A case of autochthonous hepatitis E with a rare viral genotype (HEV-3f) and intractable jaundice

Abstract

We experienced a case of acute hepatitis E who developed persistent jaundice for as long as six months. The phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolate obtained from the patient lived in Gifu was included in the HEV subtype 3f (HEV-3f) cluster and the isolate clustered with two HEV-3f isolates previously reported in Japan. Interestingly, our patient and the two others had no history of travel abroad, e.g. to Europa, where HEV-3f strains are endemic. The source and the route of the HEV-3f infection are unknown and the specific symptoms of HEV-3f infection are not well-known in Japan, either. We should reveal the characteristics of HEV-3f infection in Japan by accumulating cases.