Serological Evidence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Norway.

Christine Hanssen Rinaldo,Eva Marie Breines,Morten Tryland,Francisco Javier Ancin Murguzur,Ingebjørg Helena Nymo,Javier Sánchez Romano

doi:10.3390/pathogens10121542

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of viral hepatitis in humans. In developing countries, HEV-infections seem to be mainly associated with pigs, but other animal species may be involved in viral transmission. Recently, anti-HEV antibodies were detected in Norwegian wild reindeer. Here, we investigated anti-HEV seroprevalence in Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer, animals in closer contact with humans than their wild counterparts. Blood samples (n = 516) were obtained from eight reindeer herds during the period 2013–2017 and analysed with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay designed for detecting anti-HEV antibodies in livestock. Antibodies were found in all herds and for all sampling seasons. The overall seroprevalence was 15.7% (81/516), with adults showing a slightly higher seroprevalence (18.0%, 46/256) than calves (13.5%, 35/260, p = 0.11). The seroprevalence was not influenced by gender or latitude, and there was no temporal trend (p > 0.15). A positive association between the presence of anti-HEV antibodies and antibodies against alphaherpesvirus and pestivirus, detected in a previous screening, was found (p < 0.05). We conclude that Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer are exposed to HEV or an antigenically similar virus. Whether the virus is affecting reindeer health or infects humans and poses a threat for human health remains unknown and warrants further investigations.

Highlights

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a single-stranded positive sense RNA virus that belongs to the virus family Hepeviridae
In order to analyse serum samples from Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer, a commercial HEV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) intended for the detection of antibodies to HEV in serum of animals was used
There was no significant difference between genders (p = 0.38), with anti-HEV antibodies detected in 15.7% (53/337) of females and 15.6% (28/179) of males

Summary

Introduction

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a single-stranded positive sense RNA virus that belongs to the virus family Hepeviridae. HEV GT1 and GT2 seem to be restricted to humans and cause sporadic hepatitis and outbreaks in Africa and Asia due to faecal contamination of drinking water [4]. HEV GT7 has been found in camels in the Middle East and is shown to infect humans that consume camel milk and meat [6]. Transmission of HEV can occur via consumption of contaminated berries, vegetables or shellfish [7,8,9], or via blood transfusions [10] or organ transplantations [11], or by vertical transmission from mother to foetus [12]. Some human cases with HEV of species Orthohepevirus C, which usually infects rats, has been reported [13,14,15]

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Conclusion