title: Sporadic cases of acute autochthonous hepatitis E in Spain.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital General Universitario Valle Hebron, Paseo Valle de Hebron 119, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. mbuti@vhebron.net
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buti
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clemente-Casares
authors.forename: Rosend
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jardi
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Formiga-Cruz
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaper
authors.forename: Auristela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valdes
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Frias
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Rosina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girones
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral