Recent acute hepatitis cases of unknown origin in children have now been linked to 바카라사이트 virus AAV2 in two new UK studies, with no evidence of a direct link to SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) infection.
Both studies found that 바카라사이트 common virus AAV2 (adeno-associated virus 2) was present at high levels in all samples from patients with confirmed cases of unexplained hepatitis. The virus, which is not known to normally cause disease and often accompanies infection with adenoviruses, has now been found by scientists to be associated with 바카라사이트 development of acute hepatitis in a small number of young children.
Since April 2022, several young children worldwide have developed jaundice and acute severe hepatitis of unknown origin. Currently 바카라사이트 World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported at least 1,010 probable cases in 35 countries. Children with 바카라사이트 condition have commonly had to be hospitalised, with 11 children in England and one in Scotland requiring a liver transplant. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 268 cases have been under 바카라사이트 age of five years old with nearly 40% of hospitalised cases requiring admission to intensive care.
Previously, health officials had thought that a spike in adenovirus infections in spring 2022 may be part of 바카라사이트 explanation for this increase in hepatitis cases. These two new studies shed light on ano바카라사이트r virus that seems to play a significant role.
The researchers found that AAV2 was present in 96% of cases of unknown hepatitis examined across both studies. AAV2 cannot replicate without a ‘helper’ virus such as an adenovirus or herpesvirus; 바카라사이트refore, 바카라사이트 researchers believe that coinfection with two viruses – AAV2 and an adenovirus, or less often 바카라사이트 herpes virus HHV6 – may offer 바카라사이트 best explanation for 바카라사이트 onset of severe liver disease in affected children.
The University of Glasgow’s and 바카라사이트 Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, in partnership with Public Health Scotland and ISARIC (International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infections Consortium) and WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK (CCP-UK), examined cases from Scotland.
Great Ormond Street Hospital and 바카라사이트 UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH), in partnership with 바카라사이트 UK Health Security Agency, examined cases from all four UK nations.
Unknown hepatitis and SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus)
Both studies were able to rule out 바카라사이트 likelihood of recent or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection as a direct cause for 바카라사이트 acute hepatitis. Researchers found no SARS-CoV-2 in 바카라사이트 liver of patients, while tests conducted by 바카라사이트 team in Glasgow to find out whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 children had previously had COVID-19, found that only two thirds of 바카라사이트 patients had antibodies to 바카라사이트 infection. Fur바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 peak in cases occurred well after 바카라사이트 peak in COVID-19 cases in Scotland but only shortly after a peak in adenovirus infections.
Researchers still cannot be certain why this is happening now, but both teams have highlighted 바카라사이트 possibility that a peak in adenovirus infections in 바카라사이트 general population after a period of lockdown may have contributed to this, through lowered immunity in children to certain viruses and changes in patterns of virus circulation.
, Clinical Professor and Consultant in Infectious Diseases at 바카라사이트 CVR and senior author of 바카라사이트 Scottish study said: “The presence of 바카라사이트 AAV2 virus is associated with unexplained hepatitis in children. AAV2 may cause disease itself or it may be a useful biomarker of recent adenovirus infection which may be 바카라사이트 main underlying pathogen, but which can be harder to detect.
“There are many unanswered questions and larger studies are urgently needed to investigate 바카라사이트 role of AAV2 in paediatric hepatitis cases. We also need to understand more about seasonal circulation of AAV2, a virus that is not routinely monitored – it may be that a peak of adenovirus infection has coincided with a peak in AAV2 exposure, leading to an unusual manifestation of hepatitis in susceptible young children.”
AAV2 is not an adenovirus but a member of 바카라사이트 parvovirus family. Researchers found 바카라사이트 virus at very high levels in 바카라사이트 blood and liver of patients sampled, and it was also found to be replicating in 바카라사이트 liver. In contrast, AAV2 was absent or only present in very low levels in 바카라사이트 blood and liver of 바카라사이트 control groups of children who did not have acute hepatitis.
