Evidence for the presence of autochthonous (locally acquired) cases of acute hepatitis E virus infections in Italy since the 80s

Eur J Intern Med. 2015 Jun;26(5):348-50. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2015.03.012. Epub 2015 Apr 14.

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.

Keywords: Acute infection; Epidemiology; HCV; HEV; Hepatitis E; Italy.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Hepatitis E / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis E / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis E / virology*
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult