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

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.

Download Full-text

Epidemiology and genotype 3 subtype dynamics of hepatitis E virus in Belgium, 2010 to 2017

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.10.1800141 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (10) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Vanessa Suin ◽

Sofieke E Klamer ◽

Veronik Hutse ◽

Magali Wautier ◽

Marjorie Jacques ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Rna Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Health Concern ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Genotype 4 ◽

Reference Centre ◽

Surveillance Report ◽

Epidemiological Trends

Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging public health concern in high-income countries and can cause acute and chronic hepatitis. Reported numbers of indigenously acquired HEV infection have increased in the past decade in many European countries. Since 2010, the National Reference Centre (NRC) for Hepatitis Viruses has been testing samples of suspected hepatitis E cases in Belgium. Aim In this surveillance report, we present the epidemiological trends of symptomatic HEV infections in Belgium, from the distribution by age, sex and geography to the molecular characterisation of the viral strains. Method Serum samples of suspected cases sent to the NRC between 2010 and 2017 were analysed for the presence of HEV-specific IgM and RNA. Virus was sequenced for genotyping and phylogenetic analysis in all samples containing sufficient viral RNA. Results The NRC reported an increase in the number of samples from suspected cases (from 309 to 2,663 per year) and in the number of laboratory-confirmed hepatitis E cases (from 25 to 117 per year). Among 217 sequenced samples, 92.6% were genotype 3 (HEV-3), followed by 6.5% of genotype 1 and 0.9% of genotype 4. HEV-3 subtype viruses were mainly 3f, 3c and 3e. HEV-3f was the most common subtype until 2015, while HEV-3c became the most common subtype in 2016 and 2017. Conclusion The increasing trend of HEV diagnoses in Belgium may be largely explained by increased awareness and testing.

Download Full-text

Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 Strains in Domestic Pigs, Cameroon

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

10.3201/eid1904.121634 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 686-688 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Vanessa Salete de Paula ◽

Matthias Wiele ◽

Afegenwi H. Mbunkah ◽

Achukwi M. Daniel ◽

Manchang T. Kingsley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

Domestic Pigs

Download Full-text

DETECTION AND PHYLOGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF HEPATITIS E VIRUS GENOTYPE 3 IN A CAPTIVE WILD BOAR IN THAILAND

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine ◽

10.1638/2011-0217r1.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 640-644 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Anuwat Wiratsudakul ◽

Ladawan Sariya ◽

Phirom Prompiram ◽

Siriporn Tantawet ◽

Duangkhamol Suraruangchai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

Phylogenetic Characterization

Download Full-text

Hepatitis E virus genotype 3; an under diagnosed pathogen causing chronic hepatitis in solid organ transplant recipients

Transplant Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.trim.2014.11.122 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 223

Author(s):

A. Riezebos-Brilman ◽

H. Blokzijl ◽

J.S.F. Sanders ◽

Verschuuren E.A.M. ◽

H.G.M. Niesters

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Solid Organ Transplant ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Download Full-text

No Evidence for Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 Susceptibility in Rats

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

10.3201/eid1908.130200 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 1343-1345 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Tian-Cheng Li ◽

Yasushi Ami ◽

Yuriko Suzaki ◽

Naokazu Takeda ◽

Wakita Takaji

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Virus Genotype

Download Full-text

Comprehensive Molecular Approach for Characterization of Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 Variants

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.01686-17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Bo Wang ◽

Dominik Harms ◽

C. Patrick Papp ◽

Sandra Niendorf ◽

Sonja Jacobsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Full Length ◽

Molecular Approach ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

Pcr Targeting

ABSTRACT Autochthonous hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) infections in industrialized countries are more frequent than previously assumed. HEV-3 is zoonotic and the causal pathogen of chronic hepatitis E. According to the latest classification of the family Hepeviridae , 10 designated HEV-3 subtypes (HEV-3a to HEV-3j) and 7 unassigned HEV-3 subtypes are proposed. In order to identify and characterize the HEV-3 variants in circulation, we developed a molecular approach combining a sensitive HEV-specific real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the overlapping region of HEV ORF2 and ORF3 (the ORF2/3 region) and two newly designed consensus nested RT-PCRs targeting the HEV ORF1 and ORF2 genes, respectively. Since complete genome sequences are required for new HEV-3 subtype assignment, we implemented a straightforward approach for full-length HEV-3 genome amplification. Twenty-nine human serum samples and six human feces samples from chronic hepatitis E patients were selected for evaluation of the system. Viral loads ranged from 1 × 10 4 to 1.9 × 10 10 copies/ml of serum and from 1.8 × 10 4 to 1 × 10 12 copies/g of feces. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of partial ORF1 and ORF2 sequences showed that HEV strains had considerable genetic diversity and clustered into the HEV-3c (29/35), HEV-3e (2/35), HEV-3f (2/35), and unassigned HEV-3 (2/35) subtypes. Moreover, from these strains, three full-length HEV-3 genome sequences were generated and characterized. DE/15-0030 represents a typical HEV-3c strain (95.7% nucleotide identity to wbGER27), while DE/15-0031 and SW/16-0282 have <89.2% homology to known HEV-3 strains and are phylogenetically divergent, indicating novel HEV-3 subtypes. In summary, our approach will significantly facilitate the detection, quantification, and determination of HEV-3 strains and will thus help to improve molecular diagnostics and our knowledge of HEV diversity and evolution.

Download Full-text

Hallmarks of liver lesions in pigs naturally infected by hepatitis E virus genotype 3

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/1678-5150-pvb-5368 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 65-70

Author(s):

Alex J.S. de Souza ◽

Andreza P. Malheiros ◽

Manoel do C.P. Soares ◽

Michele S. Gomes-Gouvêa ◽

João R.R. Pinho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Liver Lesions ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

Liver Histopathology ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group 2

ABSTRACT: Histopathological evaluation of liver from 33 pigs slaughtered for human consumption in Amazon region, previously tested by serology and molecular techniques for hepatitis E virus infection (HEV), was analysed in three groups: Group 1, negative for both HEV-RNA and anti-HEV IgG (n=10); Group 2, positive for HEV-RNA (n=13); Group 3, positive for anti-HEV IgG (n=10). Group 2 showed a significant difference among the groups for liver lesions such as lobular activity (P=0.007), periportal interface hepatitis (P=0.004), portal inflammation (P=0.028) hepatitis with lobular, portal and periportal interface activity (P=0.001). HEV detection by immunohistochemistry was performed and 3 of 6 samples of group 2 were positive. Pigs naturally infected by HEV genotype 3 present microscopic necroinflammatory liver lesions similar to HEV in humans. Liver histopathology showed be important in the diagnosis of active asymptomatic HEV infection in pigs slaughtered for human consumption because hepatic liver lesions may present distinct profiles according to molecular and serological diagnosis and in this sense, histopathology and immunohistochemistry may be an important complementary diagnostic tool.

Download Full-text