Possible zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E from pet pig to its owner.

Hepatitis E is transmitted mainly by water or food, but in industrialized countries, all routes of transmission have not been identified. We describe possible zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus that involved direct contact between a pet pig and its owner.

Antiviral effect of ribavirin in early non-responders to interferon monotherapy assessed by kinetics of hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis C virus core antigen.

Background/aims: To evaluate the efficacy of ribavirin, given in second intention in non-responders to interferon alone, by studying viral kinetics.

Methods: We conducted a trial including 203 patients with chronic hepatitis C, naïve of treatment. Patients were treated with interferon three times a week with or without ribavirin and amantadine according to response.

Human leukocyte antigen class II alleles may contribute to the severity of hepatitis C virus-related liver disease.

Whether the host's immune response genes influence the severity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver disease is controversial. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles were analyzed in 233 HCV RNA-positive patients with chronic active hepatitis (197 patients with Knodell index of fibrosis F0-F3 and 36 patients with index of F4). The 2 groups did not differ by sex, duration of infection, mode of contamination, alcohol consumption, or HCV genotype.