ACUTE SPORADIC HEPATITIS IN THE REPUBLIC-OF-YEMEN

The causes of acute icteric viral heparilis were determined in 78 adul t Yemeni patients. Acute hepatitis B (IgM anti-HBc positive) was the m ost common type (26.9%). Acute hepatitis E (IgM anti-HEV positive) occ urred in 14% and was not associated with travel outside Yemen. Sixty p ercent of all 78 patients were positive for IgG anti-HEV as were 40% o f a series of 48 healthy male blood donors and pregnant females, indic ating that HEV is prevalent in Yemen. Acute hepatitis A (IgM anti-HAV positive) and hepatitis C and D were responsible for 5.1%, 6.4%, and 2 .6% cases, respectively. Th is totals to 106%, as an infection with tw o viruses occurred in 6.4% cases. In 51.3% of a II ca ses, no vi ro lo g ica I markers of acute hepatitis were detected, suggesting an as vet undiscovered agent. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.