title: Consensus proposals for classification of the family Hepeviridae.
abstract: The family Hepeviridae consists of positive-stranded RNA viruses that infect a wide range of mammalian species, as well as chickens and trout. A subset of these viruses infects humans and can cause a self-limiting acute hepatitis that may become chronic in immunosuppressed individuals. Current published descriptions of the taxonomical divisions within the family Hepeviridae are contradictory in relation to the assignment of species and genotypes. Through analysis of existing sequence information, we propose a taxonomic scheme in which the family is divided into the genera Orthohepevirus (all mammalian and avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolates) and Piscihepevirus (cutthroat trout virus). Species within the genus Orthohepevirus are designated Orthohepevirus A (isolates from human, pig, wild boar, deer, mongoose, rabbit and camel), Orthohepevirus B (isolates from chicken), Orthohepevirus C (isolates from rat, greater bandicoot, Asian musk shrew, ferret and mink) and Orthohepevirus D (isolates from bat). Proposals are also made for the designation of genotypes within the human and rat HEVs. This hierarchical system is congruent with hepevirus phylogeny, and the three classification levels (genus, species and genotype) are consistent with, and reflect discontinuities in the ranges of pairwise distances between amino acid sequences. Adoption of this system would include the avoidance of host names in taxonomic identifiers and provide a logical framework for the assignment of novel variants.
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Donald B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simmonds
authors.lastname: Members Of The International Committee On The Taxonomy Of Viruses Study Group
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jameel
authors.affiliation: Special Volunteer, Retired Head Molecular Hepatitis Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.affiliation: University College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Xiang-Jin
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi-ken, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim H M
authors.initials: WHM
authors.lastname: Van der Poel
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Purdy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral