Rat hepatitis E virus as an aetiological agent of acute hepatitis of unknown origin

BACKGROUND AND AIM Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV) is an emerging cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. The limited number of ratHEV cases may be associated with the lack of a proper molecular diagnosis method; thus, the clinical impact and breadth of ratHEV as a cause of acute hepatitis remain uncertain. METHODS The study was carried out in four phases. I) Identification: Molecular assays were identified through a literature search. II) Testing: The methods were evaluated in a rodent testing cohort, and the most suitable molecular diagnosis algorithm was established. III) Derivation: The established algorithm was tested in a larger rodent cohort. IV) Clinical validation: The algorithm was used in a cohort of individuals suffering from acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology,…