Markers of rat hepatitis E virus, belonging to the Rocahepevirus genus of the family Hepeviridae, have previously been identified in domestic dogs and cats in Hong Kong, as well as in rats. Sergei Netesov, virologist, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of the laboratory of bionanotechnology, microbiology and virology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Novosibirsk State University, told socialbites.ca.
“More recently, virology scientists in Hong Kong have found antibodies to the rat hepatitis E virus in cats and dogs. True, the live virus has not yet been identified in them, but the fact of the presence of antibodies indicates the possible spread of this virus to humans through these pets.” Therefore, this situation needs to be urgently examined in different countries, including Russia,” the academician stated.
Rat hepatitis E virus in humans was first identified in a liver transplant patient.
“This is understandable because after such surgery, patients take drugs that suppress the immune system to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. The virus can also affect HIV-infected people at a much higher rate than healthy people. The fact is that these individuals often already have a weakened immune system and represent the category of people to whom the virus can adapt to healthy people, Netesov said, such patients are much more easily infected with almost any pathogen.
According to the academician, there is no definitive data yet on how common the rat hepatitis E virus is in different countries, but according to the virologist, it is more likely to be found in the three groups of people listed below.
“These are people who have had organ transplants, people with HIV and homosexuals. The expert stated that these people are at risk because they engage in unusual sexual practices that cause much greater trauma and lead to a decrease in immunity.
used to be a doctor said About methods of treating rat hepatitis E.
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Source: Gazeta
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