Hepatitis E virus infection--a new threat for Europe

Abstract

Of 20 million of patients infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) worldwide 57 thousand dies each year. HEV-infection is not longer regarded as a diseases in developing endemic countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The majority of European countries faces increasing number of endemic infections. They are caused by seven different genotypes and be responsible for acute and chronic infections. HEV is of zoonotic origin causing infections in pigs and boars which are a source of infection for humans. Infections occur orally after consumption of infected water or meat. HEV-infection is most dangerous for patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, infected with HIV, after transplantations of solid organs and elderly. In some patients, including pregnant women, acute HEV has a serious course with fatalities reaching even 25%. Chronic HEV-infection may develop in patients following solid organ transplantations and requires long-term antiviral therapy. HEV-infection is a growing public health problem in Europe, which implies the necessity of routine screening in selected populations, especially immunocompromised.