Abstract

KORSMAN, S; HARDIE, D  and  KABA, M. Hepatitis E virus in patients with acute hepatitis in Cape Town, South Africa, 2011. SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. [online]. 2019, vol.109, n.8, pp.582-583. ISSN 2078-5135.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/samj.2019.v109i8.13867.

BACKGROUND: Early hepatitis E virus (HEV) seroprevalence studies in South Africa (SA) showed seroprevalence rates of 2 - 10%, and suggested waterborne transmission. More recent studies in Cape Town, SA, reported HEV seroprevalence rates of 28% and 26% in outpatients without liver disease and blood donors, respectively. An association was found with eating pork or bacon/ham. Only 3 human cases of hepatitis E in SA have been reported in the literatureOBJECTIVES: To find evidence of HEV infection in hospitalised patients with acute hepatitis and no other identified causeMETHODS: Leftover serum samples were retrieved for patients negative for hepatitis viruses A, B and C, where no other cause of hepatitis was identified. Samples were tested for HEV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISARESULTS: Anti-HEV IgG was detected in 39/132 specimens (29.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 22.4 - 37.8), and anti-HEV IgM in 2/125 specimens (1.6%; 95% CI 0.4 - 5.7). No specimen tested positive by PCRCONCLUSIONS: IgG seroprevalence found in this study was similar to that previously reported in Cape Town. IgM positivity in 2 patients was not confirmed by PCR. Locally, hepatitis E may not be a common cause of clinically apparent hepatitis that requires hospitalisation

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