Hepatitis A and E Viruses

Abstract

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a species of the genus Hepatovirus within the family Picornaviridae . HAV has a primitive capsid related to picorna‐like viruses, which infect insects. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) belongs to the Hepeviridae family. HAV is a small RNA virus with an icosahedral capsid. Close contact between infected and susceptible people is the most common mode of HAV transmission in developing and developed countries. HAV can be transmitted by transfusion of blood or blood products on rare occasions. HAV and HEV are both transmitted mainly by the fecal‐oral route. Occurrence of clinical manifestations of hepatitis E in immunocompetent individuals is associated with high viral load. Enzyme or chemiluminescent immunoassays for anti‐HAV IgM and IgG are commercially available in microplate and multiparametric automated formats. Regarding HEV infection, the availability of high‐performance serologic and molecular tools allowed a significant change in the understanding of global epidemiology and pathology.