Hepatitis E virus IgG (HEV-IgG) ELISA Kit

Short Description:

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a non-enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the Hepeviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, often through contaminated water sources or undercooked animal products (particularly pork or wild game in zoonotic genotypes). The first documented large-scale outbreak of hepatitis E was reported in New Delhi, India, in 1955-1956, associated with water contamination. HEV infection is endemic in many developing regions, including parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where genotypes 1 and 2 predominate and cause waterborne epidemics. In developed countries, cases are typically sporadic, often linked to genotypes 3 and 4 through zoonotic transmission, and primarily affect travelers returning from endemic areas, immunocompromised individuals, or those exposed to undercooked meat.

Clinically, HEV infection resembles hepatitis A, presenting as an acute, self-limiting illness in most cases, with symptoms including jaundice, fatigue, nausea, and elevated liver enzymes. However, among all viral hepatitides, HEV has the highest overall case fatality rate, ranging from 0.5% to 3% in the general population, predominantly affecting young adults. The infection poses the greatest risk to pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester, where mortality can reach 15-25% due to fulminant hepatic failure, and it may also lead to adverse fetal outcomes such as preterm delivery or intrauterine death. Chronic HEV infection can occur in immunocompromised patients, leading to progressive liver disease.

Following HEV infection, the immune response involves the production of anti-HEV antibodies. Anti-HEV IgG antibodies typically appear 2-6 weeks after symptom onset, following the initial IgM response, and persist for many years or lifelong in most individuals. They serve as a serological marker of past resolved infection or acquired immunity, conferring protection against reinfection with the same genotype, though cross-genotype immunity may be incomplete. Detection of anti-HEV IgG is valuable for epidemiological surveys, assessing seroprevalence in at-risk populations (e.g., blood donors, travelers, or pregnant women), confirming prior exposure in symptomatic patients, and evaluating vaccine-induced immunity where available. While protective immunity post-infection is generally robust but not always permanent, no universally licensed HEV vaccine is available globally (though recombinant vaccines like Hecolin are approved in some countries, such as China). Prevention primarily relies on interrupting fecal-oral transmission through improved sanitation, safe water supplies, and proper food handling practices.