Age-specific antibody to hepatitis E virus has remained constant during the past 20 years in Japan

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses serious risks to pregnant women and their developing fetuses, including increased risk of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and early infant death. Supportive care is currently the standard treatment for pregnant women with HEV infection, but in some cases, ribavirin treatment or early delivery may be indicated. Infants born with acute HEV infection face increased risk of complications and death. Intensive monitoring and support may be required in the neonatal period, particularly for preterm infants. Infants who survive the early neonatal period are likely to recover fully and clear the virus. Immunoassays and molecular methods for diagnosis of HEV have improved markedly over the past decade. New HEV vaccines may provide an opportunity to prevent both maternal illness and mother-to-child transmission (vertical transmission) (MTCT).

Download Full-text

Declining hepatitis E virus antibody prevalence in Phnom Penh, Cambodia during 1996–2017

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268818002790 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 147 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Nouhin ◽

Y. Madec ◽

S. Prak ◽

M. Ork ◽

A. Kerleguer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Virus Antibody ◽

Antibody Prevalence ◽

Emerging Pathogen ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Phnom Penh ◽

The Past ◽

And Gender

AbstractHepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is endemic in Cambodia. However, little relevant data were available and there is no clue if HEV is an emerging or decreasing pathogen in that setting. The aim of our study was to describe temporal trends of anti-HEV IgG and IgM prevalences during the last two decades (1996–2017) in the context of population growth and urbanisation in Cambodia. A total of 2004 human plasma samples collected between 1996 and 2017 were tested for anti-HEV IgG and IgM using the commercial Wantai anti-HEV assays. Overall, the prevalences of anti-HEV IgG and IgM were 41.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Analysis by calendar period showed a decreasing trend of anti-HEV IgG prevalence over the last 21 years. After age- and gender-standardisation, the anti-HEV IgG prevalence rates decreased from 61.3% during the 1996–2000 period to 32.3% during the 2016–2017 period, but no trends were observed for anti-HEV IgM rates, which fluctuated around the overall one. In conclusion, our results suggest that HEV is not an emerging pathogen, but rather seems to circulate less in Cambodia, in particular, in Phnom Penh, since the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG has been significantly decreased during the past two decades.

Download Full-text

Congenital Viral Infection: Traversing the Uterine-Placental Interface

Annual Review of Virology ◽

10.1146/annurev-virology-092917-043236 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 273-299 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Lenore Pereira

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Parvovirus B19 ◽

Intrauterine Infection ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Varicella Zoster ◽

Novel Treatments ◽

The Past ◽

Human Viruses

Why certain viruses cross the physical barrier of the human placenta but others do not is incompletely understood. Over the past 20 years, we have gained deeper knowledge of intrauterine infection and routes of viral transmission. This review focuses on human viruses that replicate in the placenta, infect the fetus, and cause birth defects, including rubella virus, varicella-zoster virus, parvovirus B19, human cytomegalovirus (CMV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and hepatitis E virus type 1. Detailed discussions include ( a) the architecture of the uterine-placental interface, ( b) studies of placental explants ex vivo that provide insights into the infection and spread of CMV and ZIKV to the fetal compartment and how these viruses undermine early development, and ( c) novel treatments and vaccines that limit viral replication and have the potential to reduce dissemination, vertical transmission and the occurrence of congenital disease.

Download Full-text

Phylogenetic analysis of two new complete genomes of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 from Thailand

Molecular Biology Reports ◽

10.1007/s11033-020-05908-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (11) ◽

pp. 8657-8668

Author(s):

Tipsuda Chanmanee ◽

Pravech Ajawatanawong ◽

Suda Louisirirotchanakul ◽

Watcharasak Chotiyaputta ◽

Siwaporn Chainuvati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Acute Viral Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Viral Transmission ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

The Past ◽

Complete Genomes ◽

Genome Study ◽

Siriraj Hospital

AbstractHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a causative agent of acute viral hepatitis globally. Evolutionary phylogeny classifies the HEV into eight genotypes that correlate with the viral transmission. Only four genotypes have been proven to be responsible for transmission in humans. However, there has been no report on the genomics and genotyping of HEV in Thailand during the past ten years. Here, we identified the genotype distributions of the Thai isolates of HEV and we sequenced two HEV genomes. We screened for 18 Thai isolates of HEV from Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, from 2014–2016. The HEV genomes were sequenced from the serum and feces of a patient. The results showed that all Thai isolates of HEV were identified as genotype 3 (HEV-3). The ORF2 and genome phylogenies suggested two subgenotypes, called 3.1 and 3.2. The Thai isolates of HEV were frequently found in the subgenotype 3.1. The genome sequences of the two Thai isolates of HEV from the serum and fecal samples of the same patient showed 91% nucleotide similarity with the HEV genotype 3. Comparisons between the HEV genome and the ORF2 phylogenies illustrated that the ORF2 tree can be used to identify HEV genotypes, but it has less phylogenetic power for the HEV evolution. The two new genome sequences of HEV-3 from Thailand could contribute valuable information to the HEV genome study. (226 words)

Download Full-text

Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Bulgaria: A Brief Analysis of the Situation in the Country

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2019.073 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 458-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Magdalena Baymakova ◽

Georgi T. Popov ◽

Roman Pepovich ◽

Ilia Tsachev

Keyword(s):

Virus Infection ◽

Critical Analysis ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Literature Search ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Health Organizations ◽

Medical Databases ◽

The Past ◽

The World ◽

Current Article

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, more thorough investigations for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection have been done in the world. Reports from Southeast European countries have increased. AIM: The current article presents a critical analysis of all studies for HEV in Bulgaria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search was done using available medical databases. We analysed the literature in PubMed databases and Bulgarian medical databases for English and Bulgarian languages sources. Preference was given to the sources published within the past 24 years (January 1995 – September 2018). RESULTS: Two thousand two hundred and fifty-seven blood serums were tested for the analysed period (1995 – 2018), and 13.1% of them were positive for acute HEV (Mean ± SD: 20.38 ± 25.77%; 95% CI: 1.29 – 39.47%). The following subtypes were established in the country – HEV Subtype 3e, HEV Subtype 3f, HEV Subtype 3c, HEV Subtype 3i, HEV Subtype 3hi and HEV Subtype 1. CONCLUSION: We hope that the National Health Organizations will take adequate and timely measures to increase the knowledge and research for HEV among Bulgarian citizens.

Download Full-text

Animal Models for Hepatitis E Virus

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v11060564 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 564 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura Corneillie ◽

Dominic Banda ◽

Philip Meuleman

Keyword(s):

Animal Models ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Acute Viral Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Medical Problem ◽

Western World ◽

Species Barrier ◽

The Past ◽

Culture Models ◽

Cell Culture Models

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 Orthohepevirus A species of the Hepeviridae 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.

Download Full-text

Hepatitis E virus prevalence among blood donors in Dali, China

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/s12985-021-01607-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ping Fu ◽

Baochai Lin ◽

Bingting Wu ◽

Ling Ke ◽

Tianfu Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Odds Ratio ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Blood Donors ◽

Rna Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

The Past ◽

Virus Prevalence ◽

Iga Antibodies

Abstract Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a nonenveloped RNA virus causing hepatitis E worldwide. The increase in transfusion-transmitted cases of HEV infections from asymptomatic blood donors causing serious illnesses among immunosuppressed recipients has been reported in the past few years. China is one of the most prevalent regions of HEV; as a result, it is important to evaluate the risk of transfusion-transmitted HEV. Methods A total of 1864 serum samples (including demographic characteristics) from blood donors were randomly collected from February to March 2018 in Dali city. Anti-HEV IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies and HEV antigen were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HEV RNA was detected by real-time PCR. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to examine the risk factors associated with HEV prevalence. Results Overall, the positive rates of anti-HEV IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies were 13.36% (249/1864), 1.13% (21/1864), and 1.82% (34/1864), respectively. However, none of the 1864 serum samples were HEV antigen positive or HEV RNA positive. Females (16.69%) had a significantly higher HEV seroprevalence than males (13.04%) (odds ratio [OR] 1.34 [95% CI, 1.02–1.75]). Bai (18.85%) donors had a significantly higher HEV seroprevalence than Han (12.21%) blood donors (odds ratio [OR], 1.65 [95% CI, 1.24–2.19] for Bai). Conclusions HEV showed a seroprevalence among blood donors in Yunnan Province, some of which were even recent infections, indicating a threat to the safety of blood transfusions. Whether to formulate a strategy for HEV screening in blood centres needs further research.

Download Full-text

Orthohepevirus C: An Expanding Species of Emerging Hepatitis E Virus Variants

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9030154 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 154 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bo Wang ◽

Dominik Harms ◽

Xing-Lou Yang ◽

C.-Thomas Bock

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Potential Risk ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Molecular Approach ◽

Genomic Variability ◽

Zoonotic Pathogen ◽

The Past ◽

Interspecies Infection ◽

Animal Reservoirs

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that has received an increasing amount of attention from virologists, clinicians, veterinarians, and epidemiologists over the past decade. The host range and animal reservoirs of HEV are rapidly expanding and a plethora of emerging HEV variants have been recently identified, some of which have the potential for interspecies infection. In this review, the detection of genetically diverse HEV variants, classified into and presumably associated with the species Orthohepevirus C, currently comprising HEV genotypes C1 and C2, by either serological or molecular approach is summarized. The distribution, genomic variability, and evolution of Orthohepevirus C are analyzed. Moreover, the potential risk of cross-species infection and zoonotic transmission of Orthohepevirus C are discussed.

Download Full-text

Hepatitis E Virus in LeberBiopsien von Patienten mit akuter Hepatitis unbekannter Ätiologie

Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie ◽

10.1055/s-0030-1269668 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 49 (01) ◽

Author(s):

C Dorloff ◽

J Hemberger ◽

M Odenthal ◽

H Holzmann ◽

S Aberle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E

Download Full-text