title: Hepatitis E virus infection as a cause of acute hepatitis in Southern Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis in developing countries, whereas it is not considered a major health problem in Western World.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the spread of HEV and its possible role in causing acute hepatitis in Southern Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and thirty patients observed from April to December 2009 were studied and grouped as follows: 55 individuals with acute hepatitis (AH), 33 of whom cryptogenic; 321 individuals with chronic liver diseases (CLD), (278 Italians and 43 immigrants); 54 individuals without liver disease (control-group). Serum samples from all cases were tested for IgG anti-HEV antibodies and those positive to this test as well as all AH cases were also tested both for IgM anti-HEV and HEV RNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two of 33 (6%) cryptogenic AH cases were associated with HEV infection as shown by positive IgM anti-HEV test. Both these patients had not travelled to areas at high HEV endemicity. HEV RNA was not found in any sample tested. IgG anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 5.7% of Italians with CLD and 3.7% of the control-group. No immigrant was found positive for any HEV marker.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autochthonous HEV infection is present in Southern Italy where it may cause AH.
authors: Unit of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Italy. icacciola@unime.it
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Cacciola
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Messineo
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Cacopardo
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Di Marco
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Galli
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Squadrito
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Musolino
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Saitta
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Pollicino
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Raimondo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral