Evaluation of Orthohepevirus C Infection as an Emerging Cause of Zoonotic Origin Disease

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical impact of Orthohepevirus C infection in different human populations, and to determine its zoonotic origin comparing the sequences obtained in both human and animal populations. This is an ambispective study where Orthohepevirus C infection will be evaluated in four high risk human population: i) patients with acute hepatitis, ii) patients with positive IgM antibody against Hepatitis E virus infection with undetectable viral load, iii) HIV infected individuals, and iv) solid organ transplant recipients. Furthermore, we will analyze three animal populations: i) suburban rodents, ii) domestic rodents, iii) wild carnivores. Viral sequences identified in both human and animal populations will be compared to evaluate the zoonotic origin of the infections.