title: Hepatitis E: A disease of reemerging importance.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Originally considered to be restricted to humans, it is now clear that HEV and HEV-like viruses have several animal reservoirs with complex ecology and genetic diversity, as exemplified by the recent discovery of HEV in dromedaries, a previously underestimated reservoir of zoonotic viruses prior to the emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus. Zoonotic foodborne transmission from pigs and feral animals such as wild boar is of increasing importance in the rapidly industrializing countries of the Asia Pacific region. Such zoonotic hepatitis E infection has particular relevance to the increasing population living with immunosuppression, due to the risk of chronic hepatitis E in these patients. Fortunately, major strides have been made recently in the management of chronic hepatitis E patients. Furthermore, an effective vaccine is also available that promises better control of hepatitis E burden in the near future. This review highlights these major recent developments in the epidemiology, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis E.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Siddharth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sridhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Susanna K P
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: pcywoo@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Patrick C Y
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D016752:Hepatitis E virus; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
keywords: epidemiology; hepatitis E; immunization; immunocompromised patient