Hepatitis E virus is not detected in association with neurological disorders among Brazilian children

Microbes Infect. 2019 Apr-May;21(3-4):133-135. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2018.11.003. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus is increasingly being associated with idiopathic neurological disease. We tested 325 stool samples from Brazilian children presenting acute flaccid paralysis or Guillain-Barré syndrome using a broadly reactive and sensitive Reverse-transcription Polymerase chain reaction. Hepatitis E genome was not detected in any of the samples tested. Our results suggest that hepatitis E virus does not seem to be associated as the etiologic agent of acute flaccid paralysis and Guillain-Barré syndrome cases occurred in Brazilian children during the period of investigation (2010-2012).

Keywords: Acute flaccid paralysis; Brazil; Guillain-barré syndrome; Hepatitis E.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Feces / virology
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / virology
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Muscle Hypotonia / diagnosis
  • Muscle Hypotonia / epidemiology
  • Muscle Hypotonia / virology
  • Negative Results
  • Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / virology*
  • Paralysis / epidemiology
  • Paralysis / etiology
  • Paralysis / virology