Detection of hepatitis E virus (rabbit genotype) in farmed rabbits entering the food chain

Bigoraj, Ewelina; Kozyra, Iwona; Kwit, Ewa; Rzeżutka, Artur

doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.108507

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…25 The results of another study provide data on the occurrence of HEV infections in rabbits entering the food chain, suggesting a risk of foodborne HEV infection due to consumption of contaminated meat and liver. 26 Therefore, farm workers, laboratory researchers, and rabbit meat consumers who have frequent contact with rabbits are at greater risk of HEV3-ra infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of hepatitis E virus natural infection in farmed rabbits

et al. 2020

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

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Rabbit hepatitis E virus (HEV3‐ra) is widely distributed in rabbits worldwide and several recent reports found that HEV3‐ra can infect humans. Therefore, people exposed to rabbits are at high risk of HEV infection. This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of HEV3‐ra natural infection in rabbits. Seventy farmed rabbits (3‐month‐old) were surveyed in a farm in Beijing, China. Rabbits tested positive for HEV RNA were followed weekly for testing of HEV RNA, antigen, antibody and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. Liver and kidney tissue was collected for histopathology. Complete genome sequencing of the isolated HEV3‐ra strain was performed (CHN‐BJ‐r4, GenBank: MT364355). The infectivity of CHN‐BJ‐r4 was tested in ten naïve rabbits by intravenous injection or gavage. Anti‐HEV antibody and HEV RNA were tested positive in 7.14% (5/70) and 11.4% (8/70) of rabbits, respectively. Eight naturally infected rabbits were followed, and 37.5% (3/8) of the observed rabbits were found to have fecal shedding of HEV ranging from 3‐22 weeks with high viral load (105‐107 copies/g). Two out of eight rabbits showed temporary viremia. Naturally infected rabbits presented elevated ALT level, seroconversion, and liver histopathology. Complete genome of HEV3‐ra isolated in this study shared 84.61%‐94.36% nucleotide identity with known HEV3‐ra complete genomes. The isolated HEV3‐ra strain was infectious and could infect other rabbits through intravenous and fecal–oral route. Naturally infected rabbits showed up to 22‐week fecal virus shedding with high viral load. These features increased the risk of rabbit‐to‐rabbit and rabbit‐to‐human transmission.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of hepatitis E virus natural infection in farmed rabbits

et al. 2020

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

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“…Limited circulation of HEV has been demonstrated in free‐ranging wild rabbits in Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems (Caballero‐Gómez et al., 2020; Lopes & Abrantes, 2020), which is consistent with the low seroprevalence found in free‐ranging (6.5%) Iberian lynx populations in the present study. On the other hand, it should be noted that Iberian lynxes in captive breeding centres feed mainly on domestic farmed rabbits (Rivas et al., 2016) and that HEV circulation has been confirmed in farmed rabbits in other European countries (Bigoraj et al., 2020; Di Bartolo et al., 2016), although further studies are warranted to assess the role of wild and domestic rabbits in the epidemiology of HEV in Spain. In the event that its role as an HEV reservoir is confirmed, using domestic rabbits from HEV‐free farms to feed Iberian lynxes kept in captive breeding centres could be a useful tool to limit HEV transmission in this species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis E virus in the endangered Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus )

Caballero‐Gómez

Rivero‐Juárez

Zorrilla

et al. 2022

Transbounding Emerging Dis

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Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen in Europe. In the Iberian Peninsula, wild boar (Sus scrofa) is considered the main wildlife reservoir of HEV. This wild ungulate shares habitat and resources with other potential HEV carriers in Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems, although information about the role of such sympatric species in the HEV epidemiological cycle is still very limited. The aims of the present large‐scale, long‐term study were: (1) to determine the seroprevalence and prevalence of HEV in both free‐living and captive populations of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), the most endangered felid in the world; (2) to determine potential risk factors associated with HEV exposure in this species and (3) to evaluate the dynamics of seropositivity in longitudinally sampled animals during the study period. Between 2010 and 2021, serum samples from 275 Iberian lynxes were collected in free‐ranging and captive populations across the Iberian Peninsula. Forty‐four of the 275 lynxes were also longitudinally sampled during the study period. A double‐antigen sandwich ELISA was used to test for the presence of antibodies against HEV. A subset of seropositive samples was analysed by Western blot (WB) assay to confirm exposure to HEV. In addition, serum, liver and/or faecal samples from 367 individuals were tested for orthohepevirus RNA by RT‐PCR. A total of 50 (18.2%; 95% CI: 14.1–23.2) of the 275 animals analysed had anti‐HEV antibodies by ELISA. Exposure to HEV was confirmed by WB in most of the ELISA‐positive Iberian lynxes analysed. Significantly higher seroprevalence was found in captive (33.6%) compared to free‐ranging (7.4%) individuals. Within captive population, the GEE model identified ‘age’ (senile, adult and subadult) as risk a factor potentially associated with HEV exposure in the Iberian lynx. Thirteen (29.5%) of 44 longitudinally surveyed individuals seroconverted against HEV during the study period. HEV RNA was detected in the faeces of one (1/364; 0.3%; 95% CI: 0.0–0.8) free‐ranging adult animal sampled in 2021. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequenced strain belongs to HEV‐3f subtype and shared a high nucleotide sequence identity (97–99.6%) with human HEV‐3f sequences from Spain and France. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first survey study on HEV in the Iberian lynx and the first molecular report of HEV‐A infection in free‐ranging felines. Our results indicate high exposure to HEV‐3 in Iberian lynx populations, particularly those kept in captivity. The serological results suggest widespread but not homogeneous circulation of HEV in Iberian lynx populations. Further studies are required to assess the epidemiological role of this endangered species as a potential spillover host of HEV.

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“…For amplification of virus nucleic acids an UltraSense™ One-Step Quantitative RT-PCR kit (Invitrogen) and a TaqMan Universal PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems) were employed. The reactions were conducted according to the protocols previously described (Bigoraj et al, 2020 ; Maunula et al, 2013 ). A positive reaction control consisting of plasmid DNA (pCR2.1 TOPO-rSTD) with an insertion of a cDNA (HEV) or DNA (pAdV) fragments was set up for each batch of tested samples (Martínez-Martínez et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Porcine Blood and Liver as Sporadic Sources of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in the Production Chain of Offal-Derived Foodstuffs in Poland

2021

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Pig’s blood and liver are valuable edible slaughter by-products which are also the major ingredients of offal-derived foodstuffs. The aim of the study was an evaluation of the occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and porcine adenovirus (pAdV) as an index virus of faecal contamination in pig’s blood and liver for human consumption. In total, 246 samples of retail liver (n = 100) and pooled pig’s blood (n = 146) were analysed for the presence of HEV and pAdV. Blood samples were individually collected from 1432 pigs at slaughter age. Viral genomic material, including RNA of a sample process control virus was isolated from food samples using a QIAamp® Viral RNA Mini Kit. Virus-specific IAC-controlled real-time PCR methods were used for detection of target viruses. HEV RNA was found in 6 (2.4%; 95% CI: 0.9–5.2) out of 246 samples of tested foodstuffs. The virus was detected in pig’s blood (3.4%; 95% CI: 1.1–7.8) and liver (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.0–5.0) with no significant differences observed in the frequency of its occurrence between the two by-products (t = 1.33; p = 0.182 > 0.05); however PAdV was detected more frequently in pig’s blood than in liver (t = 4.65; p = 0.000 < 0.05). The HEV strains belonged to the 3f and 3e subtype groups and the pAdV strains were assigned to serotype 5. PAdV was detected in pigs regardless of the farm size from which they originated. The number of animals raised on the farm (the farm size) had no influence on the occurrence of HEV or pAdV infections in pigs (F = 0.81, p = 0.447 > 0.05 for HEV; F = 0.42, p = 0.655 > 0.05 for pAdV). Although HEV was detected in pig’s offal only sporadically, consumers cannot treat its occurrence with disregard as it demonstrates that HEV-contaminated pig tissues can enter the food chain.

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Detection of hepatitis E virus (rabbit genotype) in farmed rabbits entering the food chain

Cited by 16 publications

References 54 publications

Characterization of hepatitis E virus natural infection in farmed rabbits

Characterization of hepatitis E virus natural infection in farmed rabbits

Hepatitis E virus in the endangered Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus )

Porcine Blood and Liver as Sporadic Sources of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in the Production Chain of Offal-Derived Foodstuffs in Poland

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