Animal models of hepatitis E infection: Advances and challenges
Ze Xiang a , # , Xiang-Lin He a , # , Chuan-Wu Zhu b , # , Jia-Jia Yang c , Lan Huang d , Chun Jiang d , Jian Wu d , ∗; Chinese Consortium for the Study of Hepatitis E (CCSHE)
a Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310030, China
b Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Suzhou, Suzhou 215007, China
c Department of Infection Management, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215008, China
d Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215008, China
Abstract：Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Although most of HEV infections are asymptomatic, some patients will develop the symptoms, especially pregnant women, the elderly, and patients with preexisting liver diseases, who often experience anorexia, nausea, vomiting, malaise, abdominal pain, and jaundice. HEV infection may become chronic in immunosuppressed individuals. In addition, HEV infection can also cause several extrahepatic manifestations. HEV exists in a wide range of hosts in nature and can be transmitted across species. Hence, animals susceptible to HEV can be used as models. The establishment of animal models is of great significance for studying HEV transmission, clinical symptoms, extrahepatic manifestations, and therapeutic strategies, which will help us understand the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of hepatitis E. This review summarized the animal models of HEV, including pigs, monkeys, rabbits, mice, rats, and other animals. For each animal species, we provided a concise summary of the HEV genotypes that they can be infected with, the crossspecies transmission pathways, as well as their role in studying extrahepatic manifestations, prevention, and treatment of HEV infection. The advantages and disadvantages of these animal models were also emphasized. This review offers new perspectives to enhance the current understanding of the research landscape surrounding HEV animal models.
. [J]. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int, 2024, 23(2): 171-180.
Xiang Z, He XL, Zhu CW, Yang JJ, Huang L, Jiang C, Wu J; Chinese Consortium for the Study of Hepatitis E (CCSHE). Animal models of hepatitis E infection: Advances and challenges. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int, 2024, 23(2): 171-180.
2024, Vol. 23 
