Hepatitis E virus: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:38, 30 August 2022

Background

Microbiology

Refers to viruses in the Hepeviridae family of RNA viruses
- Genus Orthohepevirus, which infects terrestrial mammals and contains species A-D
  - HEV-A is the main human pathogen
    - Genotypes 1 and 2 only infect humans
    - Genotypes 3 and 4 circulate in pigs but can infect humans
  - HEV-C circulates in rodents and ferrets
- Genus Piscihepevirus, which infects the cutthroat trout and is not of clinical interest
Four genotypes, g1 through g4

Epidemiology

Present globally
g1 and g2 are more common in developing countries
- Cause epidemic hepatitis
- Transmitted fecal-orally
- Associated with contaminated water and poor sanitation
g3 and g4 more common in the North America and Europe
- Zoonoses associated with pigs; humans are incidental hosts
- Most severe infections in pregnant women
May also be transmitted by transplant or transfusion

Clinical Manifestations

Incubation period of about 4 to 6 weeks
Flu-like prodrome lasting 1 to 10 days with a low-grade fever, followed by hepatitis
May develop pale stools, dark urine, and jaundice
Hepatomegaly and sometimes splenomegaly
- Cholestasis more common in pregnant women
Liver enzyme abnormalities, over 1000 initially, and hyperbilirubinemia
Usually self-limited, but some patients progress to fulminant hepatitis
In immunocompromised patients, may lead to chronic infection and cirrhosis
Particularly high mortality rate in pregnant women (25% in third trimester)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Background ==
 === Microbiology ===
-* Member of the Hepeviridae family of RNA viruses
+* Refers to viruses in the [[Family::Hepeviridae]] family of RNA viruses
+** Genus [[Genus::Orthohepevirus]], which infects terrestrial mammals and contains species A-D
-* Gour genotypes, g1 through g4
+*** HEV-A is the main human pathogen
+**** Genotypes 1 and 2 only infect humans
+**** Genotypes 3 and 4 circulate in pigs but can infect humans
+*** HEV-C circulates in rodents and ferrets
+** Genus [[Piscihepevirus]], which infects the cutthroat trout and is not of clinical interest
+* Four genotypes, g1 through g4
 === Epidemiology ===
+* Present globally
 * g1 and g2 are more common in developing countries
 ** Cause epidemic hepatitis
@@ Line 12: / Line 19: @@
 ** Zoonoses associated with pigs; humans are incidental hosts
 ** Most severe infections in pregnant women
+* May also be transmitted by transplant or transfusion
-== Clinical Presentation ==
+== Clinical Manifestations ==
-* Incubation period of about 4 to 6 weeks
+* Incubation period of about [[Usual incubation period::4 to 6 weeks]]
-* Flu-like prodrome lasting 1 to 10 days with a low-grade fever, followed by hepatitis
+* Flu-like prodrome lasting 1 to 10 days with a low-grade [[Causes::fever]], followed by [[Causes::hepatitis]]
-* May develop pale stools, dark urine, and jaundice
+* May develop [[Causes::pale stools]], [[Causes::dark urine]], and [[Causes::jaundice]]
-* Hepatomegaly and sometimes splenomegaly
+* [[Causes::Hepatomegaly]] and sometimes [[splenomegaly]]
-** Cholestasis more common in pregnant women
+** [[Cholestasis]] more common in pregnant women
-* Liver enzyme abnormalities, over 1000 initially, and hyperbilirubinemia
+* Liver enzyme abnormalities, over 1000 initially, and [[Causes::hyperbilirubinemia]]
-* Can progress to fulminant hepatitis
+* Usually self-limited, but some patients progress to fulminant hepatitis
+* In immunocompromised patients, may lead to chronic infection and [[cirrhosis]]
 * Particularly high mortality rate in pregnant women (25% in third trimester)
-[[Category:RNA viruses]]
+[[Category:Hepeviridae]]