STUDIES ON THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HEPATITIS E VIRUS IN BULGARIA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a RNA virus that belongs to the family Hepeviridae. The virus causes self-limited acute hepatitis in immunocompetent individuals, but can become chronic or present with extrahepatic manifestations in immunosuppressed patients. In recent years, due to the increased scientific interest in HEV infection, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases have also increased. The first study of HEV infection in Bulgaria was carried out in mid-90s of the last century by Teoharov et al. Ten years later, more in-depth studies of HEV infection began. The main focus was on the evaluation of HEV seroprevalence among different target populations. Attention was also paid to the zoonotic potential of the infection. The aim of the present review is to summarize studies on HEV conducted by Bulgarian authors in regards to HEV seroprevalence among humans and animals, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of HEV infection, and molecular-characteristics of HEV.