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The zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) is mainly mediated by HEV genotypes 3 and 4, with domestic pigs serving as an important reservoir for both genotypes. In China, genotype 4 HEV is the primary prevalent genotype on pig farms. In this study, the prevalence of HEV infection in pig herds of Shaanxi Province was investigated. Serological testing detected anti-HEV antibody-positive pigs in five selected cities, with 13 of 17 farms harbouring at least one positive pig (76.47%). Within positive farms, the proportion of positive pigs ranged from 1.6% to 37.5%. Genetic detection analyses of faecal samples revealed that pigs in four cities and on nine of 17 farms were positive for sequences homologous to a partial ORF2-coding region of HEV (306 bp), as were 6 of 53 bile and 1 of 26 semen samples. Meanwhile, DNA coding for partial HEV ORF1 (1,080 bp) and a longer gene segment coding for partial ORF2 (1,594 bp) were successfully amplified from RNA isolated from pig semen from one HEV-positive pig. Sequence comparisons of partial ORF2 gene sequences showed that HEV isolates from Shaanxi Province shared the highest identity (81.4%-96.1%) with genotype 4 HEV. Phylogenetic tree analysis grouped these isolates into three subgenotypes (4d, 4h and 4i), with subgenotype 4i the predominant subgenotype. In addition, the HEV isolate from pig semen belonged to subgenotype 4i HEV based on phylogenetic trees constructed both using partial ORF1 and ORF2 gene sequences. In conclusion, HEV infection is endemic on pig farms of Shaanxi Province, China, and 4i is the predominant HEV subgenotype. More important, this is the first study demonstrating detection of HEV RNA in pig semen, suggesting that artificial insemination can transmit HEV in pigs.

BackgroundFrom 2014 to 2015 in China, many broiler breeder and layer hen flocks exhibited a decrease in egg production and some chickens developed hepatitis syndrome including hepatomegaly, hepatic necrosis and hemorrhage. Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) and avian leucosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) both cause decreasing in egg production, hepatomegaly and hepatic hemorrhage in broiler breeder and layer hens. In the study, the seroprevalence of avian HEV and ALV-J in these flocks emerging the disease from Shandong and Shaanxi provinces were investigated.ResultsA total of 1995 serum samples were collected from 14 flocks with hepatitis syndrome in Shandong and Shaanxi provinces, China. Antibodies against avian HEV and ALV-J in these serum samples were detected using iELISAs. The seroprevalence of anti-avian HEV antibodies (35.09%) was significantly higher than that of anti-ALV-J antibodies (2.16%) (p = 0.00). Moreover, the 43 serum samples positive for anti-ALV-J antibodies were all also positive for anti-avian HEV antibodies. In a comparison of both provinces, Shandong chickens exhibited a significantly higher seroprevalence of anti-avian HEV antibodies (42.16%) than Shaanxi chickens (26%) (p = 0.00). In addition, the detection of avian HEV RNA and ALV-J cDNA in the liver samples from the flocks of two provinces also showed the same results of the seroprevalence.ConclusionsIn the present study, the results showed that avian HEV infection is widely prevalent and ALV-J infection is endemic in the flocks with hepatitis syndrome from Shandong and Shaanxi provinces of China. These results suggested that avian HEV infection may be the major cause of increased egg drop and hepatitis syndrome observed during the last 2 years in China. These results should be useful to guide development of prevention and control measures to control the diseases within chicken flocks in China.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0892-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundAvian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the main causative agent of big liver and spleen disease, as well as hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome in chickens. To date, conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested RT-PCR methods have been used for the diagnosis of avian HEV infection in chickens. However, these assays are time consuming, inconvenient, and cannot detect the virus quantitatively. In this study, a rapid and sensitive SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR assay was developed to detect avian HEV RNA quantitatively in serum, liver, spleen, and fecal samples from chickens.ResultsBased on the sequence of the most conserved HEV gene, ORF3, the primers for the assay were designed, and the standard plasmid was constructed. The detection limit of the assay was shown to be 10 copies/μl of standard plasmid/reaction, with a corresponding cycle-threshold value of 29.3. The standard curve exhibited a dynamic linear range across at least 7 log units of DNA copy number. The specificity and reproducibility of this assay was high, showing that the assay detected avian HEV RNA specifically and with little variability. Compared to conventional RT-PCR, the current assay is more sensitive for detecting avian HEV in serum, liver, spleen, and fecal samples from chickens.ConclusionsA rapid, specific, and reproducible SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR assay was developed for the diagnosis of avian HEV infection in chickens. This assay can accurately detect avian HEV RNA in serum, liver, spleen, and fecal samples with more sensitivity than conventional RT-PCR.