SEROLOGICAL STUDIES OF AN ENTERICALLY TRANSMITTED NON-A, NON-B-HEPATITIS IN SOMALIA

An outbreak of an acute sporadic viral hepatitis occurring at three vi llages in the lower Shebli region of southern Somalia was studied. Ser a were examined for antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) antigen by a recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prevalence of anti-HEV ranged from 77.8% to 94.0% among the three villages. Anti- HEV prevalence did not differ significantly with age or sex. HEV infec tions were widely distributed among all age groups, without a preponde rance in any specific age category. Overall, 97.6% of afflicted patien ts who were examined 6-10 days after onset of jaundice developed eithe r IgM or IgG anti-HEV. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.