1Hepatitis E is an acute disease of humans caused by a small RNA virus, Hepatitis E virus (HEV). In 2 recent years, an increasing number of autochthonous human infections have been reported in 3 industrialized countries. Genotype 3 is the main HEV type circulating in swine, and is also reported 4 in sporadic cases of hepatitis E in humans worldwide. To date one serotype has been described. We 5 have conducted a survey to detect antibodies against HEV in 48 swine at a slaughterhouse in 6Northern Italy, using ELISA test. Mean seroprevalence in the studied animal group was 87.%. Bile, 7 liver and feces from the 48 animals were also collected, and HEV RNA was detected by nested 8 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, amplifying a fragment of the ORF2. HEV genome 9 was most frequently detected in bile samples (51.1%), followed by feces (33.3%) and liver (20.8%). 10Thirty-one out of 48 studied pigs (64.6%) were positive for HEV RNA in at least one sample. 11Overall, HEV RNA was found at a statistically higher rate in the 3-4 month-old than in 9-10 month-12 old animals (95.0% vs. 42.9%). Genetic characterization of swine strains identified was performed 13 by sequencing and database alignment. Phylogenetic analysis on the nucleotide sequences from 16 14 positive PCR products indicated that all strains belonged to genotype 3, clustering in two branches 15 subtypes g3c and g3f. 16 17

Hepatitis E infection is regarded as an emerging public-health concern. The disease is normally self-limiting (mortality rate 1%), but chronic infections have recently been observed in transplanted patients. The etiological agent HEV is a small RNA virus infecting both humans and animals. In humans, the disease may be food-borne and pig is a main reservoir for zoonotic strains. In the present study, we evaluated the presence of HEV and swine fecal cross-contamination in pork liver sausages sold at a grocery store in Italy. HEV genome detection was performed by RT-qPCR, using harmonized protocols that included a process control (murine norovirus) and an internal amplification control. Swine fecal cross-contamination was assessed by determination of the ubiquitous porcine adenovirus. Overall, HEV genome belonging to genotype 3 was detected in both raw (10 out of 45 slices, 250 mg each, 22.2%) and dry (1 of 23 slices, 4.3%) liver sausages, but infectivity of the virus was not demonstrated. This pilot study fosters more investigations on HEV presence in pork-derived food, to assess the possible risk for the consumers.

Hepatitis E is an acute human disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). In addition to humans, HEV has been detected in several animal species and is recognized as a zoonotic pathogen. Pigs, wild boar and deer can be reservoir. In this study, we evaluated HEV prevalence in a free-living red deer (Cervus elaphus) population in central Italy by detecting virus-specific antibodies and RNA in sera. A total of 35 of 251 red deer sera were positive for anti-HEV IgG. HEV RNA was detected in 10 of 91 sera examined. Two genomic fragments targeted by diagnostic PCRs in the capsid region were sequenced, both matching with genotype 3 HEV. Overall results confirmed the occurrence of HEV infection in deer also in Italy.

There is an epidemic of obesity starting about 1980 in both developed and undeveloped countries definitely associated with multiple etiologies. About 670 million people worldwide are obese. The incidence of obesity has increased in all age groups, including children. Obesity causes numerous diseases and the interaction between genetic, metabolic, social, cultural and environmental factors are possible cofactors for the development of obesity. Evidence emerging over the last 20 years supports the hypothesis that viral infections may be associated with obesity in animals and humans. The most widely studied infectious agent possibly linked to obesity is adenovirus 36 (Adv36). Adv36 causes obesity in animals. In humans, Adv36 associates with obesity both in adults and children and the prevalence of Adv36 increases in relation to the body mass index. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that the viral E4orf1 protein (early region 4 open reading frame 1, Adv) mediates the Adv36 effect including its adipogenic potential. The Adv36 infection should therefore be considered as a possible risk factor for obesity and could be a potential new therapeutic target in addition to an original way to understand the worldwide rise of the epidemic of obesity. Here, the data indicating a possible link between viral infection and obesity with a particular emphasis to the Adv36 will be reviewed.

BackgroundThe hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been detected in both humans and animals, particularly pigs, worldwide. Several evidences, including human infection following consumption of raw contaminated meat, suggest a zoonotic transmission of HEV. In Italy, large circulation of genotype 3 HEV has been reported in swine, and recent studies have confirmed the involvement of this genotype in autochthonous human cases.ResultIn this study 111 sera collected from healthy pigs in two Italian regions were tested for anti-HEV IgG antibodies. For specific HEV antibody detection in swine, we developed ELISA and Western blotting methods, using a truncated capsid (ORF2) protein lacking the first 111 amino acids of a swine HEV genotype 3 strain. The ORF2-based ELISA revealed anti-HEV antibodies in 104 out of 111 pigs compared with 102 detected with a commercial ELISA kit. A lower number of sera reacted with the recombinant ORF2 protein in a Western blotting format (81/111). Using a Latent class analysis (LCA), the estimated sensitivities for ELISA-ORF2 and ELISA-kit tests were 0.961 and 0.936, respectively, whereas specificities were 0.599 and 0.475. The estimated sensitivity of Western blotting was 0.775, and the specificity was 0.944.ConclusionsThe overall results confirm the high prevalence of HEV seropositive healthy pigs in Italy. Through comparisons with a commercial ELISA test, the swine genotype 3 HEV antigen produced in this study was proven suitable to detect anti-HEV antibodies in pig sera by both ELISA and Western Blotting.