Acute Hepatitis E Virus Infection Research Articles

Prognosis of Acute HEV Infection in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis: A Retrospective Study of 628 Chinese Patients.

Acute hepatitis E virus infection is a serious global health problem, which a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to characterise the clinical features and therapeutic response of patients with acute HEV infection and identify risk factors for poor prognosis. In a retrospective study from 01 January 2014 to 01 Januray 2022, we collected baseline data from all patients eligible for acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and followed up with all patients via interviews and medical records. We explored the clinical feature of Chinese patients with acute HEV infection. The follow-up data of patients were used to identify risk factors for poor prognosis. In total, 628 acute hepatitis E (AHE) patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and did not meet the exclusion criteria. Among them, 452 were males and 176 were females (M:F = 2.57:1). The median age at diagnosis was 57.0 years (interquartile range: 46-64 years). The median baseline serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL) were elevated in this cohort (642.3 U/L, 216.2 U/L, 104.1 μmol/L, respectively). The median hospitalisation duration was 16 days. Compared with patients without other liver diseases, patients with liver cirrhosis show lower baseline ALT and AST level, poorer coagulation indices and higher MELD scores. According to multivariate analysis, liver cirrhosis, high MELD score, low albumin concentration was found to be independent predictors of poor prognosis in patients with AHE. Our study used a lager sample size to validate that some demographic and serological features were quite different between patients with/without CLDs. Liver cirrhosis was a significant independent predictor of poor prognosis in acute HEV hepatitis.

Hepatitis E Virus in Individuals Undergoing Heparin Therapy: An Observational Serological and Molecular Study.

Heparin is derived from swine and has been suggested as a possible source of HEV. To study the potential risk of HEV infection associated with heparin treatment, two groups of individuals were compared. Sera from heparinized (N=93) and non-heparinized individuals (N=111) were tested for markers of acute HEV infection and anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence. An acute HEV case was defined by the presence of anti-HEV IgM and/or HEV RNA. From the 93 heparinized individuals, one was positive for IgM and IgG anti-HEV and two were positive for HEV RNA (for both ORF3 and ORF2), and there were a total of two (2.2%) cases of current or recent HEV infection. From the 111 non-heparinized individuals, three were positive for IgM anti-HEV, one was positive for both IgM and IgG anti-HEV, and none was positive for HEV RNA, and there were a total of three (2.7%) cases of current or recent HEV infection. The difference between HEV cases in the heparinized individuals and the non-heparinized individuals was not statistically significant (2.2% vs. 2.7%; p = 0.799). Concerning IgG anti-HEV, it was detected in 32 individuals from the heparinized group and in 18 from the non-heparinized control group. A statistically significant difference was observed in the presence of anti-HEV IgG in heparinized individuals and controls (p = 0.003). This study has not found any association between heparin treatment and acute HEV infection, but has shown the use of therapeutic heparin as a risk factor for IgG anti-HEV seropositivity.

Pathogenesis and clinical features of severe hepatitis E virus infection

The hepatitis E virus (HEV), a member of the Hepeviridae family, is a small, non-enveloped icosahedral virus divided into eight distinct genotypes (HEV-1 to HEV-8). Only genotypes 1 to 4 are known to cause diseases in humans. Genotypes 1 and 2 commonly spread via fecal-oral transmission, often through the consumption of contaminated water. Genotypes 3 and 4 are known to infect pigs, deer, and wild boars, often transferring to humans through inadequately cooked meat. Acute hepatitis caused by HEV in healthy individuals is mostly asymptomatic or associated with minor symptoms, such as jaundice. However, in immunosuppressed individuals, the disease can progress to chronic hepatitis and even escalate to cirrhosis. For pregnant women, an HEV infection can cause fulminant liver failure, with a potential mortality rate of 25%. Mortality rates also rise amongst cirrhotic patients when they contract an acute HEV infection, which can even trigger acute-on-chronic liver failure if layered onto pre-existing chronic liver disease. As the prevalence of HEV infection continues to rise worldwide, highlighting the particular risks associated with severe HEV infection is of major medical interest. This text offers a brief summary of the characteristics of hepatitis developed by patient groups at an elevated risk of severe HEV infection.

Testing Hepatitis E Seroprevalence among HIV-Infected Patients in Greece: The SHIP Study.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses significant health concerns worldwide, particularly among people living with HIV (PLWHIV), due to an increased risk of chronic infection and progression to cirrhosis in individuals with low CD4 cell counts. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, chronicity potential, and risk factors of HEV infection among PLWHIV in Greece, where data are currently absent. A synchronic multicentric study encompassing five major Greek university hospitals was executed over 24 months, recruiting 696 PLWHIV participants. The prevalence of HEV IgG antibodies was 16.5%, with 8.6% showing evidence of acute HEV infection (HEV IgM). Active viral replication (HEV RNA) was present in 2.3% of the study population. Longitudinal analysis revealed that of the 25 initially anti-HEV IgM-positive individuals, only 3 seroconverted to IgG positivity, and among those with prior HEV RNA positivity (16), none showed evidence of active replication in subsequent tests. Comparative subgroup analysis highlighted the lack of significant differences in HIV-related parameters between HEV seropositive and seronegative individuals. Laboratory evaluations generally showed no significant disparities across most parameters; however, a higher seropositivity for Hepatitis A was observed in the HEV-positive subgroup. Our findings highlight a considerable prevalence of HEV among PLWHIV in Greece, with no observed cases of chronicity.

Global Burden and Evolving Understanding of Hepatitis E Virus

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide, recognized as a significant global public health concern. Recent advancements in understanding the natural history of HEV infection have shed light on its epidemiology and clinical implications. The primary mode of HEV transmission is fecal-oral, occurring through contaminated water or food. Parenteral transmission, particularly through blood transfusions, was initially overlooked but has been increasingly recognized in both developing and industrialized countries. Acute HEV infection typically manifests as self-limiting jaundice, particularly in immunocompetent individuals. However, recent data suggest that acute infection can progress to a chronic form in various immunosuppressive conditions, including solid organ transplantation, hematological malignancies, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Chronic HEV can lead to cirrhosis, which may progress rapidly in some cases. Extrahepatic manifestations, particularly neurological complications, have also been reported. HEV remains underdiagnosed globally due to a lack of awareness among healthcare providers in many regions. Advances in serological and molecular assays have facilitated reliable diagnosis, both in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Ribavirin monotherapy has proven effective in treating chronic HEV infection in immunosuppressed individuals and is currently widely recommended. However, its efficacy in acute HEV remains inconclusive. In 2011, an effective and well-tolerated HEV vaccine was developed and approved in China. This vaccine holds promise for high-risk populations, particularly individuals with cirrhosis and travelers to endemic regions.

An Immunocompetent Mongolian Gerbil Model for Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 1 Infection

BACKGROUND & AIMSHepatitis E virus (HEV), primarily genotype 1 (HEV-1), causes approximately 20.1 million infections, 44000 deaths, and 3000 stillbirths annually. Current evidence indicates that HEV-1 is only transmitted in humans. Here, we evaluated whether Mongolian gerbils can serve as animal models for HEV-1 infection. METHODSMongolian gerbils were used for HEV-1 and HEV-3 infection experiments. HEV infection parameters, including detection of HEV RNA and HEV antigen, liver function assessment, and histopathology, were evaluated. RESULTSWe adapted a clinical isolate of HEV-1 for Mongolian gerbils by serial passaging in feces of aged male gerbils. The gerbil-adapted strain obtained at passage 3 induced a robust, acute HEV infection, characterized by stable fecal virus shedding, elevated liver enzymes, histopathological changes in the liver, and seroconversion to anti-HEV. An infectious cDNA clone of the adapted virus was generated. HEV-1-infected pregnant gerbils showed a high rate of maternal mortality and vertical transmission. HEV RNA or antigens were detected in the liver, kidney, intestine, placenta, testis, and fetus liver. Liver and placental transcriptomic analyses indicated activation of host immunity. Tacrolimus prolonged HEV-1 infection, whereas ribavirin cleared infection. The protective efficacy of a licensed HEV vaccine was validated using this model. CONCLUSIONSHEV-1 efficiently infected Mongolian gerbils. This HEV-1 infection model will be valuable for investigating hepatitis E immunopathogenesis and evaluating vaccines and antivirals against HEV.

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection Among Immunocompromised Individuals: A Brief Narrative Review.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus that belongs to Hepeviridae family. HEV is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are estimated 20 million HEV infections worldwide every year, leading to estimated 3.3 million symptomatic cases of HEV infection. The WHO estimates that HEV infection caused approximately 44,000 deaths in 2015, which represents 3.3% of mortality rates due to viral hepatitis. In low-income (LI) countries and lower-middle-income (LMI) countries, HEV is a waterborne infection induced by HEV genotype (gt) 1 and HEV gt 2 that cause large outbreaks and affect young individuals with a high mortality rate in pregnant women from South Asian countries and patients with liver diseases. HEV gt 3, HEV gt 4, and HEV gt 7 are responsible for sporadic infections with zoonotic transmission mainly through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from different animals. Acute HEV infection is relatively asymptomatic or mild clinical form, in rare cases the disease can be moderate/severe clinical forms and result in fulminant hepatitis or acute liver failure (ALF). Furthermore, HEV infection is associated with extrahepatic manifestations, including renal and neurological clinical signs and symptoms. Pregnant women, infants, older people, immunocompromised individuals, patients with comorbidities, and workers who come into close contact with HEV-infected animals are recognized as major risk groups for severe clinical form of HEV infection and fatal outcome. Chronic HEV infection can occur in immunocompromised individuals with the possibility of progression to cirrhosis.

Clinical and virological profile of locally acquired acute hepatitis E in South Bulgaria.

Acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is recognized as a zoonosis in several European countries. We describe the characteristics and outcomes of locally acquired acute HEV hepatitis. A prospective study was conducted among adult patients with acute HEV hepatitis at the University Hospital in Plovdiv, South Bulgaria between January 2020 and May 2022. An acute HEV infection case was a patient with acute hepatitis and laboratory-confirmed anti-HEV IgM antibodies and/or HEV RNA in serum. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and outcomes were recorded. A total of 46 patients were selected. Median age of 65 years (interquartile range [IQR] 50.8-74.3). 28 (60.87%) were male. 22 (47.83%) had comorbidities such as diabetes (15), liver cirrhosis (3), hepatitis B virus infection (2), and malignancies (2). Of the 46, 18 (39.13%) patients were viremic and, HEV genotype 3 was detected. The median (IQR) serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, platelet, and international normalized ratio levels were 992 (495.8-1714.3) U/L, 715 (262.5-1259.3) U/L, 204 (132.3-235.5) µmol/L, 204 (132.3-235.5) ×109 L, and 1.0 (0.89-1.19), respectively. Six patients with underlying liver diseases had severe hepatitis. A young patient with osteoarthritis progressed to acute liver failure and died. The persistent HEV infection was ruled out in 2 malignant patients who tested HEV RNA negative three months after discharge. Acute HEV hepatitis is a diagnosis to consider after excluding other causes of acute viral hepatitis. A diagnostic workup should include timely testing for HEV to identify the most vulnerable to severe consequences.

Efficient formation and maintenance of humoral and CD4 T-cell immunity targeting the viral capsid in acute-resolving hepatitis E infection

CD4 T cells shape the neutralizing antibody (nAb) response and facilitate viral clearance in various infections. Knowledge of their phenotype, specificity and dynamics in hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is limited. HEV is enterically transmitted as a naked virus (nHEV) but acquires a host-derived quasi-envelope (eHEV) when budding from cells. While nHEV is composed of the open reading frame (ORF)-2-derived capsid, eHEV particles also contain ORF3-derived proteins. We aimed to longitudinally characterize the HEV-specific CD4 T cells targeting ORF1, 2 and 3 and antibodies against nHEV or eHEV in immunocompetent individuals with acute and resolved HEV infection. HEV-specific CD4 T cells were analyzed by intracellular cytokine staining after stimulation with in silico-predicted ORF1- and ORF2-derived epitopes and overlapping peptides spanning the ORF3 region. Exvivo multiparametric characterization of capsid-specific CD4 T cells was performed using customized MHC class II tetramers. Total and neutralizing antibodies targeting nHEV or eHEV particles were determined. HEV-specific CD4 T-cell frequencies and antibody titers are highest in individuals with acute infection and decline in a time-dependent process with an antigen hierarchy. HEV-specific CD4 T cells strongly target the ORF2-derived capsid and ORF3-specific CD4 T cells are hardly detectable. NAbs targeting nHEV are found in high titers while eHEV particles are less efficiently neutralized. Capsid-specific CD4 T cells undergo memory formation and stepwise contraction, accompanied by dynamic phenotypical and transcriptional changes over time. The viral capsid is the main target of HEV-specific CD4 T cells and antibodies in acute-resolving infection, correlating with efficient neutralization of nHEV. Capsid-specific immunity rapidly emerges followed by a stepwise contraction several years after infection. The interplay of CD4 T cells and neutralizing antibody responses is critical in the host defense against viral infections, yet little is known about their characteristics in hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. We conducted a longitudinal study of immunocompetent individuals with acute and resolved HEV infection to understand the characteristics of HEV-specific CD4 T cells and neutralizing antibodies targeting different viral proteins and particles. We found that HEV-specific CD4 T cells mainly target capsid-derived epitopes. This correlates with efficient neutralization of naked virions while quasi-enveloped particles are less susceptible to neutralization. As individuals with pre-existing liver disease and immunocompromised individuals are at risk for fulminant or chronic courses of HEV infection, these individuals might benefit from the development of vaccination strategies which require a detailed knowledge of the composition and longevity of HEV-specific CD4 T-cell and antibody immunity.

Inborn errors of type I interferon immunity in patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis E.

The clinical spectrum of human infection by HEV ranges from asymptomatic to severe acute hepatitis. Furthermore, HEV can cause diverse neurological manifestations, especially Parsonage-Turner syndrome. Here, we used a large-scale human genomic approach to search for genetic determinants of severe clinical presentations of HEV infection. We performed whole genome sequencing in 3 groups of study participants with PCR-proven acute HEV infection: (1) 24 patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis E; (2) 12 patients with HEV-associated Parsonage-Turner syndrome; and (3) 16 asymptomatic blood donors (controls). For variant calling and annotation, we used GATK4 best practices followed by Variant Effect Predictor (VEP) and Annovar. For variant classification, we implemented the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology Bayesian classification framework in R. Variants with a probability of pathogenicity >0.9 were considered damaging. We used all genes with at least 1 damaging variant as input for pathway enrichment analyses.We observed a significant enrichment of type I interferon response pathways in the symptomatic hepatitis group: 10 out of 24 patients carried a damaging variant in one of 9 genes encoding either intracellular viral sensors ( IFIH1 , DDX58 , TLR3 , POLR3B , POLR3C ) or other molecules involved in type I interferon response [interferon regulatory factor 7 ( IRF7 ), MYD88 , OAS3 , GAPDH ]. We did not find any enriched pathway in the Parsonage-Turner syndrome group or in the controls. Our results highlight the essential role of type I interferon in preventing symptomatic acute hepatitis E.

Correlation of hepatitis E and rat hepatitis E viruses urban wastewater monitoring and clinical cases

BackgroundWastewater pathogen monitoring is useful for surveillance of enteric pathogens. Information about the presence of Paslahepevirus balayani (HEV) and emergent Rocahepevirus ratti (RHEV) in untreated water and their correlation with clinical cases is scarce.AimTo longitudinally monitor HEV and RHEV in wastewater and to evaluate their possible correlation with human cases. MethodsThis study was carried out in the city of Cordoba (southern Spain) from March 2021 to March 2023. HEV and RHEV occurrence were evaluated by PCR in three sample types: i) sera from patients with acute hepatitis attended at the reference hospital, ii) liver and faeces from urban rodents, and iii) grab sewage samples collected weekly from the municipal wastewater treatment plant. ResultsWe analysed 106 untreated wastewater samples, 304 individuals with acute hepatitis, and 20 rodents. HEV and RHEV were detected in only one (0.9 %) and almost all samples (94.3 %) of wastewater samples, respectively. A total of 22 cases of acute HEV infection (7.2 %) and two cases of RHEV (0.7 %) were detected from all acute hepatitis cases observed. Only RHEV was found in rodents, with a positive frequency of 55 %. The presence of HEV in wastewater coincided with the detection of one case in which the same HEV genotype was isolated. A concentration of HEV clinical cases between June and July of 2022 was observed but not detected in water. Both RHEV clinical cases were detected in summer 2022, but no correlation was found with wastewater detection. ConclusionsOur study shows that there is no correlation between clinical cases and wastewater detection of HEV or RHEV.

Distinct disease features of acute and persistent genotype 3 hepatitis E virus infection in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed Mongolian gerbils.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes self-limited acute hepatitis in immunocompetent individuals and can establish chronic infection in solid organ transplant recipients taking immunosuppressive drugs. A well characterized small animal model is needed to understand HEV pathogenesis. In this study, we established a robust model to study acute and persistent HEV infection using Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) with or without immunosuppression. Gerbils were implanted subcutaneously with continuous release tacrolimus pellet to induce immunosuppression. Gerbils with or without tacrolimus treatment were inoculated with HEV intraperitoneally. Viremia, fecal virus shedding, serum antibody and ALT levels, liver histopathological lesions, hepatocyte apoptosis, and liver macrophage distribution were assessed. Mild to moderate self-limited hepatitis and IgM and IgG antibody responses against HEV ORF2 were observed in immunocompetent gerbils. Levels of HEV-specific IgM responses were higher and lasted longer in immunocompetent gerbils with higher peak viremia. Persistent viremia and fecal virus shedding with either weak, or absent HEV antibody levels were seen in immunosuppressed gerbils. Following HEV infection, serum ALT levels were increased, with lower and delayed peaks observed in immunosuppressed compared to immunocompetent gerbils. In immunocompetent gerbils, foci of apoptotic hepatocytes were detected that were distributed with inflammatory infiltrates containing CD68+ macrophages. However, these foci were absent in immunosuppressed gerbils. The immunosuppressed gerbils showed no inflammation with no increase in CD68+ macrophages despite high virus replication in liver. Our findings suggest adaptive immune responses are necessary for inducing hepatocyte apoptosis, CD68+ macrophage recruitment, and inflammatory cell infiltration in response to HEV infection. Our studies show that Mongolian gerbils provide a promising model to study pathogenesis during acute and persistent HEV infection.

Hepatitis E Virus Infections: Epidemiology, Genetic Diversity, and Clinical Considerations.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 20 million people worldwide are infected annually with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). There are four main genotypes of HEV. Genotype 1 and genotype 2 are common in developing countries and are transmitted by contaminated water from a fecal-oral route. Genotype 3 and genotype 4 are common in developed countries and can lead to occasional transmission to humans via undercooked meat. Hepatitis E virus 1 and HEV3 can lead to fulminant hepatitis, and HEV3 can lead to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in immunocompromised patients. The majority of patients with HEV infection are asymptomatic and usually have spontaneous viral clearance without treatment. However, infection in immunocompromised individuals can lead to chronic HEV infection. Both acute and chronic HEV infections can have extrahepatic manifestations. No specific treatment is required for acute HEV infection, no treatment has been approved in chronic infection, and no HEV vaccine has been approved by the (United States) Food and Drug Administration. This review focuses on the molecular virology (HEV life cycle, genotypes, model systems, zoonosis), pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, and treatment of chronic HEV infection, especially in immunocompromised patients, to provide clinicians a better understanding of the global distribution of these infections and the significant effect they can have on immunocompromised patients.

Comparative Analysis on Clinical Characteristics Among Patients with Acute Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) and Patients with Acute Hepatitis E Virus (HEV): A Single-Center Retrospective Study from Bulgaria.

The acute viral hepatitis was one of the most common conditions in daily clinical practice varying in different parts of the world. The aim of the present study was to perform a comparative analysis on clinical characteristics among patients with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and patients with acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection admitted to the Military Medical Academy (MMA), Sofia, Bulgaria. A retrospective study was performed at MMA, between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2021. The etiological diagnosis was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) HAV/HEV IgM serology assays. The current survey included 231 patients with mean age 45.11 ± 16.08 years (95% confidence interval: 43.04-47.19). According to the case definition, inclusion and exclusion criteria, persons were divided into two groups: patients with acute HAV infection (68.4%; 158/231) and patients with acute HEV infection (31.6%; 73/231). Males with HEV had 3.091 times the odds of comorbidity "hypertension" than males with HAV (p = 0.032). There were almost equal odds of increased ALT (odds ratio = 0.999; p = 0.003) in men with HEV and men with HAV. Females with HEV had 5.161 times the odds of comorbidity "hypertension" compared with females with HAV (p = 0.049). We found almost equal odds for elevated ALT in women with HEV and women with HAV (OR = 0.999; p = 0.025). In the non-elderly group (<60-year-old), HEV individuals had 4.544 and 10.560 times the odds of comorbidities "hypertension" and "cardiovascular diseases" compared with HAV patients (p < 0.05). We found almost equal odds for elevated ALT in HEV patients and HAV participants (OR = 0.998; p = 0.002). The results from the current study may support the physicians daily care for patients with acute HAV and acute HEV.

Treatment Options for Hepatitis A and E: A Non-Systematic Review.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis E are relatively common causes of liver disease. Both viruses are mainly transmitted through the faecal-oral route and, consequently, most outbreaks occur in countries with poor sanitation. An important role of the immune response as the driver of liver injury is also shared by the two pathogens. For both the hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis E (HEV) viruses, the clinical manifestations of infection mainly consist of an acute disease with mild liver injury, which results in clinical and laboratory alterations that are self-limiting in most cases. However, severe acute disease or chronic, long-lasting manifestations may occur in vulnerable patients, such as pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals or those with pre-existing liver disease. Specifically, HAV infection rarely results in fulminant hepatitis, prolonged cholestasis, relapsing hepatitis and possibly autoimmune hepatitis triggered by the viral infection. Less common manifestations of HEV include extrahepatic disease, acute liver failure and chronic HEV infection with persistent viraemia. In this paper, we conduct a non-systematic review of the available literature to provide a comprehensive understanding of the state of the art. Treatment mainly consists of supportive measures, while the available evidence for aetiological treatment and additional agents in severe disease is limited in quantity and quality. However, several therapeutic approaches have been attempted: for HAV infection, corticosteroid therapy has shown outcome improvement, and molecules, such as AZD 1480, zinc chloride and heme oxygenase-1, have demonstrated a reduction in viral replication in vitro. As for HEV infection, therapeutic options mainly rely on the use of ribavirin, and some studies utilising pegylated interferon-alpha have shown conflicting results. While a vaccine for HAV is already available and has led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of the disease, several vaccines for HEV are currently being developed, with some already available in China, showing promising results.

Temporal changes in the genotypes of Paslahepevirus balayani in southern Spain and their possible link with changes in pig trade imports

IntroductionPaslahepevirus balayani (HEV) is an endemic zoonotic disease ranked as a major cause of acute hepatitis in Europe. Most infections occurring in Europe are due to the endemic several subtypes of genotype 3, through the consumption of raw or undercooked pork, observing a genotype geographical distribution pattern among countries Because of global changes in the pig and pork trading markets, subtype distribution might vary. We aimed to evaluate the temporal distribution of HEV genotypes in patients from southern Spain with acute hepatitis to determine whether these changes were related to the pig import trade during the study period between 2018 and 2022. MethodsProspective longitudinal study including patients with acute hepatitis from southern Spain between 2018 and 2022. HEV RNA and antibodies was tested in all patients. In patients with detectable HEV RNA, genotype was obtained. To determine the number of imported pigs and their origins, we checked the official data from the Spanish statistics on international trade of Spanish Minister of Industry during by country of origin during the same study period. ResultsA total of 659 patients with acute hepatitis were included in the study. Among them, 162 (24.5%) had at least one marker (IgM or RNA) of acute HEV infection. Among the 71 patients with detectable viral RNA, genotypes could be obtained for 58 (81.6%). The most prevalent HEV genotype was 3f (n = 48; 78.6%), showing a decreasing prevalence of over time, from 100% in 2018 to 70.6% in 2022. Since 2021, the emergence of other genotypes has been determined. A significant increase in the number of animals imported was observed since the beginning of the study. Denmark experienced a significant rise, from 0.03% in 2018 of total imports to 10.4% in 2022. ConclusionsHEV molecular diversity is changing in Spain, could be linked to changes in fattening pig import origin.

Oral Zinc Supplementation in Chronically HEV-Infected Patients Not Responding to Ribavirin Monotherapy

Background: Chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection may progress to end-stage liver disease in immunosuppressed individuals. Ribavirin therapy is efficient in most chronic HEV patients, but 10% remain without a sustained virological response (SVR). Objectives: We aimed to study whether zinc supplementation could represent a therapeutic approach in these patients. Methods: Antiviral properties of zinc salts were studied in vitro (subgenomic-replicon system), in vivo (rabbit model), and retrospectively in patients with chronic hepatitis E who did not achieve SVR under ribavirin monotherapy. Results: Zinc inhibited HEV genotype 3 replication in vitro. In a model of acute HEV infection in immunocompetent rabbits, zinc + ribavirin did not improve viral clearance compared to ribavirin monotherapy. In chronically HEV-infected patients not responding to ribavirin (n = 12), viral clearance was observed in 4/12 (33%) patients receiving additional zinc supplementation. Conclusions: Oral zinc, an inexpensive, harmless dietary supplement, could potentially represent a rescue treatment option for a few patients with chronic hepatitis E without SVR under ribavirin monotherapy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of zinc in HEV.

The first reported hepatitis E outbreak in a food manufacturing factory: Korea, 2022.

On February 16, 2022, 12 cases of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection were reported in a food manufacturing factory in Korea. The aim of this study was to identify additional cases and to determine the source of this HEV outbreak. This study was an in-depth investigation of 12 HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM)-positive cases and their demographic, clinical, and epidemiological characteristics. On-site specimens were collected from the environment and from humans, and a follow-up investigation was conducted 2 to 3 months after the outbreak. Among 80 production workers in the factory, 12 (15.0%) had acute HEV infection, all of whom were asymptomatic. The follow-up investigation showed that 3 cases were HEV IgMpositive, while 6 were HEV IgG-positive. HEV genes were not detected in the HEV IgM-positive specimens. HEV genes were not detected in the food products or environmental specimens collected on-site. HEV was presumed to be the causative pathogen. However, it could not be confirmed that the source of infection was common consumption inside the factory. This was the first domestic case of an HEV infection outbreak in a food manufacturing factory in Korea. Our results provide information for the future control of outbreaks and for the preparation of measures to prevent domestic outbreaks of HEV infection.

Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated with Immunosuppressive Therapy.

Medical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has evolved significantly, and treatment with immunomodulators is recommended. These medications may alter the patient's immune response and increase the risk of opportunistic infections. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and the incidence of acute or chronic HEV infection in IBD patients under immunomodulatory treatment. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observational study between 2017 and 2018. IBD outpatients hospitalized for the infusion of immunomodulators were included in 16 French centers. During their daily hospitalization, blood samples were drawn for HEV serology (IgM and IgG) and HEV RNA detection. A total of 488 patients were included, of which 327 (67%) patients had Crohn's disease and 161 (33%) ulcerative colitis. HEV IgM was detected in 3 patients, but HEV RNA was undetectable in all patients. The HEV IgG seroprevalence rate was 14.2%. IgG-positive patients were older at sampling (p = 0.01) and IBD diagnosis (p = 0.03), had higher seafood consumption (p = 0.01) and higher doses of azathioprine (p = 0.03). Ileal and upper digestive tract involvement was more frequent in IgG-positive patients (p = 0.009), and ileocolic involvement was more frequent in IgG-negative patients (p = 0.01). Under multivariate analysis, age > 50 years [OR: 2.21 (1.26, to 3.85), p = 0.004] was associated with previous HEV infection. Systematic screening for HEV infection is not needed among IBD patients on immunomodulatory medications. However, in the event of abnormal liver test findings, HEV should be part of the classic diagnostic assessment.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus after pediatric liver transplantation.

Southeast Asia is the endemic area of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of the virus, its association, and the prevalence of chronic infection after pediatric liver transplantation (LT). A cross-sectional study was performed in Bangkok, Thailand. Patients aged <18 years who had LT for >2 years underwent serologic and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) tests. Acute HEV infection was defined by the presence of positive anti-HEV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and HEV viremia from the rt-PCR. If the viremia persisted for >6 months, chronic HEV infection was diagnosed. A total of 101 patients had a median age of 8.4 years [interqartile range (IQR): 5.8-11.7]. The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG and IgM was 15% and 4%, respectively. Positive IgM and/or IgG were associated with a history of elevated transaminases with an unknown cause after LT (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). The presence of HEV IgM was associated with a history of elevated transaminases with an unknown cause within 6 months (p = 0.01). The two patients (2%) diagnosed with chronic HEV infection did not fully respond to the reduction of immunosuppression but responded well to ribavirin treatment. Seroprevalence of HEV among pediatric LT recipients was not rare in Southeast Asia. Since HEV seropositivity was associated with elevated transaminases of an unknown cause, investigation for the virus should be offered in LT children with hepatitis after excluding other etiologies. Pediatric LT recipients with chronic HEV infection may receive a benefit from a specific antiviral treatment.