Genotypic characterization of symptomatic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Egypt.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in many developing countries. In Egypt, HEV seroprevalence is among the highest in the world; however, only a very limited number of Egyptian HEV sequences are currently available.

Objectives

The objectives were to determine the HEV genotype(s) currently circulating in Egypt.

Study design

AVH patients without serologic evidence of hepatitis A, B, and C viruses were evaluated for possible HEV infection using serologic assays for anti-HEV IgM and anti-HEV IgG and real-time PCR for HEV RNA. Stool suspensions from suspected cases were inoculated into rhesus macaques to confirm the presence of HEV. Sequence analysis was utilized to determine HEV genotype.

Results

Of 287 subjects with

SUBMITTER: Blackard JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2753377 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature