Serological studies of an enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis in Somalia.
An outbreak of an acute sporadic viral hepatitis occurring at three villages in the lower Shebli region of southern Somalia was studied. Sera were examined for antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) antigen by a recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prevalence of anti-HEV ranged from 77.8% to 94.0% among the three villages. Anti-HEV prevalence did not differ significantly with age or sex. HEV infections were widely distributed among all age groups, without a preponderance in any specific age category. Overall, 97.6% of afflicted patients who were examined 6-10 days after onset of jaundice developed either IgM or IgG anti-HEV.
Mushahwar
I K
IK
Experimental Biology Research, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois 60064.
Dawson
G J
GJ
Bile
K M
KM
Magnius
L O
LO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012998:Somalia / Q000453:epidemiology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011994:Recombinant Proteins