[Molecular detection of hepatitis E virus in non-imported hepatitis case--identification of a potential new human hepatitis E virus lineage in Hungary].

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) one of the most common cause of hepatitis in endemic areas. However recently demonstrated that human infection may occur in developed countries without any travel history and that swine may act as a reservoir.

AIMS

The objective of this study was to identified hepatitis E virus by molecular methods in patient with acute non-A-C hepatitis infection with no recent travel history in Hungary and to determine the viral genetic relationship to known HEV strains.

MATERIALS

Laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis E virus infection was performed in patient sera by HEV IgM and IgG ELISA, IgM and IgG immunoblot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using primers for partial viral capsid region.

RESULTS

Patient with acute hepatitis with unknown origin was treated in Hospital of Szeged in June 2004. The acute patient's sera was positive by HEV IgM and IgG confirmed by immunoblot. Viral genome was successfully amplified in sera by RT-PCR. By sequence- and phylogenetic analysis the virus, designated Hungary-1, showed 95% nucleotide identity to genotype 3 hepatitis E viruses related to highest identity to swine HEV strain (Sp354-1-02) and having 90% nucleic acid identity to human strain (Greece2).

DISCUSSION

Hepatitis E virus infection is present in Hungary without travelling to known endemic regions. The first identified HEV in Hungary, which is represent a new human genetic lineage, support the possibility of the endemic infections caused by genotype 3 strains in developed countries and that swine may act as reservoir of human HEV.