HEPATITIS-E - AN IMPORTANT CAUSE OF IMPORTED NON-A, NON-B-HEPATITIS AMONG MIGRANT WORKERS IN QATAR

In 1985, Glynn et al. [Journal of Medical Virology 17:371-375] reporte d on epidemic viral hepatitis in Qatar and concluded that 72% (91/126) had acute enterically transmitted non-A, non-B viral hepatitis (ET-NA N BH). Most of the patients (98%) presented within 8 weeks of arrival in Qatar and were migrant workers from the Indian subcontinent. The da ta was reanalysed for evidence of infection with hepatitis E virus (HE V). Seventy-eight of 91 (86%) of stored sera were still suitable for a nalysis since collection in 1981. A newly described enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for both IgG and IgM anti-HEV was used (Abbott Laboratories, De lkenheim, Germany); 59/78 (76%) were positive for either or both assay s. All but two were from the Indian subcontinent. The data suggest tha t HEV was the major cause of ET-NANBH in Qatar in 1981, particularly a mong newly arrived migrant workers from the Indian subcontinent. (C) 1 994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.