Candidate New Hepatitis Viruses: Juggling with Alphabets

Hepatitis viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV) are attributed to a wide spectrum of acute and chronic liver diseases, including carcinomas. Worldwide, >250 million become chronically infected by HBV and ~150 million by HCV every year. Though, new hepatotropic viruses, such as HGV, GBV, TTV and SENV are identified in chronic liver diseases, thousands still suffer of unknown etiology. Despite a protective vaccine against HBV and effective antiviral drugs against HBV, HCV and HEV, millions are dying every year. Nevertheless, viral hepatitis can be prevented by providing safe food and water, effective drugs, vaccines, and screening of donated blood samples etc. The future challenges to combat new hepato viruses include a need for constant surveillance, efficient diagnosis, and developing new drugs and vaccines.