[Hepatitis E as a zoonosis]

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for large waterborne epidemics of acute hepatitis in endemic regions and for autochthonous sporadic cases in non endemic regions. In contrast to endemic regions where the water vector has been well characterised, very little is known about the way of contamination in non endemic regions. Unlike the other hepatitis viruses, HEV has an animal reservoir. Several lines of evidence, such as phylogenic analysis and direct contamination through infected food products, suggest that animal to human transmissions occur. Despite these observations, all origins of possible human contamination in non endemic areas remain unknown and need to be investi- gated. The high genetic variability of HEV might also be an important risk factor for human contamination and need further survey.