Serological and molecular retrospective analysis of hepatitis e suspected cases from the eastern Brazilian Amazon 1993-2014

Abstract

Introduction: We evaluated the anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody prevalence and HEV-RNA in archived serum samples of non-A–C hepatitis, or suspected cases of HEV infection from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon from 1993 to 2014. Methods: Serum samples (n = 318) were tested using ELISA and immunoblotting, and screened for HEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. Results: Anti-HEV IgM and IgG were detected in 3.4% (11/318) and 5.9% (19/318) of the samples, respectively. All samples were HEV-RNA negative. Conclusions: HEV was detected at a low prevalence. Broader serological and molecular evaluation of HEV infection in the Amazon region should be carried out.