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

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a quasi-enveloped single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the Orthohepevirus A genus within the Hepeviridae family. The most common transmission route of this virus is fecal–oral, although zoonotic transmission by contact with infected animals has also been described. In this study, 80 sera and rectal swabs were collected from dogs during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 wild boar hunting season in Tuscany. All dogs were submitted for serological screening to detect the presence of anti-HEV antibodies. To evaluate the circulation of HEV, rectal swabs from both seropositive dogs and dogs living in the same kennels were examined by One-Step RT-qPCR. In addition, the presence of markers of hepatic damage in dogs’ sera was investigated. Results indicated the presence of anti-HEV antibodies in 4/80 subjects (5%). However, neither HEV RNA nor signs of hepatic damage were found. In conclusion, although HEV can stimulate a specific immuno-response in dogs, this species does not seem to play an important role in HEV epidemiology.

First Insight into the Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, and Goats from Bulgaria

“…What we have observed fits somewhat in the middle. The HEV seropositivity in dogs in Bulgaria was slightly higher than that reported in the Netherlands (18.5%) [53] and significantly higher than those those reported in the United Kingdom (0.8%) [54], Italy (5.0%) [55],…”

“…What we have observed fits somewhat in the middle. The HEV seropositivity in dogs in Bulgaria was slightly higher than that reported in the Netherlands (18.5%) [ 53 ] and significantly higher than those those reported in the United Kingdom (0.8%) [ 54 ], Italy (5.0%) [ 55 ], and Spain (9.9%) [ 24 ]. The HEV seroprevalence observed in Switzerland (38.0%) [ 56 ] and Germany (56.5%) [ 57 ], however, was significantly higher than what we observed.…”

Detection of anti-HEV antibodies but no molecular positivity in dogs in the Campania region, southern Italy

“…Serological evidence of exposure to HEV had already been described in hunting dogs in Italy, although in small-scale studies that had described 14.35% and 5% of seropositive animals, in 2015 and 2022 respectively (in the latter case, molecular investigations on blood samples and laboratory analyses aimed at evaluating signs of liver failure were inconclusive) [ 13 , 15 ]. The seroprevalence found in our study (8.2%) can be considered similar to those obtained in studies carried out in other European countries.…”

“…According to the manufacturer's instructions, a commercial multispecies ELISA kit (Dia.Pro, Diagnostic Bioprobes Srl) was used to identify specific antibodies against HEV [ 13 ]. Briefly, 100 μl of negative control, positive control, and samples were incubated for 45 min at 37 °C in the wells of 96-multiwells (coated with highly specific synthetic antigen encoding for conservative and immunodominant determinants of HEV).…”

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Heavy Pigs in Slaughterhouses of Northern Italy: Investigation of Seroprevalence, Viraemia, and Faecal Shedding

“…Moreover, in Italy, HEV has been identified in other wild, synanthropic, or domestic species, including wild boars [ 33 , 34 ], wolves [ 35 ], red deer [ 36 ], rats [ 37 ], goats [ 38 ], and sheep [ 39 ]. In some other hosts such as red foxes [ 40 ], chamois [ 41 ], dogs [ 42 ], cats [ 43 ], and rabbits [ 44 ] antibodies against HEV have been detected, indicating exposure to the virus.…”