E hepatitis seroprevalence in a population of patients with transaminases increased at Le Mans' hospital (France)

In Europe, infection through the hepatitis E virus presents itself under the form of autochthone, sporadic cases with zoonotic transmission. The diagnosis is more frequent in the case of male subjects above 50, with a generally severe clinical presentation. Moreover, a transition to chronicity is described in the case of immunocompromised patients. In France and in the world, seroprevalence has not clearly been established yet. In the hospital of Le Mans, Sarthe, France, the serologic status regarding the hepatitis E virus was established between October 1(st) 2012 and April 3(rd) 2015 on a population of 299 patients who presented hypertransaminasaemia and negative serology regarding hepatitis A, B and C viruses. According to the Wantai(®) Assays technique, seroprevalence for IgG among this cohort was 26.1%, while 3.7% of patients presented acute hepatitis E and a positive IgM serology. Hepatitis E screening tests are indispensable in the context of acute hepatitis no A, no B, no C.