Locally acquired hepatitis E virus infection, El Paso, Texas

J Med Virol. 2006 Jun;78(6):741-6. doi: 10.1002/jmv.20617.

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an enterically transmitted RNA virus that causes both epidemic and sporadic cases of acute hepatitis. Despite sero-surveys showing antibody to HEV in up to 36% of the US population, acute hepatitis E has been reported among individuals with no history of international travel only three times in the United States. We report a case of apparently locally-acquired hepatitis E that occurred in El Paso, Texas that was 98% similar to a previously isolated HEV found in swine in the United States. Like the three previous cases, a thorough investigation found no conclusive sources of infection. Active case surveillance found no additional cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hepatitis E / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis E / transmission*
  • Hepatitis E / virology
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Texas