title: Serological studies of an enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis in Somalia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Biology Research, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois 60064.
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Mushahwar
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bile
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Magnius
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011994:Recombinant Proteins