Hepatitis E: a complex and global disease
Hepatitis E: a complex and global disease
Thirty years after its discovery, the hepatitis E virus (HEV) continues to represent a major public health problem in developing countries. In developed countries, it has emerged as a significant cause of non-travel-associated acute hepatitis. HEV infects a wide range of mammalian species and a key reservoir worldwide appears to be swine. Genomic sequence similarity between some human HEV genotypes and swine HEV strains has been identified and we know that humans can acquire HEV infection from animals. Although for the most part the clinical course of HEV infection is asymptomatic or mild, significant risk of serious disease exists in pregnant women and those with chronic liver disease. In addition, there are data on the threat of chronic infections in immunocompromised patients. Beyond management of exposure by public health measures, recent data support that active immunisation can prevent hepatitis E, highlighting the need for vaccination programmes. Here we review the current knowledge on HEV, its epidemiology, and the management and prevention of human disease.
Pelosi, E
b931aafb-7801-460f-915a-244ac1ef79b5
Clarke, I
ff6c9324-3547-4039-bb2c-10c0b3327a8b
2008
Pelosi, E
b931aafb-7801-460f-915a-244ac1ef79b5
Clarke, I
ff6c9324-3547-4039-bb2c-10c0b3327a8b
Pelosi, E and Clarke, I
(2008)
Hepatitis E: a complex and global disease.
Emerging Health Threats Journal, 1.
(doi:10.3134/ehtj.08.008).
Abstract
Thirty years after its discovery, the hepatitis E virus (HEV) continues to represent a major public health problem in developing countries. In developed countries, it has emerged as a significant cause of non-travel-associated acute hepatitis. HEV infects a wide range of mammalian species and a key reservoir worldwide appears to be swine. Genomic sequence similarity between some human HEV genotypes and swine HEV strains has been identified and we know that humans can acquire HEV infection from animals. Although for the most part the clinical course of HEV infection is asymptomatic or mild, significant risk of serious disease exists in pregnant women and those with chronic liver disease. In addition, there are data on the threat of chronic infections in immunocompromised patients. Beyond management of exposure by public health measures, recent data support that active immunisation can prevent hepatitis E, highlighting the need for vaccination programmes. Here we review the current knowledge on HEV, its epidemiology, and the management and prevention of human disease.
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Published date: 2008
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Local EPrints ID: 191087
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/191087
ISSN: 1752-8550
PURE UUID: 3de68ee1-6cbc-451f-847d-bb36be704baa
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Date deposited: 16 Jun 2011 12:59
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:33
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E Pelosi
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