title: Serological evidence of infection with rodent-borne hepatitis E virus HEV-C1 or antigenically related virus in humans.
abstract: Zoonotic potential of a rat-derived hepatitis E virus (HEV), designated as HEV-C1, remains unknown. To evaluate the risk for HEV-C1 infection in humans, paired sera of 208 hospitalized febrile patients collected from 2001 to 2003 in Hanoi, Vietnam, were examined for IgG antibodies to HEV-C1 and genotype 1 HEV (HEV-1), which is common in humans. IgG antibodies to virus-like particles (VLPs) of HEV-C1 and/or HEV-1 were detected from 99 of the 208 convalescent sera in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgG antibody titers to HEV-C1 antigen in 3 of the 99 sera were more than 8-fold higher than those to HEV-1 antigen. IgM antibodies to HEV-C1 antigen were detected in acute sera from 2 of the 3 patients in ELISA and Western blotting. However, no HEV genome was detected. Clinical information was available for 1 of the 2 patients. Hepatic enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, were mildly elevated (156 IU/l and 68 IU/l, respectively), and hepatomegaly was detected by ultrasonography. The patient recovered from the illness after 17 days. These results indicated that HEV-C1 or its variants infect humans in Vietnam and may cause acute febrile illness with mild liver dysfunction.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan.
authors: Kenta
authors: K
authors: Shimizu
authors: Sugihiro
authors: S
authors: Hamaguchi
authors: Cuong Chi
authors: CC
authors: Ngo
authors: Tian-Cheng
authors: TC
authors: Li
authors: Shuji
authors: S
authors: Ando
authors: Kumiko
authors: K
authors: Yoshimatsu
authors: Shumpei P
authors: SP
authors: Yasuda
authors: Takaaki
authors: T
authors: Koma
authors: Rie
authors: R
authors: Isozumi
authors: Yoshimi
authors: Y
authors: Tsuda
authors: Hiromi
authors: H
authors: Fujita
authors: Thuy Thanh
authors: TT
authors: Pham
authors: Mai Quynh
authors: MQ
authors: LE
authors: Anh Duc
authors: AD
authors: Dang
authors: Tuan Quang
authors: TQ
authors: Nguyen
authors: Lay-Myint
authors: LM
authors: Yoshida
authors: Koya
authors: K
authors: Ariyoshi
authors: Jiro
authors: J
authors: Arikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016679:Genome, Viral; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014744:Vietnam; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D018963:Hepatitis Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G