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Hepatitis E in High-Income Countries: What Do We Know? And What Are the Knowledge Gaps? Viruses 2018; 10:v10060285. [PMID: 29799485 PMCID: PMC6024799 DOI: 10.3390/v10060285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a positive-strand RNA virus transmitted by the fecal–oral route. HEV genotypes 1 and 2 infect only humans and cause mainly waterborne outbreaks. HEV genotypes 3 and 4 are widely represented in the animal kingdom, and are mainly transmitted as a zoonosis. For the past 20 years, HEV infection has been considered an imported disease in developed countries, but now there is evidence that HEV is an underrecognized pathogen in high-income countries, and that the incidence of confirmed cases has been steadily increasing over the last decade. In this review, we describe current knowledge about the molecular biology of HEV, its clinical features, its main routes of transmission, and possible therapeutic strategies in developed countries.
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Tenorio González E, Robles Díaz M, Sanjuan Jiménez R, González Grande R, Olmedo Martín RV, Rodrigo López JM, Jiménez Pérez M. Retransplant Due to Fulminant Hepatic Failure From Hepatitis E Virus: A Case Report. Transplant Proc 2018; 50:685-686. [PMID: 29579889 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2017.09.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) usually causes self-limiting acute liver infections from fecal or oral transmission, though other routes of infection exist (vertical transmission, blood transfusion, zoonosis). It may give rise to fulminant hepatic failure in 1% of cases. Cases have recently been reported of chronic infection evolving to cirrhosis in immunosuppressed patients, such as those with a liver or kidney transplant. Nonetheless, development of acute liver failure in these patients is exceptional, with few cases published. We present a case of acute liver failure due to HEV in a liver transplant patient who required a liver retransplant 9 years after receiving the original transplant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Robles Díaz
- UGC Aparato Digestivo y Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, CIBERehd, Málaga, Spain
| | - R Sanjuan Jiménez
- UGC Aparato Digestivo y Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, CIBERehd, Málaga, Spain
| | | | | | | | - M Jiménez Pérez
- UGC Aparato Digestivo, Regional University Hospital, Malaga, Spain
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Monteserín Ron L, Jiménez Palacios M, Linares Torres P, Miguel Peña A, Álvarez Cuenllas B, Fernández-Natal MI, Valverde Romero E, Jorquera Plaza F. Autochthonous acute hepatitis E: an increasingly frequent diagnosis. Clinical-epidemiological analysis of our experience. REVISTA ESPANOLA DE ENFERMEDADES DIGESTIVAS 2018; 109:344-349. [PMID: 28376624 DOI: 10.17235/reed.2017.4258/2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Europe, acute hepatitis caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV) traditionally was an infection found in people who had travelled to endemic zones, mainly Asia and Africa. However, a growing number of sporadic autochthonous cases are now being diagnosed in the Western world. OBJECTIVE To analyze the cases of acute HEV hepatitis diagnosed in our setting, with the identification of the clinical-epidemiological characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included the cases of acute HEV hepatitis diagnosed (positive anti-HEV IgM and/or HEV RNA present in serum) between January 2008 and December 2014. Different clinical, epidemiological and evolutive parameters were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 23 patients were identified, all originating from Spain. Fourteen cases (60.87%) presented jaundice and marked cytolysis at the time of diagnosis (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] 1,106.91 U/l and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] 1,407.04 U/l). Twenty-two cases were regarded as autochthonous, and one patient had travelled to China three months before. The mean time to resolution was 11.2 weeks. Some autoimmune markers were positive in 43.5% of the patients. Two subjects were diagnosed with previous chronic liver disease and were classified as "acute-on-chronic liver failure" (ACLF), one died and the other underwent liver transplantation. CONCLUSION Acute HEV hepatitis in our setting is an autochthonous condition that is probably underdiagnosed, manifesting with jaundice and cytolysis. Autoimmune marker positivity is an epiphenomenon, which in some cases complicates the diagnosis.
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de Zárraga Mata C, Escudero Roldán M, Thomas Salom G, Rull Murillo N, Dolz Abadía C. Acute hepatitis due to hepatitis E virus after raw meat consumption. GASTROENTEROLOGIA Y HEPATOLOGIA 2017; 40:395-396. [PMID: 27496809 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 06/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - María Escudero Roldán
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Son Llàtzer, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, España
| | - Guiem Thomas Salom
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Son Llàtzer, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, España
| | - Nuria Rull Murillo
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Son Llàtzer, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, España
| | - Carlos Dolz Abadía
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Son Llàtzer, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, España
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Hepatitis E Virus in Industrialized Countries: The Silent Threat. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:9838041. [PMID: 28070522 PMCID: PMC5192302 DOI: 10.1155/2016/9838041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the main cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Its presence in developing countries has been documented for decades. Developed countries were supposed to be virus-free and initially only imported cases were detected in those areas. However, sporadic and autochthonous cases of HEV infection have been identified and studies reveal that the virus is worldwide spread. Chronic hepatitis and multiple extrahepatic manifestations have also been associated with HEV. We review the data from European countries, where human, animal, and environmental data have been collected since the 90s. In Europe, autochthonous HEV strains were first detected in the late 90s and early 2000s. Since then, serological data have shown that the virus infects quite frequently the European population and that some species, such as pigs, wild boars, and deer, are reservoirs. HEV strains can be isolated from environmental samples and reach the food chain, as shown by the detection of the virus in mussels and in contaminated pork products as sausages or meat. All these data highlight the need of studies directed to control the sources of HEV to protect immunocompromised individuals that seem the weakest link of the HEV epidemiology in industrialized regions.
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Pérez-Gracia MT, Suay-García B, García M, Mateos-Lindemann ML. Hepatitis E: latest developments in knowledge. Future Microbiol 2016; 11:789-808. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E, caused by Hepatitis E virus (HEV), is a highly prevalent disease in developing countries. In developed nations, autochthonous HEV infections seem to be an emergent disease. Its clinical manifestations and epidemiology are well known for endemic countries. It has been confirmed that hepatitis E is a zoonosis and that parenteral transmission can also occur. The molecular mechanisms of HEV replication are not fully understood, mostly because there are no efficient cell culture systems. HEV can cause chronic hepatitis in organ transplant recipients and immunocompetent patients. Cases with fulminant hepatitis and other extrahepatic manifestations have also been reported. The diagnosis is based on serological studies and detection of HEV RNA in blood and feces. Treatment with ribavirin and/or pegylated-IFN-α have proven to be successful in some cases. The recently approved/marketed vaccine is a good option in order to prevent this infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Teresa Pérez-Gracia
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avenida Seminario s/n 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suay-García
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avenida Seminario s/n 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mario García
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avenida Seminario s/n 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Luisa Mateos-Lindemann
- Unidad de Virología, Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Ctra. Colmenar Km 9,1, Madrid 28034, Spain
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Lapa D, Capobianchi MR, Garbuglia AR. Epidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus in European Countries. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:25711-43. [PMID: 26516843 PMCID: PMC4632823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms161025711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin (IgG) anti hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been increasing in European countries and shows significant variability among different geographical areas. In this review, we describe the serological data concerning the general population and risk groups in different European countries. Anti-HEV antibody prevalence ranged from 1.3% (blood donors in Italy) to 52% (blood donors in France). Various studies performed on risk groups in Denmark, Moldova and Sweden revealed that swine farmers have a high seroprevalence of HEV IgG (range 13%-51.1%), confirming that pigs represent an important risk factor in HEV infection in humans. Subtypes 3e,f are the main genotypes detected in the European population. Sporadic cases of autochthonous genotype 4 have been described in Spain, France, and Italy. Although most HEV infections are subclinical, in immune-suppressed and transplant patients they could provoke chronic infection. Fulminant hepatitis has rarely been observed and it was related to genotype 3. Interferon and ribavirin treatment was seen to represent the most promising therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Lapa
- Laboratory of Virology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Via Portuense 292, Rome 00149, Italy.
| | - Maria Rosaria Capobianchi
- Laboratory of Virology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Via Portuense 292, Rome 00149, Italy.
| | - Anna Rosa Garbuglia
- Laboratory of Virology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Via Portuense 292, Rome 00149, Italy.
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Pérez-Gracia MT, García M, Suay B, Mateos-Lindemann ML. Current Knowledge on Hepatitis E. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2015; 3:117-26. [PMID: 26355220 PMCID: PMC4548356 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although only a single serotype of hepatitis E virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, has been identified, there is great genetic variation among the different HEV isolates reported. There are at least four major recognized genotypes of HEV: genotypes 1 and 2 are mainly restricted to humans and linked to epidemic outbreaks in nonindustrialized countries, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic in both developing and industrialized countries. Besides human strains, genotype 3 and 4 strains of HEV have been genetically characterized from swine, sika deer, mongooses, sheep, and rabbits. Currently, there are approximately 11,000 human and animal sequences of HEV available at the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration. HEV is the major cause of waterborne outbreaks of hepatitis in areas of poor sanitation. Additionally, it is responsible for sporadic cases of viral hepatitis in not only endemic but industrialized countries as well. Transmission of HEV occurs predominantly by the fecal-oral route, although parenteral and perinatal routes have been reported. HEV infection develops in most individuals as a self-limiting, acute, icteric hepatitis; with mortality rates around 1%. However, some affected individuals will develop fulminant hepatic failure, a serious condition that is frequently fatal without a liver transplant. This complication is particularly common when the infection occurs in pregnant women, where mortality rates rise dramatically to up to 25%. Among the preventive measures available to avoid HEV infection, two separate subunit vaccines containing recombinant truncated capsid proteins of HEV have been shown to be highly effective in the prevention of disease. One of them, HEV 239, was approved in China, and its commercialization by Innovax began in November 2012 under the name Hecolin(®).
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Pérez-Gracia
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence to: María Teresa Pérez‐Gracia, Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avenida Seminario s/n 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain. Tel: +34‐961369000, Fax: +34‐961395272, E‐mail:
| | - Mario García
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suay
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain
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Echevarría JM, Fogeda M, Avellón A. Epidemiología de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis E en España. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2015; 33:281-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2013.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Merchante N, Parra-Sánchez M, Rivero-Juárez A, Cifuentes C, Camacho Á, Macías J, Martínez-Dueñas L, Pérez-Navarro E, Rivero A, Pineda JA. High prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis E virus in HIV-infected patients with unexplained liver disease. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2014; 33:532-5. [PMID: 25533742 DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2014.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To look for evidence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) exposure in HIV-infected patients with unexplained elevations of liver stiffness (LS). METHODS Case-control study conducted in 31 HIV-infected patients with unexplained elevations of LS and in 31 HIV-controls with normal LS, matched by age, sex and CD4 cell-counts. Serum HEV antibodies were tested by two ELISA procedures and by Immunoblot. We defined exposure to HEV as the detection of serum HEV antibodies by at least one of the two ELISA assays, provided that it was confirmed by Immunoblot. A real-time PCR RNA assay was conducted in all plasma samples to identify subjects with active HEV infection. RESULTS Exposure to HEV was demonstrated, according to the criteria used in this study, in 9 (29%) of the cases, whereas it was shown in 5 (16%) of the controls (p=.3). Serum HEV RNA was detected in none of the controls and in only in one case. This patient had a documented chronic hepatitis E with progression to cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS HEV antibodies are frequently found in HIV-infected patients with unexplained liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Merchante
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Manuel Parra-Sánchez
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Antonio Rivero-Juárez
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Celia Cifuentes
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ángela Camacho
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Juan Macías
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Loreto Martínez-Dueñas
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Elisabet Pérez-Navarro
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Antonio Rivero
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Juan A Pineda
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sanchez-Anguiano LF, Hernandez-Tinoco J. Seroepidemiology of hepatitis e virus infection in general population in rural durango, Mexico. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2014; 14:e16876. [PMID: 24976837 PMCID: PMC4071353 DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.16876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Revised: 02/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The seroepidemiology of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in rural areas in Mexico has been poorly studied. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence and correlates of anti-HEV IgG antibodies in adults in rural areas in Durango, Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study to determine the frequency of anti-HEV IgG antibodies in 273 adults living in rural Durango, Mexico using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. In addition, we searched for an association of HEV exposure with the socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of the subjects studied. RESULTS One hundred (36.6%) of the 273 rural adults (mean age: 39.85 ± 17.15 years) had anti-HEV IgG antibodies. Multivariate analysis of socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of the participants showed that HEV exposure was associated with increasing age (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.04-1.05; P < 0.001), consumption of untreated water (OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.06-3.46; P = 0.03), and availability of water at home (OR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.07-3.27; P = 0.02). In contrast, other socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics including educational level, occupation, socio-economic status, foreign travel, consumption of unwashed raw fruits, consumption of raw or undercooked meat and raising animals did not show associations with HEV exposure. CONCLUSIONS The seroprevalence of HEV infection found in rural Durango is higher than those reported in other Mexican populations. Consumption of untreated water is an important factor for HEV exposure in rural areas in Durango. The correlates of HEV seropositivity found in the present study can be used for an optimal planning of preventive measures against HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
- Corresponding Author: Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel, Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Avenida Universidad, S/N. 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico. Tel/Fax: +52-6188130527, E-mail:
| | | | - Jesus Hernandez-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm”, Juarez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
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Echevarría JM. Autochthonous Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Europe: A Matter of Concern for Public Health? J Clin Transl Hepatol 2014; 2:7-14. [PMID: 26357613 PMCID: PMC4521255 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2013.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human hepatitis E virus (HHEV) is the proposed name for a diverse group of RNA viruses from the family Hepeviridae that cause acute hepatitis among humans. Waterborne strains are regularly imported into Europe by international travelers, and virus transmission of zoonotic strains via contaminated aliments is involved in autochthonous cases. Therefore, in Europe, hepatitis E displays a unique dual character, having features of both imported and autochthonous infections. Environmental involvement of waterborne and zoonotic diseases puts alimentary safety at risk. In addition, it may lead to serious health problems derived from persistent infection among patients with immune impairment due to organ transplant, cancer, or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Although the European health authorities know at present that HHEV represents a problem worthy of consideration, the actual incidence of the disease in Europe is unknown, and attempts to ascertain the prevalence of the infection is hampered by unresolved technical issues. In order to determine the burden of hepatitis E in Europe, the World Health Organization Regional Office and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control should pay specific attention to hepatitis E, and research efforts in the continent should be transnational and collaborative. Development of a specific European network for hepatitis E would help to achieve these goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- José-Manuel Echevarría
- Department of Virology, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Hepatitis E: an emerging disease. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 22:40-59. [PMID: 24434240 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Currently, the infection with the hepatitis E virus represents the most frequent cause for acute hepatitis and jaundice in the world. According to WHO estimations, around two billion people, representing one third of the world's population, live in endemic areas for HEV and, therefore, are at risk of infection. In developed countries, the circulation of the virus in both human and animal (swine, boar, deer) sewage has been confirmed; however, the incidence rate is low compared to that of developing countries where outbreaks of acute hepatitis transmitted via the fecal-oral route are originated, more frequently in the flooding season or after natural disasters, combined with deficient sanitary conditions. There are currently 4 known genotypes of HEV. Genotypes 1 and 2 are isolated in all human epidemic outbreaks in developing countries, while genotypes 3 and 4 are isolated not only in humans but also in animals, in both developing and industrialized countries. These data support genotypes 3 and 4 having zoonotic nature. The diagnosis of this disease is based in the detection of anti-HEV IgG and IgM in blood serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent methods. However, the method that best confirms the diagnosis is the RT-PCR, which detects HEV RNA in blood serum and also provides the genotype. The clinical course is generally that of an acute hepatitis which in some cases may require hospitalization and that, in transplant patients or HIV infected individuals can become a chronic hepatitis. Furthermore, the virus constitutes an important risk for pregnant women. The hepatitis E can present a wide range of symptoms, from a subclinical case to chronic liver disease with extrahepatic manifestations. For this reason, the diagnostic is challenging if no differential diagnosis is included. There is no specific antiviral drug for hepatitis E, but satisfactory results have been observed in some patients treated with pegylated interferon alfa2a and/or ribavirin. This revision is an update of all the molecular, epidemiological, clinic and preventive knowledge on this emergent disease up to date.
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