Evidence for the presence of autochthonous (locally acquired) cases of acute hepatitis E virus infections in Italy since the 80s.
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| Abstract | BACKGROUND: Autochthonous (locally acquired) cases of acute hepatitis E virus have been recently reported in several developed countries. AIM: To evidence cases, if any, and characteristics of acute hepatitis E virus infections in North-East of Italy several years ago. METHODS: In 2014, stored sera of 165 nonA-nonB acute hepatitis referred to the hospital of Padua during the period 1978-1991 were tested for hepatitis C virus antibodies by EIA III and for anti-hepatitis E virus IgM by Wantai HEV IgM ELISA. Anti-hepatitis E virus IgM positive sera were tested by Real Star HEV RT-PCR kit (Altona Diagnostics, Hamburg, Germany). RESULTS: Ninety-six (58.1%) sera resulted anti-HCV positive, and thus classified as acute C hepatitis. None of these subjects was anti-HEV IgM positive. Out of the 69 anti-HCV negative cases, 4 (5.8%) resulted anti-HEV IgM positive (one case hepatitis E virus-RNA positive), with an increasing trend from 2.8% during the years 1978-1984 to 9.1% during the years 1985-1991. All cases occurred in Italian patients with no travel abroad history. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence for the presence of autochthonous cases of acute hepatitis E virus infections in Italy since 80s.
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| Authors | Tommaso Stroffolini, Maria Rapicetta, Paola Chionne, Rozenn Esvan, Elisabetta Madonna, Flavia Lombardo, Fabrizio Toccaceli, Giulio Pisani, Annarita Ciccaglione, Flavia Bortolotti |
| Journal | European journal of internal medicine (Eur J Intern Med) Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 348-50 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1879-0828 [Electronic] Netherlands |
| PMID | 25887055 (Publication Type: Journal Article) |
| Copyright | Copyright © 2015 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
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