title: Domestic infection of hepatitis E in Japan.
abstract: In most cases of hepatitis E in Japan, patients acquire the viral infection abroad in countries where hepatitis E is endemic. However, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, we encountered a patient with hepatitis E who had never been abroad. The diagnosis was made on finding hepatitis E viral RNA and antibodies against the virus in the serum. Prompt normalization of liver function test occurred without medication. The nucleotide sequence of the virus isolated from this patient was closely related to the sequence of previously isolated viruses of genotype III. The source of infection could not be identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shinonoi General Hospital, Nagano.
authors.forename: Mieko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishii
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akahane
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral