Zoonotic Hepatitis E Virus: Classification, Animal Reservoirs and Transmission Routes

• Main Authors: Virginie Doceul, Eugénie Bagdassarian, Antonin Demange, Nicole Pavio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-10-01
• Series: Viruses
• Subjects: hepatitis E virus (HEV); animals; zoonotic reservoir; foodborne transmission
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/8/10/270

During the past ten years, several new hepatitis E viruses (HEVs) have been identified in various animal species. In parallel, the number of reports of autochthonous hepatitis E in Western countries has increased as well, raising the question of what role these possible animal reservoirs play in human infections. The aim of this review is to present the recent discoveries of animal HEVs and their classification within the Hepeviridae family, their zoonotic and species barrier crossing potential, and possible use as models to study hepatitis E pathogenesis. Lastly, this review describes the transmission pathways identified from animal sources.