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Updated: Mar 7, 2026
A Cell Culture Model for Producing High Titer Hepatitis E Virus Stocks
Published on: June 26, 2020
Isolation of hepatitis E virus genotype 4 from patients with acute cryptogenic hepatitis in Korea
Sook-Hyang Jeong1, Byung-Joo Park2, Yong-Hyun Kim2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13620, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Autochthonous hepatitis E occurs sporadically in developed countries. The consumption of undercooked pork containing hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) or 4 (HEV-4) is the major risk factor for infection. The serological diagnostic kits currently used in hospitals sometimes produce false-negative or -positive results. Therefore, detection of both HEV RNA and antibodies to the virus is required for confirmative diagnosis of hepatitis E.
Objectives:
We aimed to detect HEV in serum samples from patients with cryptogenic hepatitis and to determine the origin of HEV.
Study Design:
A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for detection of HEV-3 and HEV-4 in patients with hepatitis. A total of 23 serum samples, deposited in 2006-2012, from patients with acute cryptogenic hepatitis who were serologically negative for hepatitis A, B, C, and E were examined using this method. The amplified PCR products were genetically analyzed.
Results:
Four HEV-4 isolates were detected from the 23 serum samples. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that three of the four isolates were closely related to HEV-4 isolates found in pigs in Korea and in patients with hepatitis E in Japan.
Conclusions:
The newly developed nested PCR method was useful for detection of HEV in patients with cryptogenic hepatitis. The close relationship between the human HEV-4 isolates identified in this study and swine isolates implied that zoonotic transmission of HEV might be a source of infection in patients with hepatitis.
