Tropisme du virus de l'hépatite E

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an agent responsible for waterborne acute hepatitis in tropical and subtropical areas. Epidemiological and molecular data indicate zoonotic transmission of HEV in industrialized countries. HEV infections can lead to fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women and patients with chronic liver diseases. The virus can persist in immunocompromised patients and lead to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Among mammalian strains, genotypes 1 and 2 HEV are found only in humans. By contrast, genotype 3 and 4 have been characterized both in humans and several animal species (pigs, wild-boars and deers). Avian strains have also been described but they are not transmissible to humans. Further studies are needed to improve our knowledge on the size of animal reservoir and molecular and cellular determinants of viral tropism.