1Department of Virology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160 012, India.
2School of Tropical Medicine Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160 012, India.
3Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160 012, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the XVIII National Conference of Indian Virological Society at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, December 11–13, 2008.
Hepatitis E is an important public health problem in developing countries including the Indian Subcontinent. The virus is responsible for both sporadic and epidemic outbreaks. The epidemics are usually due to water born transmission, whereas sporadic outbreak is usually due to contact. This virus leads to significant mortality in pregnant females. A total of 1040 sample from patients with acute viral hepatitis were screened for anti- IgM HEV by micro ELISA from the year 2003 – 2007. During these years, we investigated 4 outbreaks which occurred in the adjoining areas of Chandigarh ie Kurali-Mansa, Narayangarh, Mandi Gobindgarh and Shahabad. The IgM positivity in these years varied from 10% to as high as 48% in the years of the epidemics. The maximum seropositivity was observed in the young adults in the age group of 21–30 years which accounted for 36.4% of cases. Incidence of pregnant women with anti-HEV IgM positivity ranged from 29%-66%. The unusual feature of the outbreaks was that the cases peaked in the month of March and April. Most of the outbreaks were attributed to the mixing of drinking water with sewage. However, one of these outbreaks was attributed to a peculiar homosexual practice. This region continues to be endemic for Hepatitis E virus, experiencing epidemics at regular intervals. The highest rates of infection occur in regions where low standard of sanitation promote the transmission of the virus.
