scholarly journals Identity of a Novel Swine Hepatitis E Virus in Taiwan Forming a Monophyletic Group with Taiwan Isolates of Human Hepatitis E Virus

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 3828-3834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sen-Yung Hsieh ◽  
Xiang-Jin Meng ◽  
Ying-Hua Wu ◽  
Shih-Tung Liu ◽  
Albert W. Tam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
The United States ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
History Of ◽  
Swine Hepatitis ◽  
Acute Hepatitis E ◽  
Swine Strain

Recently, we found that more than 10% of the cases of acute non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis in Taiwan were caused by a novel strain of hepatitis E virus (HEV). Since none of these patients had a history of travel to areas where HEV is endemic, the source of transmission remains unclear. The recent discovery of a swine HEV in herd pigs in the United States has led us to speculate that HEV may also circulate in herd pigs in Taiwan and may serve as a reservoir for HEV in Taiwan. Of 275 herd pigs obtained from 10 pig farms in Taiwan, 102 (37%) were seropositive for serum anti-HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG). A 185-bp genomic sequence within the ORF-2 of the HEV genome was amplified and cloned from serum samples of an anti-HEV positive pig and subsequently from serum samples of a patient with acute hepatitis E. Sequence comparison revealed that the swine and human isolates of HEV share 97.3% identity. Phylogenetic analyses further showed that the Taiwan swine and human isolates of HEV form a distinct branch divergent from all other known strains of HEV, including the U.S. swine strain. To examine the potential risk of cross-species transmission of swine HEV to humans, the seroprevalences of anti-HEV IgG in 30 swine handlers, 20 pork dealers, and 50 control subjects were assessed and were found to be 26.7, 15, and 8%, respectively (for swine handlers versus controls,P = 0.048). Our findings may help provide an understanding of the modes of HEV transmission and may also raise potential public health concerns for HEV zoonosis.

scholarly journals Genetic and Experimental Evidence for Cross-Species Infection by Swine Hepatitis E Virus

1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 9714-9721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang-Jin Meng ◽  
Patrick G. Halbur ◽  
Max S. Shapiro ◽  
Sugantha Govindarajan ◽  
Jeremy D. Bruna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
The United States ◽  
Amino Acid Identity ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Swine Hepatitis ◽  
The U.S

ABSTRACT Prior to the recent discovery of the swine hepatitis E virus (swine HEV) in pigs from the midwestern United States, HEV was not considered endemic to this country. Since swine HEV is antigenically and genetically related to human strains of HEV, it was important to characterize this new virus further. The infectivity titer of a pool of swine HEV in pigs was determined in order to prepare a standardized reagent and to evaluate the dose response in pigs. Although the sequence of swine HEV varied extensively from those of most human strains of HEV, it was very closely related to the two strains of human HEV (US-1 and US-2) isolated in the United States. The U.S. strains which were recently recovered from two patients with clinical hepatitis E in the United States shared ≥97% amino acid identity with swine HEV in open reading frames 1 and 2. Phylogenetic analyses of different regions of the genome revealed that swine HEV and the U.S. strains grouped together and formed a distinct branch. These results suggested that swine HEV may infect humans. When we inoculated rhesus monkeys and a chimpanzee, experimental surrogates of humans, with swine HEV, the primates became infected. Furthermore, in a reciprocal experiment, specific-pathogen-free pigs were experimentally infected with the US-2 strain of human HEV that is genetically similar to swine HEV. These results provided experimental evidence for cross-species infection by the swine virus. Thus, humans appear to be at risk of infection with swine HEV or closely related viruses.

Rat Hepatitis E Virus Linked to Severe Acute Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Patient

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (6) ◽  
pp. 951-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Andonov ◽  
Mark Robbins ◽  
Jamie Borlang ◽  
Jingxin Cao ◽  
Todd Hatchette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
The United States ◽  
Immunocompetent Patient ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Animal Reservoir ◽  
Hepatitis Infection ◽  
Severe Acute Hepatitis

Abstract Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major public health concern in developing countries where the primary transmission is via contaminated water. Zoonotic HEV cases have been increasingly described in Europe, Japan, and the United States, with pigs representing the main animal reservoir of infection. We report an unusual acute hepatitis infection in a previously healthy man caused by a rat HEV with a considerably divergent genomic sequence compared with other rat HEV strains. It is possible that rat HEV is an underrecognized cause of hepatitis infection, and further studies are necessary to elucidate its potential risk and mode of transmission.

scholarly journals Development of a novel immunoperoxidase monolayer assay for detection of swine Hepatitis E virus antibodies based on stable cell lines expressing the ORF3 protein

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanbin Liang ◽  
Heng Wang ◽  
Liangquan Zhang ◽  
Honglang Gu ◽  
Guihong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Line ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Orf3 Protein ◽  
Porcine Serum ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Swine Hepatitis ◽  
Novel Method

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains are classified into 4 genotypes by nucleotide sequencing. Genotypes 3 and 4 infect humans and animals via HEV-contaminated food or water. HEV RNA was detected by PCR and antibodies were detected by ELISA. Since human studies showed that HEV IgG antibodies in sera can persist for extended periods, diagnosis of HEV infection in swine or humans is mainly based on serological detection using commercial ELISA kits. However, there is no supplemental method to verify ELISA results. Hence, we developed a novel method used for mutual correction of these common processes. Here, a modified stable HepG2 cell line was transfected with pcDNA3.1-ORF3 to express the swine HEV ORF3 protein. Based on this cell line, a novel immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) was developed to detect antibodies against HEV. The results show that this method has good specificity, sensitivity and repeatability. When used to investigate 141 porcine serum samples, the IPMA had a coincidence rate of 92.2% with a commercial ELISA kit. The established IPMA described herein is valuable as a supplemental method to ELISA and can differentiate infections by HEV and other viruses.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E virus infection in 6-month-old pigs in Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Hui Liao ◽  
Fang-Tzy Wu ◽  
Huimin Bai ◽  
Yen Hai Doan ◽  
Jyh-Yuan Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Entire Genome ◽  
Entire Genome Sequence ◽  
Detection Frequency ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
Acute Hepatitis E

Abstract Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute hepatitis E. Genotype 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) HEV have recently been identified in and isolated from swine as the main HEV genotypes worldwide. However, there is limited information on HEV infection status among pigs in Taiwan, especially pigs in the stage before transportation to the slaughterhouse. To determine the frequency of HEV infection among pigs in Taiwan, we detected and quantified HEV RNA contained in 295 fecal specimens collected from 6-month-old pigs bred in 30 pig farms located in 8 counties. We found that 25.1% (74/295) of the fecal specimens were positive for HEV RNA by a quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the copy number ranged from 2.3 × 103 to 2.08 × 107 copies/g. Amplification of a 338 bp sequence in ORF2 was achieved in 16 of 74 HEV RNA-positive samples, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Two HEV sequences appeared to belong to subtype 3a of G3 and the remaining 14 HEV sequences belonged to subtype 4b of G4 (G4b). The entire genome sequence of two G4b HEVs was obtained by next-generation sequence analyses, and the phylogenetic analyses indicated that unique G4b HEVs were circulating in pig farms in Taiwan. In the present study, we found that both G3 and G4 HEVs were circulating in Taiwanese pig farms and G4b was the predominant subtype. In addition, the relatively high detection frequency of HEV RNA in the 6-month-old pigs indicated that Taiwanese pigs just before transportation to the slaughterhouse are at risk of carrying HEVs, and thus thorough cooking or heating of pork meat or organs is needed before consumption in Taiwan and possibly in other countries as well.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E virus in Italy: molecular analysis of travel-related and autochthonous cases

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (7) ◽  
pp. 1617-1626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina La Rosa ◽  
Michele Muscillo ◽  
Valentina Spuri Vennarucci ◽  
Anna Rosa Garbuglia ◽  
Patrizia La Scala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
The Body ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Specific Primers ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Acute Hepatitis E

Human hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emerging pathogen in industrialized countries. The aim of the present study was to contribute to the body of knowledge available on the molecular epidemiology of acute hepatitis E in Italy. Three sets of HEV-specific primers targeting the ORF1 and ORF2 were used to examine serum samples collected from acute hepatitis patients positive for anti-HEV IgG and/or IgM, between 2007 and 2010. Seventeen patients (39.5 %) tested HEV RNA-positive: 12 infections, due to genotype 1, were associated with travel to endemic areas (Bangladesh, India and Pakistan), while five infections, due to genotype 3, were presumably autochthonous. Risk factors identified in this group included exposure to raw seafood, pork liver sausages and wild boar. Results from the present study confirm that human HEV infection in Italy is caused by different genotypes, depending on whether the infection is travel-related or autochthonous.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies in Canadian Swine Herds and Identification of a Novel Variant of Swine Hepatitis E Virus

2001 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1213-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongwan Yoo ◽  
Philip Willson ◽  
Yanlong Pei ◽  
M. Anthony Hayes ◽  
Anne Deckert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Orf3 Protein ◽  
Canadian Isolate ◽  
Novel Variant ◽  
Swine Hepatitis ◽  
Virus Sequence ◽  
Swine Herds

ABSTRACT Swine hepatitis E virus is a newly identified potentially zoonotic virus from pigs of particular concern for possible direct transmission to a human xenotransplant recipient by organ transplantation. In the present study, prevalence of serum antibodies to hepatitis E virus was examined in Canadian swine herds. A total of 998 serum samples collected from 6-month-old healthy slaughter hogs were examined by enzyme immunoassay and Western blot analysis for antibodies to the recombinant open reading frame 3 (ORF3) protein of hepatitis E virus expressed in Escherichia coli. These samples represented more than 80 different swine production units from five major swine-producing provinces across Canada. From this study, 594 samples (59.4%) were found to be positive for hepatitis E virus antibody. The seroprevalence was higher in Quebec (88.8%) and Ontario (80.1%) than in Alberta and Saskatchewan (38.3%). By PCR using a pair of oligonucleotide primers deduced from the ORF2 sequence of human hepatitis E virus, a specific hepatitis E virus sequence was recovered from feces of pigs. The nucleotide sequence identity between the U.S. swine hepatitis E virus and the Canadian isolate (SK3) was only 85.8%, suggesting that genotypic variations may exist in swine hepatitis E virus in North America. Among 165 serum samples collected from humans in Saskatchewan, 2.4% were found to be positive for antibodies to the hepatitis E virus ORF3 protein. Our data indicate that hepatitis E virus is highly prevalent in commercial swine populations in Canada and support the suggestion that the swine hepatitis E virus may be an important zoonotic agent for humans.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Imported and Domestic Camels in Saudi Arabia – A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Molecular Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherif A. El-Kafrawy ◽  
Ahmed M. Hassan ◽  
Mai M. El-Daly ◽  
Mohammed Al-Hajri ◽  
Elmoubashar Farag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Molecular Study ◽  
Amino Acid Difference ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses

Abstract Camels gained attention since the discovery of MERS-CoV as intermediary hosts for potentially epidemic zoonotic viruses. DcHEV is a novel zoonotic pathogen associated with camel contact. This study aimed to genetically characterize DcHEV in domestic and imported camels in Saudi Arabia. DcHEV was detected by RT-PCR in serum samples, PCR-positive samples were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. DcHEV was detected in 1.77% of samples with higher positivity in domestic DCs. All positive imported dromedaries were from Sudan with age declining prevalence. Domestic DcHEV sequences clustered with sequences from Kenya, Somalia, and UAE while imported sequences clustered with one DcHEV isolate from UAE and both sequences clustered away from isolates reported from Pakistan. Full-genome sequences showed 24 amino acid difference with reference sequences. Our results confirm the detection of DcHEV in domestic and imported DCs. Further investigations are needed in human and camel populations to identify DcHEV potential zoonosis threat.

scholarly journals Distribution and Genetic Diversity of Hepatitis E Virus in Wild and Domestic Rabbits in Australia

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1637
Author(s):  
Maria Jenckel ◽  
Ina Smith ◽  
Tegan King ◽  
Peter West ◽  
Patrick L. Taggart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Rabbit Liver ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Domestic Rabbits ◽  
First Time

In 2020, Hepatitis E virus (HEV) was detected for the first time in Australian rabbits. To improve our understanding of the genetic diversity and distribution of the virus, 1635 rabbit liver samples from locations across Australia were screened via RT-qPCR for HEV. HEV genomes were amplified and sequenced from 48 positive samples. Furthermore, we tested 380 serum samples from 11 locations across Australia for antibodies against HEV. HEV was detected in rabbits from all states and territories, except the Northern Territory. Seroprevalence varied between locations (from 0% to 22%), demonstrating that HEV is widely distributed in rabbit populations across Australia. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Australian HEV sequences are genetically diverse and that HEV was likely introduced into Australia independently on several occasions. In summary, this study broadens our understanding of the genetic diversity of rabbit HEV globally and shows that the virus is endemic in both domestic and wild rabbit populations in Australia.

scholarly journals Cross-Species Transmission of Swine Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 to Rabbits

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Hoon Han ◽  
Byung-Joo Park ◽  
Hee-Seop Ahn ◽  
Yong-Hyun Kim ◽  
Hyeon-Jeong Go ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Virus Genotype ◽  
Specific Pathogen ◽  
Swine Hepatitis ◽  
Negative Controls ◽  
Liver Tissues

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a quasi-enveloped, positive-sense single stranded RNA virus. HEV continually expands the host ranges across animal species. In this study, the possibility of cross-species infection with swine HEV-3 was investigated using rabbits. A total of fourteen 8-week old, specific pathogen-free rabbits were divided into three experimental groups. Four rabbits were used as negative controls, four rabbits were infected with rabbit HEV as positive controls, and six rabbits were inoculated with swine HEV-3. HEV RNA were detected from serum and fecal samples after viral challenge. The levels of anti-HEV antibodies, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-α), and liver enzymes (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases) were determined in serum samples. Histopathological lesions were examined in liver tissues. Viral RNA and anti-HEV antibodies were identified in rabbits inoculated with swine HEV-3 demonstrating positive infectivity of the virus. However, pro-inflammatory cytokine and liver enzyme levels in serum were not significantly elevated, and only mild inflammatory lesions were detected in the liver tissues of rabbits infected with swine HEV-3. These results suggest that swine HEV-3 can engage in cross-species transmission to rabbits, but causes only mild inflammation of the liver.

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