[Is endemic hepatitis E infection present in developed countries?--Accumulating information about the hepatitis E virus and hepatitis E infection].
There are several new data on the acute viral hepatitis particularly on infectious non-A-non-C hepatitis viruses. The hepatitis E virus infection was originally thought to be limited only for certain geographic areas and humans. Recently, it has been demonstrated the genetic diversity and worldwide distribution of hepatitis E virus in human population, as well as, the circulation of the virus in many species of animals. It is evident, that hepatitis E virus can spread by fecally contaminated water (waterborne transmission), by meat of infected animals (food-borne transmission), by animal-human contact (zoonotic transmission), and even by transfusion (blood-borne transmission). The frequency of hepatitis E virus infections among the acute hepatitis cases with unknown origin is supposed to be more than 10%. In the differential diagnosis of hepatitis, possible hepatitis E virus infection must be now taken into account even in those areas and countries, like in Hungary, where the infection was previously thought to be non-endemic. To confirm the clinical diagnosis of hepatitis E virus infection, virus specific ELISA and molecular methods are now available. In the near future, a molecular epidemiological study will be organized for the detection of hepatitis E virus in Hungary in collaboration with 9 European countries.--This review covers all aspects of the hepatitis E virus infection including the characteristics and transmission of the etiological agent, the clinical symptoms, its epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis, and some possible control measures.
Reuter
Gábor
G
Allami Népegészségügyi es Tisztiorvosi Szolgálat Baranya Megyei Intézete, Regionális Virológiai Laboratórium, Pécs.
Szucs
György
G
D019049:Developed Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D014943:Global Health; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014871:Water Microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000821:virology