Purcell R H, Emerson S U
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-8009, USA.
J Hepatol. 2008 Mar;48(3):494-503. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2007.12.008. Epub 2008 Jan 2.
Although hepatitis E was recognized as a new disease in 1980, the virus was first visualized in 1983 and its genome was cloned and characterized in 1991, the disease is probably ancient but not recognized until modern times. Hepatitis E is the most important or the second most important cause of acute clinical hepatitis in adults throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In contrast, hepatitis E is rare in industrialized countries, but antibody (anti-HEV) is found worldwide. HEV is a small round RNA-containing virus that is the only member of the genus Hepevirus in the family Hepeviridae. Although similar to hepatitis A virus in appearance, there are significant differences between the two viruses. Hepatitis E is principally the result of a water-borne infection in developing countries and is thought to be spread zoonotically (principally from swine) in industrialized countries. Because diagnostic tests vary greatly in specificity, sensitivity and availability, hepatitis E is probably underdiagnosed. At present, control depends upon improved hygiene; a highly efficacious vaccine has been developed and tested, but it is not presently available.
尽管戊型肝炎于1980年被确认为一种新疾病，但其病毒于1983年首次被观察到，其基因组于1991年被克隆和鉴定，这种疾病可能由来已久，但直到现代才被认识。戊型肝炎是亚洲、中东和非洲成年人急性临床肝炎最重要或第二重要的病因。相比之下，戊型肝炎在工业化国家很少见，但抗戊型肝炎病毒抗体（抗-HEV）在全球范围内都能检测到。戊型肝炎病毒是一种含RNA的小圆病毒，是戊型肝炎病毒科戊型肝炎病毒属的唯一成员。尽管其外观与甲型肝炎病毒相似，但两种病毒之间存在显著差异。在发展中国家，戊型肝炎主要是水源性感染的结果，在工业化国家则被认为是人畜共患病传播（主要来自猪）。由于诊断测试在特异性、敏感性和可及性方面差异很大，戊型肝炎可能未得到充分诊断。目前，防控措施依赖于改善卫生条件；一种高效疫苗已研发并进行了测试，但目前尚未上市。
