While hs-CRP serum levels (Fig. 4a) and whole-blood leukocytes (Online Resource 6A) did not differ between patients with and those without a history of viral hepatitis, HBV/HCV-positive patients (n = 16) had significantly higher IL-6 serum levels than HBV/HCV-negative patients (n = 27) (Fig. 4b). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is animal viral hepatitis.