidence of hepatitis E in Austria].
abstract: Sera from 1274 patients were tested for IgG antibodies to hepatitis E using the newly developed Abbott Enzyme immunoassay (EIA). All tested patients had previously proved to be negative for hepatitis A, B, and C. 180 suffered from hepatitis, in the remaining 1094 the hepatitis tests were done for other reasons (presurgical, pregnancy etc.). No clear-cut distinction was found between positive and negative sera in the Abbott ELISA: Therefore the cut-off value was set somewhat higher than as stated by the producer. Thus, 15 (8.3%) of the hepatitis patients and 25 (2.3%) of the remaining patients were positive. Epidemiological data were available from 12 positive patients. Seven had been in countries endemic for hepatitis E, however 5-all Austrian citizens-had never visited such an area. These data can be explained either by unspecific (false) positive tests or by endemic occurrence of hepatitis E in Austria, which, however, seems unlikely.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Virologie der Universität Wien.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holzmann
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015994:Incidence
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies