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Clinical and molecular analyses of sporadic acute hepatitis A and E and the specific viral genotypes isolated in I wate and three neighboring prefectures in the northern part of H onshu, J apan, between 2004 and 2013
Author(s) -
Suzuki Kazuyuki,
Kataoka Kojiro,
Miyamoto Yasuhiro,
Miyasaka Akio,
Kumagai Ichiro,
Takikawa Yasuhiro,
Takahashi Masaharu,
Okamoto Hiroaki
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.12406
Subject(s) - genotype , hepatitis e virus , medicine , virology , hepatitis e , transmission (telecommunications) , viral hepatitis , acute hepatitis , virus , hepatitis , immunology , biology , gene , biochemistry , electrical engineering , engineering
Aim To examine the prevalence and characteristics of hepatitis A virus ( HAV ) and hepatitis E virus ( HEV ) infections in the northern part of H onshu, J apan, during the last decade. Methods Using the registration system of a prospective cohort study for acute liver injury ( ALI ) in I wate and three neighboring prefectures, we examined the prevalence of sporadic acute hepatitis ( AH ) with HAV ( AH‐A ) and HEV ( AH‐E ) and the distribution of viral genotypes in 487 patients diagnosed with ALI between 2004 and 2013. Results Among all 487 patients, 135 (28%) had ALI with viral infection. In the cases with viral ALI , the prevalence of hepatitis B virus‐related AH was highest (55.6%). AH‐E was seen in 23 patients (17.0%) and its prevalence was higher than that of AH‐A (10 patients, 7.4%). There were no appreciable differences in the prevalence of AH‐A and AH‐E between 2004–2008 and 2009–2013. However, subgenotype IIIA HAV homologous to K orean strains has recently emerged, and the number of AH‐E cases seems to be increasing. HEV genotype 3 was predominant throughout the observation period, but HEV genotype 4 was found in three patients after 2010. The transmission routes of HAV and HEV infections were unknown in approximately 60% of the patients. Conclusion In the northern part of H onshu, J apan, HEV has been more frequently implicated in the development of AH than HAV , and HEV genotype 4 has been recently increasing. To provide an effective prophylactic management for HAV and HEV infections, further clarification of the transmission routes is needed.