Genotype-4 hepatitis E in a human after ingesting roe deer meat in South Korea

• Published in: Clinical and molecular hepatology Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 309 - 314
• Main Authors: Choi, Ja Yoon, Lee, Jeong-Mi, Jo, Yun Won, Min, Hyun Ju, Kim, Hyun Jin, Jung, Woon Tae, Lee, Ok Jae, Yun, Haesun, Yoon, Yeong-Sil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Association for the Study of the Liver 01.09.2013; The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver; 대한간학회
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Animals; Antigens; Bilirubin - blood; Case Report; Deer; Deer - virology; Epidemics; Genomes; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Genotype 4 hepatitis E; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis E - diagnosis; Hepatitis E - transmission; Hepatitis E - virology; Hepatitis E virus - classification; Hepatitis E virus - genetics; Hepatitis E virus - isolation & purification; Hogs; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Industrialized nations; Male; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Republic of Korea; RNA, Viral - analysis; Roe deer; Software; South Korea; Travel; Viruses; 내과학; Republic of Korea; Mongolia; South Korea; United States > US; China; Japan; Africa; Genotype 4 hepatitis E; Roe deer; South Korea
• ISSN: 2287-2728; 2287-285X; 2287-285X
• DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2013.19.3.309

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.