title: [Hepatitis E virus infection in patients with clinical diagnosis of viral hepatitis in Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emergent virus of global importance; it is the etiological agent of sporadic cases and outbreaks of hepatitis. The epidemiology of this infection in Colombia is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seropositivity for hepatitis E virus in Colombia in cases with clinical diagnosis of viral hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from patients that were sent to the Instituto Nacional de Salud during the period 2005-2010 (group 1) and samples sent to the Laboratorio Departamental de Salud Pública de Antioquia during the 2008-2009 period were included in this study (group 2). Serum samples were analyzed by immunoassay with commercial kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 344 analyzed samples, 8.7% were positive for anti-HEV; the frequency of anti-HEV IgM was 1.74% (6/344) and the frequency of anti-HEV IgG was 7.5% (26/344). A difference in frequency of anti-HEV between group 1 (6.3%) and group 2 (1.3%) was observed. The cases were identified in nine departments of Colombia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study of hepatitis E virus infection in patients with diagnosis of hepatitis in Colombia. The frequency of anti-HEV described in this population of patients in Colombia is similar to that described in other Latin American countries like Brazil, Perú and Uruguay. Considering the results of this study, it could be necessary to include hepatitis E virus infection serological markers in the differential diagnosis of viral hepatitis in Colombia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Instituto nacional de salud, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.
authors.forename: Dioselina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peláez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hoyos
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Julio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rendón
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mantilla
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública de Antioquia, Secretaría Seccional de Salud y Protección Social de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Martha Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ospina
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Aplicadas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Fabián
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cortés-Mancera
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública de Antioquia, Secretaría Seccional de Salud y Protección Social de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Olga Lucía
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Instituto nacional de salud, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.
authors.forename: Lady
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Instituto nacional de salud, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.
authors.forename: Yaneth
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Estepa
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Epidemiología, Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: María Patricia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Arbeláez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Navas
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M