Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026

A Cell Culture Model for Producing High Titer Hepatitis E Virus Stocks
Published on: June 26, 2020
Cryptic Hepatitis B and E in Patients With Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology
Lilia Ganova-Raeva1, Lili Punkova1, David S Campo1
1Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Background:
Up to 30% of acute viral hepatitis has no known etiology. To determine the disease etiology in patients with acute hepatitis of unknown etiology (HUE), serum specimens were obtained from 38 patients residing in the United Kingdom and Vietnam and from 26 healthy US blood donors. All specimens tested negative for known viral infections causing hepatitis, using commercially available serological and nucleic acid assays.
Methods:
Specimens were processed by sequence-independent complementary DNA amplification and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Sufficient material for individual NGS libraries was obtained from 12 HUE cases and 26 blood donors; the remaining HUE cases were sequenced as a pool. Read mapping was done by targeted and de novo assembly.
Results:
Sequences from hepatitis B virus (HBV) were detected in 7 individuals with HUE (58.3%) and the pooled library, and hepatitis E virus (HEV) was detected in 2 individuals with HUE (16.7%) and the pooled library. Both HEV-positive cases were coinfected with HBV. HBV sequences belonged to genotypes A, D, or G, and HEV sequences belonged to genotype 3. No known hepatotropic viruses were detected in the tested normal human sera.
Conclusions:
NGS-based detection of HBV and HEV infections is more sensitive than using commercially available assays. HBV and HEV may be cryptically associated with HUE.
Related Concept Videos
Hepatitis
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...

