title: Updating the knowledge of hepatitis E: new variants and higher prevalence of anti-HEV in Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis E is a disease of global distribution, with significant morbidity and mortality, whose scope and burden continue to emerge in low endemic countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012, we studied the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in 202 adult serum samples. We also analyzed samples from 143 patients with acute non-A-C hepatitis from January 2011 to December 2013. Acute HEV infections were diagnosed with anti-HEV IgM and/or HEV RNA. HEV RNA was also investigated in 94 swine fecal samples. HEV RNA was sequenced and characterized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found higher values of prevalence than those previously reported in the 1990s. The overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies was 15.4%. The prevalence was 10.6% in the 123 adults voluntarily screened on World Hepatitis Day 2012 in Buenos Aires city and 14.8, 16.7 and 35.7% respectively in the smaller groups of healthcare workers, blood donors and HIV-positive patients from different regions of the country. Nine acute HEV infections were diagnosed in the three years analyzed. We characterized new human variants of subgenotype 3a and 3i. New subgenotype 3i variants were found in swine from two distant provinces closely related to the human ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results enlarge the knowledge of HEV and contribute with new information. However, higher values of prevalence found in small groups need to be confirmed in larger studies. Many aspects of the spectrum of the disease and the reservoirs and routes of transmission are still unknown and thus deserve additional research.
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis. National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Carlos G. Malbran". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: María S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Munné
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis. National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Carlos G. Malbran". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Altabert
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis. National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Carlos G. Malbran". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Lucio O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Otegui M
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis. National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Carlos G. Malbran". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Sara N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Vladimirsky
authors.affiliation: Laboratory. Pediatric Hospital J.P. Garrahan. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreiro
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Science Faculty. Juan Mazza University. Mendoza. Argentina.
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Espul
authors.affiliation: Virology Division. Central Hospital. Mendoza. Argentina.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espul
authors.affiliation: Virology Division. Central Hospital. Mendoza. Argentina.
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manzur
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis. National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Carlos G. Malbran". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Sonia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis. National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Carlos G. Malbran". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Leonardo S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Brajterman
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis. National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Carlos G. Malbran". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic