Genotype-4 hepatitis E in a human after ingesting roe deer meat in South Korea.
10.3350/cmh.2013.19.3.309
- Author:
Ja Yoon CHOI
1
;
Jeong Mi LEE
;
Yun Won JO
;
Hyun Ju MIN
;
Hyun Jin KIM
;
Woon Tae JUNG
;
Ok Jae LEE
;
Haesun YUN
;
Yeong Sil YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. lyreju@naver.com
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- Keywords:
Genotype 4 hepatitis E;
Roe deer;
South Korea
- MeSH:
Adult;
Alanine Transaminase/blood;
Animals;
Bilirubin/blood;
Deer/virology;
Genotype;
Hepatitis E/*diagnosis/transmission/virology;
Hepatitis E virus/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification;
Humans;
Male;
Phylogeny;
RNA, Viral/analysis;
Republic of Korea;
Travel
- From:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
2013;19(3):309-314
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The recent increase in the number of cases of indigenous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection highlights the importance of identifying the transmission routes for the prevention of such infections. Presented herein is the first case of acute HEV infection after ingesting wild roe deer meat in South Korea. A 43-year-old male presented with abdominal discomfort and jaundice. He had not recently traveled abroad, but had eaten raw roe-deer meat 6-8 weeks before the presentation. On the 7th day of hospitalization the patient was diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis E. Phylogenetic analysis of his serum revealed genotype-4 HEV. This case supports the possibility of zoonotic transmission of HEV because the patient appears to have been infected with genotype-4 HEV after ingesting raw deer meat.
