DETECTION OF IGA CLASS ANTIBODY TO HEPATITIS-E VIRUS IN SERUM SAMPLESFROM PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS-E VIRUS-INFECTION

A newly developed assay for IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus (I gA anti-HEV) was used to study 145 serum samples collected during an o utbreak of an enterically transmitted hepatitis that occurred in 3 vil lages in the lower Shebeli region of Southern Somalia between January, 1988 and November, 1989. A total of 52.4% of the afflicted patients w ere found positive for IgA anti-HEV, and 73.1% of these were also posi tive for IgM. Both antibodies disappeared during the convalescence per iod. Similar results were also seen in serum obtained from sporadic ca ses of acute waterborne hepatitis in Pakistan. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, In c.