Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 1 in Cuba
Author Information
Author(s): Villalba María de la Caridad Montalvo, Lay Licel de los Angeles Rodríguez, Chandra Vivek, Corredor Marité Bello, Frometa Susel Sariego, Moreno Aidonis Gutierrez, Jameel Shahid
Primary Institution: Institute for Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí,” Havana, Cuba
Conclusion
The study identified indigenous strains of Hepatitis E virus genotype 1 in Cuba, showing high genetic similarity to strains from India.
Supporting Evidence
- Phylogenetic analysis showed that HEV isolates from Cuba clustered in genotype 1.
- Nucleotide identity between isolates from Cuba and other HEV strains ranged from 91.7% to 99%.
- The strains from Cuba shared 97.8%–99% homology with a strain from India.
- Serologic screening showed all patients to be positive for anti-HEV IgM.
Takeaway
Researchers found a type of virus called Hepatitis E in Cuba, which is similar to viruses found in other countries.
Methodology
Phylogenetic analysis of HEV isolates from outbreaks and sporadic cases was conducted using RT-PCR and sequencing.
Limitations
The study may not represent all cases of Hepatitis E in Cuba due to the limited number of samples.
Participant Demographics
The study included 20 persons from the first outbreak (12 women, 8 men) and 26 persons from the second outbreak (15 women, 11 men), with ages ranging from 17 to 53 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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