Characterization of hepatitis E virus from sporadic hepatitis cases and sewage samples from Vellore, south India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is endemic in India and causes epidemics and sporadic cases. However, the exact transmission route for sporadic hepatitis E remains unclear. This study investigated HEV in sporadic hepatitis cases and sewage samples, as sewage is the major source of contamination of water in developing countries.

Methods

Monthly sampling and testing for HEV in sewage samples from Vellore, India was carried out for 1 year (November 2009-October 2010) and plasma and/or fecal samples from sporadic hepatitis cases presenting to a hospital in Vellore during 2006-2010 were tested for HEV RNA. A total of 144 raw sewage samples and 94 samples from sporadic hepatitis cases were tested for HEV RNA using RT-PCR.

Results

The prevalence of HEV RNA in sewage and s

SUBMITTER: Vivek R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5454524 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature