Phylogenetic analysis and subtyping of acute and fulminant strains of hepatitis E virus isolates of North India with reference to disease severity.

Hepatitis E is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with a seroprevalence of 4-20%, and more than 25% of acute viral hepatitis is due to HEV. The northern parts of India have been experiencing outbreaks and sporadic cases of HEV since 1955. In a total of sixteen HEV sequences, ten acute viral hepatitis and 6 fulminant hepatic failure cases were analysed. Subtypes 1a and 1c of HEV are prevalent in North India, with the subtype-1c showing a trend towards fulminancy.