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International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2017Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis globally. Zoonotic HEV is an important cause of chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. The rapid... (Review)
Review
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis globally. Zoonotic HEV is an important cause of chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. The rapid identification of novel HEV variants and accumulating sequence information has prompted significant changes in taxonomy of the family Hepeviridae. This family includes two genera: , which infects terrestrial vertebrates, and , which infects fish. Within , there are four species, A-D, with widely differing host range. A contains the HEV variants infecting humans and its significance continues to expand with new clinical information. We now recognize eight genotypes within A: HEV1 and HEV2, restricted to humans; HEV3, which circulates among humans, swine, rabbits, deer and mongooses; HEV4, which circulates between humans and swine; HEV5 and HEV6, which are found in wild boars; and HEV7 and HEV8, which were recently identified in dromedary and Bactrian camels, respectively. HEV7 is an example of a novel genotype that was found to have significance to human health shortly after discovery. In this review, we summarize recent developments in HEV molecular taxonomy, epidemiology and evolution and describe the discovery of novel camel HEV genotypes as an illustrative example of the changes in this field.
Topics: Animals; Camelus; Evolution, Molecular; Female; Genetic Variation; Genome, Viral; Genomics; Genotype; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Humans; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; Swine; Zoonoses
PubMed: 28425927
DOI: 10.3390/ijms18040869 -
The Journal of Hospital Infection Apr 2023Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis, and mainly transmitted via faecal-oral contamination or consumption of contaminated food...
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis, and mainly transmitted via faecal-oral contamination or consumption of contaminated food products. However, limited data on the surface stability and HEV sensitivity to chemical disinfectants are available.
AIM
To establish an HEV-based carrier assay to evaluate its surface stability and the virucidal activity of nine surface disinfectants.
METHODS
A recently developed robust HEV-3 cell culture system for an HEV-based carrier assay.
FINDINGS
Alcohol-based disinfectants were insufficient to eliminate HEV infectivity, whereas disinfectants based on aldehyde, peracetic acid, oxygen, and/or quaternary ammonium inactivated HEV.
CONCLUSION
These findings have strong implications for the recommendation of evidence-based hygiene guidelines to reduce HEV transmission.
Topics: Humans; Hepatitis E virus; Disinfectants; Peracetic Acid; Ethanol; Aldehydes; Virus Inactivation
PubMed: 36746308
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.013 -
Current Opinion in Virology Oct 2018Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause chronic infections in immunosuppressed patients with adverse clinical outcomes. Intervention strategies are limited with ribavirin... (Review)
Review
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause chronic infections in immunosuppressed patients with adverse clinical outcomes. Intervention strategies are limited with ribavirin (RBV) being the only main therapeutic option as off-label drug. Recent reports on RBV monotherapy failures show a coherence with the presence of certain single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and in-frame insertions in the hypervariable region of open reading frame 1 in the HEV genome. Importantly, some of the alterations were present in the viral population as minor variant before RBV administration. Individualized infection medicine by early detection of emerging viral variants in patients could improve treatment outcome and prognosis.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; Genome, Viral; Genotype; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Hepatitis, Chronic; Humans; Interferon-alpha; Open Reading Frames; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Ribavirin; Treatment Failure
PubMed: 30384328
DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2018.10.001 -
BMC Veterinary Research Jun 2021Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is agent causing hepatitis worldwide. Originally considered to be limited to developing countries, this virus was also detected in developed...
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is agent causing hepatitis worldwide. Originally considered to be limited to developing countries, this virus was also detected in developed countries. In recent years an increasing number of reports indicate that farmed domestic pigs are widely infected with HEV in several European countries. The HEV status in Slovakia is still missing.
RESULTS
In this study, the circulation of HEV among domestic swine in Slovakia and genetic diversity of the virus was studied. Overall HEV RNA was detected in 53/388 (13.7, 95% CI: 10.40-17.48%) pig rectal swabs in five production stages (age categories) with statistically significant differences among all the stages. The highest HEV prevalence was observed in weaners 24/81 (29.6, 95% CI: 19.99-40.81%) and then significantly declined in growers and fatteners. No HEV was detected in suckling piglets and sows. Twenty-eight partial sequences of ORF1 (242 bp) and seventeen of ORF2 (304 bp) were analysed. Phylogenetic analysis and p-distance comparisons confirmed in both ORFs that all Slovak HEV sequences belong to the genotype HEV-3, major clade 3abchij with higher identity to 3a and 3i subtypes. Three sequences were outside of all lastly updated HEV-3 subtypes.
CONCLUSION
This is the first report to fill the information gap about HEV infection in pigs in Slovakia. The results suggested a lower prevalence of HEV in Slovak pig farms than observed in other European countries. While most HEV isolates were typed as HEV-3 clade 3abchij, three sequences were unclassified.
Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Genetic Variation; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; Slovakia; Sus scrofa; Swine; Swine Diseases
PubMed: 34193126
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02936-4 -
Cells Mar 2022Hepatitis C virus (HCV) constitutes a global health problem, while hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute viral hepatitis globally. HCV/HEV co-infections...
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) constitutes a global health problem, while hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute viral hepatitis globally. HCV/HEV co-infections have been poorly characterized, as they are hampered by the lack of robust HEV cell culture systems. This study developed experimental models to study HCV/HEV co-infections and investigate viral interference in cells and humanized mice.
METHODS
We used state-of-the art human hepatocytes tissue culture models to assess HEV and HCV replication in co- or super-transfection settings. Findings were confirmed by co- and super-infection experiments in human hepatocytes and in vivo in human liver chimeric mice.
RESULTS
HEV was inhibited by concurrent HCV replication in human hepatocytes. This exclusion phenotype was linked to the protease activity of HCV. These findings were corroborated by the fact that in HEV on HCV super-infected mice, HEV viral loads were reduced in individual mice. Similarly, HCV on HEV super-infected mice showed reduced HCV viral loads.
CONCLUSION
Direct interference of both viruses with HCV NS3/4A as the determinant was observed. In vivo, we detected reduced replication of both viruses after super-infection in individual mice. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of HCV-HEV co-infections and should contribute to its clinical management in the future.
Topics: Animals; Coinfection; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis E virus; Mice; Viral Interference; Virus Replication
PubMed: 35326378
DOI: 10.3390/cells11060927 -
Viruses Jun 2019Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an underdiagnosed pathogen with approximately 20 million infections each year and currently the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis.... (Review)
Review
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an underdiagnosed pathogen with approximately 20 million infections each year and currently the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis. HEV was long considered to be confined to developing countries but there is increasing evidence that it is also a medical problem in the Western world. HEV that infects humans belongs to the species of the family. Novel HEV-like viruses have been observed in a variety of animals and some have been shown to be able to cross the species barrier, causing infection in humans. Several cell culture models for HEV have been established in the past years, but their efficiency is usually relatively low. With the circulation of this virus and related viruses in a variety of species, several different animal models have been developed. In this review, we give an overview of these animal models, indicate their main characteristics, and highlight how they may contribute to our understanding of the basic aspects of the viral life cycle and cross-species infection, the study of pathogenesis, and the evaluation of novel preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus
PubMed: 31216711
DOI: 10.3390/v11060564 -
Viruses Aug 2016Although most hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are asymptomatic, some can be severe, causing fulminant hepatitis and extra-hepatic manifestations, including... (Review)
Review
Although most hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are asymptomatic, some can be severe, causing fulminant hepatitis and extra-hepatic manifestations, including neurological and kidney injuries. Chronic HEV infections may also occur in immunocompromised patients. This review describes how our understanding of the pathogenesis of HEV infection has progressed in recent years.
Topics: Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans
PubMed: 27527210
DOI: 10.3390/v8080212 -
Viruses May 2021Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. While the transmission in developing countries is dominated by fecal-oral route via drinking... (Review)
Review
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. While the transmission in developing countries is dominated by fecal-oral route via drinking contaminated water, the zoonotic transmission is the major route of HEV infection in industrialized countries. The discovery of new HEV strains in a growing number of animal species poses a risk to zoonotic infection. However, the exact mechanism and the determinant factors of zoonotic infection are not completely understood. This review will discuss the current knowledge on the mechanism of cross-species transmission of HEV infection, including viral determinants, such as the open reading frames (ORFs), codon usage and adaptive evolution, as well as host determinants, such as host cellular factors and the host immune status, which possibly play pivotal roles during this event. The pathogenesis of hepatitis E infection will be briefly discussed, including the special forms of this disease, including extrahepatic manifestations, chronic infection, and fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Codon; Evolution, Molecular; Genome, Viral; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Open Reading Frames; Recombination, Genetic; Species Specificity; Zoonoses
PubMed: 34069006
DOI: 10.3390/v13050909 -
BMC Veterinary Research Sep 2020Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic disease and has been reported around the world. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the sero-prevalence and...
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic disease and has been reported around the world. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the sero-prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of HEV in Vietnam. Pig blood and fecal pooled samples were collected to assess the prevalence of HEV. We assessed the true prevalence (TP) of HEV from apparent prevalence (AP) by taking into account the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests using a Bayesian approach. For phylogenetic analysis, the data compared with worldwide HEV reference strains including all eight genotypes (G1-G8) which were identified in previous study.
RESULTS
A total of 475 sera and 250 fecal pooled samples were collected at slaughterhouses and pig farms from five provinces, in Viet Nam. Overall, the sero-AP of HEV was 58.53% (95% confidence interval: 53.95-62.70) while the sero-TP was slightly higher (65.43, 95% credible interval: 47.19-84.70). In terms of pooled samples, overall, the RNA-AP was 6.80% (95% confidence interval: 4.01-10.66). One strain in Hanoi, two strains in Dak Lak, seven strains in An Giang, four strains in Son La and two strains in Nghe An were isolated. The phylogenetic tree demonstrated that 19 Vietnamese strains were clustered into HEV 3 and 4.
CONCLUSIONS
This study provided evidence that HEV is circulating in domestic pigs in Vietnam. From a public health perspective, it is very important to raise public awareness for high-risk groups (e.g. slaughterhouse workers, pig traders, farmers and market sellers) who have more opportunities to come in contact with pig and contaminated meats.
Topics: Animals; Feces; Female; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Male; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sus scrofa; Swine; Swine Diseases; Vietnam
PubMed: 32928220
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02537-7 -
Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2020The pathogenicity of each hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes/subtypes may be different. This study aimed to investigate the infectivity and pathogenicity of different HEV...
The pathogenicity of each hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes/subtypes may be different. This study aimed to investigate the infectivity and pathogenicity of different HEV genotypes/subtypes from different mammalian sources especially human in rabbits, and to assess whether rabbits are an appropriate animal model to study different HEV genotypes/subtypes. Thirty-seven rabbits were randomly divided into nine groups and inoculated with eight different HEV strains, including human-derived HEV3b (hHEV-3b), hHEV-4a, hHEV-4d and hHEV-4h, swine-derived HEV4d (sHEV-4d) and sHEV-4h, rabbit-derived HEV3 (HEV-3ra) and camel-derived HEV8. HEV RNA, antigen, anti-HEV and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum or/and feces were monitored weekly. One rabbit from each group was euthanized at seven weeks post inoculation and the liver specimens were taken for histopathological analysis and immunofluorescence staining of HEV ORF2 proteins. hHEV-4d, sHEV-4d and HEV-3ra infections were successfully established in rabbits and typical acute hepatitis symptoms were observed, including viraemia/antigenemia, fecal virus/antigen shedding, elevated ALT level and liver histopathological changes. One rabbit infected with HEV-3ra showed chronic infection. hHEV-4d and sHEV-4d are less infectious and pathogenic than HEV-3ra in rabbits. hHEV-3b and HEV8 only caused inapparent infection in rabbits as 60% (3/5) and 20% (1/5) of the rabbits seroconverted to anti-HEV, respectively. No obvious signs of HEV infection in rabbits inoculated with hHEV-4a, hHEV-4h and sHEV-4h. The infectivity and pathogenicity of different HEV genotypes/subtypes in rabbits is different, which may be related to the species specificity of HEV. Rabbit can be used as an animal model for the study of HEV-3ra and more importantly human HEV-4d.
Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Camelus; Disease Models, Animal; Genotype; Hepatitis Antibodies; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Humans; Liver; Phylogeny; RNA, Viral; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Species Specificity; Swine; Viral Proteins; Virulence
PubMed: 33251979
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1858178