Detection and characterisation of hepatitis E virus in naturally infected swine in Croatia

Hepatitis E is a viral zoonotic disease infecting swine worldwide. Since pigs represent a likely animal reservoir for the hepatitis E virus, the epidemiology of naturally occurring hepatitis E was investigated in Croatian swine herds. Nearly all tested animals were seropositive for antibodies against the hepatitis E virus (55/60, 91.7%). Active infection was detected in all age groups by RT-PCR of viral RNA in serum (8/60, 13.3%) and bile samples (3/37, 8.1%), which was further confirmed by histopathological findings of characteristic lesions in the livers of the infected animals. Three new strains of hepatitis E virus were isolated from Croatian pig herds. Phylogenetic analysis using median-joining networks clustered those Croatian strains with isolates from various parts of the world, indicating their likely origin in international trade. Similarity to human isolates implies a zoonotic potential of Croatian strains, which raises a public health concern, especially in the light of the high prevalence of hepatitis E in the herds studied.

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

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiz025 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 220 (6) ◽

pp. 951-955 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

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.

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Molecular detection of hepatitis E virus in feces and slurry from swine farms, Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil

Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/1678-4162-7733 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 777-782 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

J. Vasconcelos ◽

M.C. Soliman ◽

R. Staggemeier ◽

L. Heinzelmann ◽

L. Weidlich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Human Beings ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Orf1 Gene ◽

Swine Herds

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is highly disseminated among swine herds worldwide. HEV is also a threat to public health, since particularly genotypes 3 and 4 may cause acute hepatitis in human beings. No previous studies were done on the occurrence of HEV in environmental samples in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In the present study, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the presence of HEV in swine feces and in effluents from slurry lagoons in farms located in the municipality of Teutônia, inside the area of swine husbandry in the state. Pooled fecal samples from the floor of pig barns from 9 wean-to-finish farms and liquid manure samples were collected from the slurry lagoons from 8 of these farms. From the pooled fecal samples, 8/9 were positive for the HEV ORF1 gene by RT-PCR; all the slurry lagoon samples were positive for HEV RNA (100%). The identity of the HEV ORF1 amplicons was confirmed by sequencing belonging to HEV genotype 3, which was previously shown to be circulating in South America.

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High Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus spezifc IgG-Antibodies in liver transplant recipients in the northern part of Germany

Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie ◽

10.1055/s-0030-1269629 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 49 (01) ◽

Author(s):

R Günther ◽

H Vollbrecht ◽

V Kataev ◽

T Bielefeld ◽

A Köpke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Transplant ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Liver Transplant Recipients

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Hepatitis E Virus Occurrence in Pigs Slaughtered in Italy

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11020277 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 277

Author(s):

Eleonora Chelli ◽

Elisabetta Suffredini ◽

Paola De Santis ◽

Dario De Medici ◽

Santina Di Bella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Sporadic Cases ◽

Wild Boar Meat ◽

Small Clusters ◽

Frequent Exposure

In Europe, foodborne transmission has been clearly associated to sporadic cases and small clusters of hepatitis E in humans linked to the consumption of contaminated pig liver sausages, raw venison, or undercooked wild boar meat. In Europe, zoonotic HEV-genotype 3 strains are widespread in pig farms but little information is available on the prevalence of HEV positive pigs at slaughterhouse. In the present study, the prevalence of HEV-RNA positive pigs was assessed on 585 animals from 4 abattoirs located across Italy. Twenty-one pigs (3.6%) tested positive for HEV in either feces or liver by real-time RT-PCR. In these 21 pigs, eight diaphragm muscles resulted positive for HEV-RNA. Among animals collected in one abattoir, 4 out of 91 plasma tested positive for HEV-RNA. ELISA tests for the detection of total antibodies against HEV showed a high seroprevalence (76.8%), confirming the frequent exposure of pigs to the virus. The phylogenetic analyses conducted on sequences of both ORF1 and ORF2 fragments, shows the circulation of HEV-3c and of a novel unclassified subtype. This study provides information on HEV occurrence in pigs at the slaughterhouse, confirming that muscles are rarely contaminated by HEV-RNA compared to liver, which is the most frequently positive for HEV.

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First molecular detection of hepatitis E virus genome in camel and pig faecal samples in Ethiopia

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/s12985-021-01626-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fufa Dawo Bari ◽

Haimanot Belete Wodaje ◽

Umer Said ◽

Hika Waktole ◽

Melaku Sombo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Human Infection ◽

Health Concern ◽

Universal Primers ◽

Viral Gene ◽

Public Health Importance ◽

Faecal Samples

Abstract Background Hepatitis E is an enteric and zoonotic disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) that is mainly transmitted via the faecal-oral route through contaminated food or the environment. The virus is an emerging infectious agent causing acute human infection worldwide. A high seroprevalence of the disease was reported in pregnant women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, raising significant public health concern. The presence of HEV specific antibodies were also reported in dromedary camels in the country; however, the infectious virus and/or the viral genome have not been demonstrated to date in animal samples. Methods To address this gap, a total of 95 faecal samples collected from both apparently healthy pigs of uncharacterised types (50 samples) in Burayu and Addis Ababa areas and camels (Camelus dromedarius, 45 samples) in west Hararghe were screened for the presence of HEV genome using universal primers in a fully nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR). The protocol is capable of detecting HEV in faecal samples from both pigs and camels. Results The nRT-PCR detected HEV genes in six (12%) pig faecal samples and one camel sample (2.2%). Therefore, the results indicate that HEV is circulating in both pigs and camels in Ethiopia and these animals and their products could serve as a potential source of infection for humans. Conclusion The detection of HEV in both animals could raise another concern regarding its public health importance as both animals’ meat and camel milk are consumed in the country. Further studies to determine the prevalence and distribution of the virus in different animals and their products, water bodies, food chain, and vegetables are warranted, along with viral gene sequencing for detailed genetic characterisation of the isolates circulating in the country. This information is critically important to design and institute appropriate control and/or preventive measures.

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First Report of Hepatitis E Virus in Shellfish in Southeast Italy

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11010043 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 43

Author(s):

Gianfranco La Bella ◽

Maria Grazia Basanisi ◽

Gaia Nobili ◽

Valentina Terio ◽

Elisabetta Suffredini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Potential Role ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Viral Pathogens ◽

Apulia Region ◽

Causative Agents

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents one of the principal causative agents of hepatitis globally. Among the five HEV genotypes affecting humans, genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic and are the main source of hepatitis E in developed countries. HEV has been detected in several foods. The present work investigated the presence of this virus in shellfish sold at retail in the Apulia region of Italy. The presence of HEV RNA was assessed by real-time RT-PCR in 225 shellfish samples collected during 2018. Overall, two (0.89%) of these samples tested positive for HEV RNA. To our knowledge, this is the first notification of the detection of HEV in mussels sold at retail in the Apulia region. These data highlight the potential role of shellfish as a vehicle for the transmission of viral pathogens.

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Zinc Salts Block Hepatitis E Virus Replication by Inhibiting the Activity of Viral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00754-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 91 (21) ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Nidhi Kaushik ◽

Chandru Subramani ◽

Saumya Anang ◽

Rajagopalan Muthumohan ◽

Shalimar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rna Polymerase ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Viral Rna ◽

Health Concern ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Genomic Rna ◽

Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽

Zinc Salts

ABSTRACT Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes an acute, self-limiting hepatitis in healthy individuals and leads to chronic disease in immunocompromised individuals. HEV infection in pregnant women results in a more severe outcome, with the mortality rate going up to 30%. Though the virus usually causes sporadic infection, epidemics have been reported in developing and resource-starved countries. No specific antiviral exists against HEV. A combination of interferon and ribavirin therapy has been used to control the disease with some success. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that plays crucial roles in multiple cellular processes. Zinc salts are known to be effective in reducing infections caused by few viruses. Here, we investigated the effect of zinc salts on HEV replication. In a human hepatoma cell (Huh7) culture model, zinc salts inhibited the replication of genotype 1 (g-1) and g-3 HEV replicons and g-1 HEV infectious genomic RNA in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of a replication-defective mutant of g-1 HEV genomic RNA under similar conditions ruled out the possibility of zinc salts acting on replication-independent processes. An ORF4-Huh7 cell line-based infection model of g-1 HEV further confirmed the above observations. Zinc salts did not show any effect on the entry of g-1 HEV into the host cell. Furthermore, our data reveal that zinc salts directly inhibit the activity of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), leading to inhibition of viral replication. Taken together, these studies unravel the ability of zinc salts in inhibiting HEV replication, suggesting their possible therapeutic value in controlling HEV infection. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a public health concern in resource-starved countries due to frequent outbreaks. It is also emerging as a health concern in developed countries owing to its ability to cause acute and chronic infection in organ transplant and immunocompromised individuals. Although antivirals such as ribavirin have been used to treat HEV cases, there are known side effects and limitations of such therapy. Our discovery of the ability of zinc salts to block HEV replication by virtue of their ability to inhibit the activity of viral RdRp is important because these findings pave the way to test the efficacy of zinc supplementation therapy in HEV-infected patients. Since zinc supplementation therapy is known to be safe in healthy individuals and since high-dose zinc is used in the treatment of Wilson's disease, it may be possible to control HEV-associated health problems following a similar treatment regimen.

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High prevalence of Hepatitis E virus in French domestic pigs

Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.cimid.2011.07.003 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 419-427 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Nicolas Rose ◽

Aurélie Lunazzi ◽

Virginie Dorenlor ◽

Thiziri Merbah ◽

Florent Eono ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Domestic Pigs ◽

High Prevalence

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Study of a hepatitis E virus outbreak involving drinking water and sewage contamination in Shimla, India, 2015–2016

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.1093/trstmh/trz072 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 113 (12) ◽

pp. 789-796 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anuradha S Tripathy ◽

Meenal Sharma ◽

Avinash R Deoshatwar ◽

Prasad Babar ◽

Rakesh Bharadwaj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Water Samples ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis A ◽

Hepatitis A Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Oral Transmission ◽

Sewage Contamination ◽

Current Outbreak

Abstract Background Hepatitis E, caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), accounts for 50% of acute hepatitis cases in India. We report an outbreak of hepatitis E in Shimla, India, in 2015–2016. Methods ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, received two batches of water samples from Shimla in January 2016 to test for the presence of enterically transmitted hepatitis viruses. Subsequently, 57 icterus patients were tested for various markers of hepatotropic viruses, i.e. anti-HEV IgM/IgG, anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) IgM/IgG antibodies and HEV RNA. Water samples were screened for HEV and HAV RNA followed by phylogenetic analysis. Results Overall, 48/57 patients availing municipal water had evidence of HEV infection, detected by serology and RT-PCR. All the water samples tested positive for HEV and HAV RNA, while the patients were negative for anti-HAV IgM antibody, indicating no recent HAV infection. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the aetiological agent of the current outbreak to be HEV genotype 1. Conclusions Serology and RT-PCR confirmed HEV as the aetiology of the outbreak. The absence of new cases of hepatitis A, despite the presence of HAV in the water supply, could be due to previously acquired immunity. Sewage contamination of water leading to faecal-oral transmission of HEV still remains a concern, thus emphasising the need for a vaccination/control strategy.

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