Hepatitis E, what’s the real issue?

Abstract

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection is a worldwide disease and the primary cause of acute viral hepatitis in the world with an estimated 20 million cases every year and 70 000 deaths. Hepatitis E is a waterborne infection in the developing countries. In these countries, HEV genotypes 1 and 2 cause large outbreaks and affect young subjects, resulting in significant mortality in pregnant women and patients with cirrhosis. In the developed countries, HEV genotypes 3 and 4 are responsible for autochthonous, sporadic hepatitis and transmission is zoonotic. Parenteral transmission by the transfusion of blood products has been identified as a potential new mode of transmission. The prevalence of positive HEV viraemia in blood donors in Europe ranges from 1/600 to 1/2500 in highly endemic European countries. HEV can cause neurological disorders and chronic infections in immunocompromised patients. The progression of acute hepatitis E is usually asymptomatic and resolves spontaneously. Diagnostic tools include anti‐HEV IgM antibodies in serum and/or viral RNA detection in the blood or the stools by PCR. Ribavirin is used to treat chronic infection. A vaccine has been developed in China.

Seroprevalence Trends and Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis in Croatia

“…HEV belongs to the Hepeviridae family within the genus Orthohepevirus . It is accountable for an estimated 20 million infections each year [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. HEV is considered to be the most common cause of viral hepatitis, and it has eight different genotypes, with genotypes 1 and 2 being restricted to humans [ 22 ].…”

A systematic review of the epidemiology of Hepatitis E virus infection in South – Eastern Asia

“…The genus Orthohepevirus has four distinct species (A, B, C, and D) while the second genus has one species; Piscihepevirus A. The Orthohepevirus A has eight known genotypes named HEV -1 to HEV -8 [13]. HEV -1 and HEV -2 are exclusively human viruses and enterically transmitted.…”

High-Yield Production of Chimeric Hepatitis E Virus-Like Particles Bearing the M2e Influenza Epitope and Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 in Plants Using Viral Vectors

“…Moreover, such recombinant VLPs will probably induce an immune response to the carrier and therefore can be potentially used to develop bivalent vaccines additionally against HEV. This is an important additional benefit since HEV infection is a worldwide disease and the primary cause of acute viral hepatitis in the world, with an estimated 20 million cases every year [ 76 ].…”