Sporadic cases of acute autochthonous hepatitis E in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
In industrialized countries hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is rare and its diagnosis is difficult because the utility of available tests is not well established.


METHODS
We studied the presence of acute HEV infection markers in a cluster of 11 cases of acute hepatitis with IgG anti-HEV antibodies.


RESULTS
Three cases were confirmed as acute hepatitis E and 8 as presumptive hepatitis E, two as a past HEV infection and one could not be determined. Three different HEV strains were identified in serum from 3 patients. Two strains belonged to genotype 3, the predominant genotype found in local urban sewage and the other strain belonged to genotype 1 and was considered an imported strain.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate the presence of some autochthonous, sporadic acute hepatitis E cases as well as an imported case in our area and the transitory nature of virological and serological markers for HEV.
Buti
Maria
M
Liver Unit, Hospital General Universitario Valle Hebron, Paseo Valle de Hebron 119, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. mbuti@vhebron.net
Clemente-Casares
Pilar
P
Jardi
Rosend
R
Formiga-Cruz
Meritxell
M
Schaper
Melanie
M
Valdes
Auristela
A
Rodriguez-Frias
Francisco
F
Esteban
Rafael
R
Girones
Rosina
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral