The seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus infection in the preselected population from Romania: a hospital survey

Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a significant public health problem in many parts of the world. The virus is classified into four major genotypes, representing a single serotype. HEV genotypes 1 and 2 are restricted to humans and usually transmitted via fecally-contaminated water, resulting in large outbreaks and epidemics of acute hepatitis in developing countries. HEV genotypes 3 and 4 can infect humans as well as other mammalian species (e.g. pigs) and associate sporadic cases of autochthonous hepatitis E, recently described in developed countries. In these areas, zoonotic transmission appears to play a major role. Moreover, genotype 3 HEV infection can cause chronic hepatitis in immunosuppressed patients. The estimated seroprevalence of HEV infection in these regions is variable, between less than 5% and 52% in southwestern France. To date, no HEV seroprevalence studies have been performed in Romania.