TY - JOUR T1 - Serological and molecular study of Hepatitis E virus in pediatric patients in Mexico JO - Annals of Hepatology T2 - AU - López-Santaella,Tayde AU - Álvarez y Muñoz,Teresa AU - Medeiros-Domingo,Mara AU - Moreno-Espinosa,Sarbelio AU - Consuelo-Sánchez,Alejandra AU - Muñoz-Hernández,Onofre AU - Sarmiento-Silva,Rosa Elena AU - Sotomayor-González,Alicia AU - Trujillo-Ortega,María Elena AU - García-Hernández,Montserrat Elemi AU - Taboada-Ramírez,Blanca Itzel AU - Arenas-Huertero,Francisco SN - 16652681 M3 - 10.1016/j.aohep.2019.12.004 DO - 10.1016/j.aohep.2019.12.004 UR - https://www.elsevier.es/en-revista-annals-hepatology-16-articulo-serological-molecular-study-hepatitis-e-S1665268119322847 AB - Introduction and objectivesCases of viral hepatitis reported in Mexico are typically identified as hepatitis A, B and C. However, unspecified cases are reported annually. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emergent agent that causes a self-limiting infection that can evolve to chronic in immunosuppressed individuals. In Mexico, HEV genotype 2 is considered endemic, though it's the prevalence is not well known. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the prevalence of HEV among patients at the “Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez”. Materials and methodsThe study included 99 patients, anti-HEV antibody (IgG and IgM) were detected by indirect ELISA and viral genome was identified using RT-PCR technique. Two PCR products of positive cases were sequenced. ResultsELISA results were positive in 3% and 6%, for IgG and IgM respectively, 54.5% prevalence was found by PCR. Low lymphocyte count (p<0.05) and malnutrition (p<0.005) were significant factors for high PCR prevalence and could increase the possibility of infection. Two samples were sequenced and confirmed the presence of HEV genotype 3. ConclusionsThis report reveals the incidence of HEV in pediatric patients in Mexico. Moreover, the identification of HEV genotype 3 in human samples suggests a potential zoonotic risk that requires further research. ER -