Human Hepatitis E Virus among Apparently Healthy Individuals in Ogbomoso, South-Western Nigeria

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a small non-enveloped positive sense single stranded RNA icosahedral virus with a 7.7 kilobase genome that belongs to the genus Herpevirus [1]. Hepatitis E virus infections occur world-wide. The virus is endemic in regions of the world characterized with poor sanitation (such as Africa, Asia and Central America) as epidemiologic studies have shown the route of transmission to be by faecal-oral route with contaminated food and water being the primary source of infection [2,3]. However, blood borne transmission of HEV has been investigated as one of the possible risk factors for acquiring hepatitis E virus [1]. This transmission can be from any apparently healthy individual who can be potential blood donor to healthy/unhealthy individuals during blood transfusion. Other possible risk factors are not limited to previous history of surgery or alcohol intake [4]. Even though hepatitis E infections are self-limiting among immunocompetent individuals, persistency can result into fulminant hepatitis [3,5].