Strong evidence that AAV2 and underlying genetic predisposition played a key role in child hepatitis cases

There is now strong evidence that the virus AAV2, alongside an underlying genetic predisposition, played a key role in cases of acute hepatitis in children, according to a new study published in Nature - the first detailed research investigation into the worldwide outbreak. The peer-reviewed study, which was led by researchers at the University of Glasgow in collaboration with the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, Public Health Scotland (PHS) and ISARIC (International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infections Consortium) WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK (CCP-UK), found that the common virus AAV2 (adeno-associated virus 2) was present in a range of different samples taken from children with acute unexplained hepatitis. In contrast, AAV2 was not found to be commonly present in samples taken from children in the control groups. Researchers believe that AAV2 virus may have played a key role in the development of acute hepatitis in a small number of young children around the world. The Glasgow team were the first in the world to identify the AAV2 connection with recent childhood hepatitis cases. AAV2 was first identified by scientists in 1965 and infects up to 90% of the population, with most people being infected and developing immunity by the age of 18. The virus is not known to normally cause disease and require co-infection with certain viruses, such as herpes viruses and adenoviruses, the latter cause gastroenteritis as well as cold or flu-like symptoms.