Adeno-associated virus 2 infection in children with non-A–E hepatitis

  • Antonia Ho
  • , Richard Orton
  • , Rachel Tayler
  • , Emma C. Thomson (Corresponding Author)
  • , DIAMONDS Consortium
  • , ISARIC4C Investigators
  • , Dace Zavadska (Member of the Working Group)
  • , Sniedze Laivacuma (Member of the Working Group)
  • , Aleksandra Rudzate (Member of the Working Group)
  • , Diāna Stoldere (Member of the Working Group)
  • , Arta Barzdina (Member of the Working Group)
  • , Elza Barzdina (Member of the Working Group)
  • , Monta Madelane (Member of the Working Group)
  • , Dagne Grāvele (Member of the Working Group)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

112 Citations (Scopus)
6 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

An outbreak of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children was reported in Scotland 1 in April 2022 and has now been identified in 35 countries2. Several recent studies have suggested an association with human adenovirus with this outbreak, a virus not commonly associated with hepatitis. Here we report a detailed case–control investigation and find an association between adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) infection and host genetics in disease susceptibility. Using next-generation sequencing, PCR with reverse transcription, serology and in situ hybridization, we detected recent infection with AAV2 in plasma and liver samples in 26 out of 32 (81%) cases of hepatitis compared with 5 out of 74 (7%) of samples from unaffected individuals. Furthermore, AAV2 was detected within ballooned hepatocytes alongside a prominent T cell infiltrate in liver biopsy samples. In keeping with a CD4+ T-cell-mediated immune pathology, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II HLA-DRB1*04:01 allele was identified in 25 out of 27 cases (93%) compared with a background frequency of 10 out of 64 (16%; P = 5.49 × 10−12). In summary, we report an outbreak of acute paediatric hepatitis associated with AAV2 infection (most likely acquired as a co-infection with human adenovirus that is usually required as a ‘helper virus’ to support AAV2 replication) and disease susceptibility related to HLA class II status.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)555-563
Number of pages9
JournalNature
Volume617
Issue number7961
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 May 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Field of Science*

  • 3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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