Molecular and Pathological Detection of Hepatitis E Virus in Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Fallow Deer (Dama dama) in Central Italy

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common causative agent of acute hepatitis in the world, with a serious public health burden in both developing and industrialized countries. Cervids, along with wild boars and lagomorphs, are the main wild hosts of HEV in Europe and constitute a documented source of infection for humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of HEV in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) living in Tuscany, Central Italy. Liver samples from 48 roe deer and 60 fallow deer were collected from carcasses during the hunting seasons. Following the results obtained from molecular and histopathologic studies, 5/48 (10.4%) roe deer and 1/60 (1.7%) fallow deer liver samples were positive for the presence of HEV RNA. All PCR-positive livers were also IHC-positive for viral antigen presence, associated with degenerative and inflammatory lesions with predominantly CD3+ cellular infiltrates. This study represents the first identification in Italy of HEV RNA in roe and fallow deer and the first study in literature describing liver alterations associated with HEV infection in cervids. These results demonstrate that HEV is present in wild cervid populations in Italy and confirm the potential zoonotic role of these species.

Serological, Virological Investigation and Hepatic Injury Evaluation for Hepatitis E Virus in Hunting Dogs

“…In the present study, we investigated the presence of HEV antibodies and HEV-RNA in dogs used for hunting in an area where HEV circulation was already identified by serological and molecular assays in wild boars, rabbits, and wild ruminants [ 21 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…The HEV seroprevalence in wild boar from previous studies conducted in Tuscany has been reported as 56.2%, with a molecular positivity of fecal samples of 9.4% [ 21 ]. Moreover, several studies conducted on wild animals roaming in Tuscany have also shown a constant presence of HEV [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Regarding the seroprevalence of HEV in dogs in Europe, it has been described as ranging from 56.6% to 14.3% [ 21 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Current Knowledge of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Epidemiology in Ruminants

“…To date, HEV strains identified in wild ruminants belong to gt3 [ 48 , 85 , 88 ] subtypes 3a [ 49 ], 3b [ 78 ], 3e [ 49 , 95 , 109 , 110 ], 3f [ 94 ] and 3i [ 107 ] and to gt4 [ 79 , 102 ].…”

“…HEV RNA has been searched for in different biological materials, including various organs (e.g., liver, spleen, kidney and muscle), serum, faeces and bile. The presence of viral RNA has been repeatedly confirmed in liver, with detection rates between 1.7% and 80.0% [ 48 , 49 , 51 , 78 , 86 , 91 , 93 , 94 , 105 , 107 , 110 ]; in serum, with rates ranging from 0.06% to 60.0% [ 78 , 84 , 87 , 90 , 92 , 94 , 106 ]; and in feces, with rates of 1.2–50.0% [ 102 , 104 , 107 ]. In an Italian study [ 110 ], HEV RNA was identified in liver specimens collected from roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) (10.4%; 5/48) and from a fallow deer ( Dama dama ) (1.7%; 1/60).…”

“…The presence of viral RNA has been repeatedly confirmed in liver, with detection rates between 1.7% and 80.0% [ 48 , 49 , 51 , 78 , 86 , 91 , 93 , 94 , 105 , 107 , 110 ]; in serum, with rates ranging from 0.06% to 60.0% [ 78 , 84 , 87 , 90 , 92 , 94 , 106 ]; and in feces, with rates of 1.2–50.0% [ 102 , 104 , 107 ]. In an Italian study [ 110 ], HEV RNA was identified in liver specimens collected from roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) (10.4%; 5/48) and from a fallow deer ( Dama dama ) (1.7%; 1/60). HEV antigens were detected in the fallow deer by immunohistochemistry and associated with degenerative and inflammatory lesions with predominantly CD3+ cellular infiltrates and hyperplasia of Kupffer cells.…”