title: Zoonotic origin of hepatitis E.
abstract: The concept of zoonotic viral hepatitis E has emerged a few years ago following the discovery of animal strains of hepatitis E virus (HEV), closely related to human HEV, in countries where sporadic cases of hepatitis E were autochthonous. Recent advances in the identification of animal reservoirs of HEV have confirmed that strains circulating in domestic and wild pigs are genetically related to strains identified in indigenous human cases. The demonstration of HEV contamination in the food chain or pork products has indicated that HEV is frequently a foodborne zoonotic pathogen. Direct contacts with infected animals, consumption of contaminated animal meat or meat products are all potential means of zoonotic HEV transmission. The recent identification of numerous other genetically diverse HEV strains from various animal species poses additional potential concerns for HEV zoonotic infection.
authors.affiliation: UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France; UMR 1161 Virology, INRA, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France; UMR 1161 Virology, Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: Nicole.PAVIO@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavio
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, 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: UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France; UMR 1161 Virology, INRA, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France; UMR 1161 Virology, Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Doceul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat; D010802:Phylogeny; D013552:Swine; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000821:virology*