New hepatitis viruses.
Three new hepatitis viruses are reviewed; Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), Hepatitis G Virus (HGV), and Transfusion Transmitted Virus (TTV). Only HEV has been clearly associated with liver damage. It is transmitted by the fecal-oral route and tends to occur in poor socio-economic conditions. Acute disease is diagnosed by the presence of anti-HEV IgM antibodies in the serum. Hepatitis G virus and TTV are transmitted parenterally. HGV is the same agent as GBV-C. Although it is hepatotropic, and high levels of viremia may occur, pathogenicity to the liver has not been proven. TTV may also be transmitted by the fecal-oral route. It is abundant in liver tissue but, like HGV, pathogenicity has not been proven.
Paraná
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R
Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. unif@svn.com.br
Lyra
M
M
D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity