title: Hepatitis E: an overview.
abstract: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with icosahedral symmetry. Although it is related to the alpha-virus superfamily, the HEV is classified as a separate Hepatitis E-like viruses genus. Infection in humans occurs in sporadic and epidemic forms and can cause an acute, self-limited, icteric hepatitis. Recent studies indicate the existence of a reservoir in animals.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, LKH-Universitätsklinikum Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, Austria. harald.worm@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Harald C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Worm
authors.forename: Wim H M
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van der Poel
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brandstätter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral