Global Epidemiology of Acute Viral Hepatitis A–E

Worldwide, viral hepatitides are caused by five well-characterized hepatotropic viruses: hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Their epidemiology as well as their pathogenesis have been studied in great detail. Further, the structure and genetic organization of their DNA or RNA genome including the viral life cycle have been elucidated. These discoveries have been successfully translated into important clinical applications, such as the specific diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of the associated liver diseases, including acute or fulminant hepatitis, as well as the long-term sequelae of chronic hepatitis, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).