Sporadic cases of acute autochthonous hepatitis E in Spain

Background/Aims: In industrialized countries hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is rare and its diagnosis is difficult because the utility of available tests is not well established. Methods: We studied the presence of acute HEV infection markers in a cluster of 11 cases of acute hepatitis with IgG anti-HEV antibodies. Results: Three cases were confirmed as acute hepatitis E and 8 as presumptive hepatitis E, two as a past HEV infection and one could not be determined. Three different HEV strains were identified in serum from 3 patients. Two strains belonged to genotype 3, the predominant genotype found in local urban sewage and the other strain belonged to genotype 1 and was considered an imported strain. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the presence of some autochthonous, sporadic acute hepatitis E cases as well as an imported case in our area and the transitory nature of virological and serological markers for HEV. (C) 2004 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.