An ELISA for the detection of anti HEV using synthetic peptide antigens was developed. The synthetic antigens were encoded by OFR2 and OFR3 genes of HEV. The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability of the synthetic antigens in the serodiagnosis of hepatitis E. The anti HEV detection using synthetic antigens was carried out in 47 healthy subjects and 89 patients with acute or chronic viral hepatitis. The results showed that the positive rate of anti HEV IgG in healthy subjects was 4.2%(2/47), and no IgM antibody to HEV was found. The positive rates of IgG and IgM antibodies to HEV in the hepatitis patients were 8.9% and 10% respectively. In addition, we compared the detecting efficacy of the synthetic antigens with that of the market reagent in 57 serum samples, the total coincident rate was 87.7% (50/57). All of the results accorded with the literatures reported. This study suggests that the ELISA based on the synthetic peptide antigens was specific, sensitive and convenient in diagnosis of HEV infection, it can be widely used in both clinical and epidemiological reseaches.
