Short Report: Further Evidence for Hepatitis E in the Brazilian Amazon

F. J. D. Souto Hospital Julio Muller, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Departamento de Clinica Medica, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Cuiaba, MT, Brazil

Search for other papers by F. J. D. Souto in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
C. J. F. Fontes Hospital Julio Muller, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Departamento de Clinica Medica, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Cuiaba, MT, Brazil

Search for other papers by C. J. F. Fontes in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
R. Parana Hospital Julio Muller, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Departamento de Clinica Medica, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Cuiaba, MT, Brazil

Search for other papers by R. Parana in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
L. G. C. Lyra Hospital Julio Muller, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Departamento de Clinica Medica, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Cuiaba, MT, Brazil

Search for other papers by L. G. C. Lyra in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

During an investigation of a hepatitis outbreak occurring in a small village in the Brazilian Amazon, serum samples from 16 recent hepatitis cases and 66 of their asymptomatic relatives were tested for the presence of hepatitis A, B, C, and E markers. Sanitation is poor and organized disposal of sewage is absent in the village. Two of the 16 hepatitis cases were non-A, non-B and non-C hepatitis, but their sera reacted to hepatitis E antibodies of the IgG class (anti-HEV). Likewise, sera from seven of the 66 asymptomatic relatives were positive for anti-HEV. Four of the nine anti-HEV positive sera had their reactivity confirmed by a neutralization test using synthetic peptides based on the nucleotide sequences of open reading frames 2 (ORF2) and 3 (ORF3) encoded in the HEV genome. To our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting the occurrence of acute E hepatitis cases in the Brazilian Amazon.

Author Notes

Save