Walter E
Medizinische Klinik B, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1994 Sep 6;83(36):1008-10.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a newly identified and molecularly characterized RNA virus. HEV has a worldwide distribution. Large epidemics were observed on the Indian subcontinent, in Central and in Southeast Asia. The enterically transmitted HEV infection also occurs in sporadic form. Only few cases of HEV infection with clinically apparent hepatitis were diagnosed in Western Europe and in the USA. HEV infection causes symptoms of a self-limiting, acute, icteric disease similar to those of hepatitis A. Severe and fulminant courses occur more often than with HAV infection. Chronic liver disease or persistent viremia have not been observed. Diagnosis of HEV infection is based on the detection of anti-HEV-antibodies.
戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）是一种新发现并已进行分子特征鉴定的RNA病毒。HEV在全球范围内均有分布。在印度次大陆、中亚和东南亚地区曾观察到大规模的疫情。经肠道传播的HEV感染也呈散发性出现。在西欧和美国，仅诊断出少数几例有临床明显肝炎症状的HEV感染病例。HEV感染会引发一种自限性、急性、黄疸型疾病，其症状与甲型肝炎相似。与甲型肝炎病毒（HAV）感染相比，严重和暴发性病程更为常见。尚未观察到慢性肝病或持续性病毒血症。HEV感染的诊断基于抗HEV抗体的检测。
