Comparative Pathology Of Hepatitis A Virus And Hepatitis E Virus Infection

Hepatitis Avirus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) cause acute, selflimiting hepatic infections that are usually spread by the fecaloral route in humans. Naturally occurring and experimental infections are possible in a variety of nonhuman primates and, in the case of HEV, a number of other species. Many advances in understanding the pathogenesis of these viruses have come from studies in experimental animals. In general, animals infected with these viruses recapitulate the histologic lesions seen in infected humans, but typically with less severe clinical and histopathological manifestations. This reviewdescribes the histopathologic changes associated with HAV and HEV infection in humans and experimental animals.