Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Review Article
Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 2 (10): 582 - 591
http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.aavs/2014/2.10.582.591
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Vikas Saxena1, Sushrut Arora2
1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; 2Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.

*Correspondence | Vikas Saxena, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; Email: vikassaxena79@gmail.com

Abstract
Hepatitis E is a virus mediated liver disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV). There are an estimated 3 million cases of acute HEV infection every year, causing 70,000 hepatitis E-related deaths worldwide. HEV is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Contaminated water and food are main source of infection. HEV is classified in the family Hepeviridae and divided in four putative genera. Genotype 1 and 2 are associated with epidemics in East and South Asia and restricted to humans, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic and associated with cluster cases of hepatitis E in developed countries. HEV strains were isolated from variety of animals and the demonstrated ability of cross-species infection by some of these animal strains have broadened the host range and raised the concern of zoonosis. Pigs, deer and other animal species may serve as a reservoir for HEV. This review highlights the current understanding of HEV infection in humans and animals.

Keywords | Hepatitis, Hepatitis E, Hepatitis E virus, Liver Disease, Zoonosis