Abstract
Simple SummaryHepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis in humans and represents an emerging public health concern worldwide. In developed countries, zoonotic transmission of HEV genotypes 3 and 4 is caused by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected swine or wild boars, the main reservoirs of HEV. However, in the last few years, molecular and serological evidence seem to indicate that several other animal species may act as HEV host, including domestic and wild ruminants. In this study, serum and fecal specimens from sheep, goats, red deer, roe deer, chamois, and Alpine ibex collected in two northwestern Italian regions (Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta) were screened molecularly and serologically. With the exception of chamois, HEV antibodies were found both in the domestic and wild ruminant species investigated with the highest rates in sheep and goats. These findings demonstrate that wild also domestic ruminants may be implicated in the viral cycle transmission.In industrialized countries, increasing autochthonous infections of hepatitis E virus (HEV) are caused by zoonotic transmission of genotypes (Gts) 3 and 4, mainly through consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked pork meat. Although swine and wild boar are recognized as the main reservoir for Gt3 and Gt4, accumulating evidence indicates that other animal species, including domestic and wild ruminants, may harbor HEV. Herein, we screened molecularly and serologically serum and fecal samples from two domestic and four wild ruminant species collected in Valle d’Aosta and Piemonte regions (northwestern Italy. HEV antibodies were found in sheep (21.6%), goats (11.4%), red deer (2.6%), roe deer (3.1%), and in Alpine ibex (6.3%). Molecular screening was performed using different primer sets targeting highly conserved regions of hepeviruses and HEV RNA, although at low viral loads, was detected in four fecal specimens (3.0%, 4/134) collected from two HEV seropositive sheep herds. Taken together, the data obtained document the circulation of HEV in the geographical area assessed both in wild and domestic ruminants, but with the highest seroprevalence in sheep and goats. Consistently with results from other studies conducted in southern Italy, circulation of HEV among small domestic ruminants seems to occur more frequently than expected.
Highlights
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major health problem worldwide
By screening 134 sheep serum samples, HEV antibodies were detected in a total of 29 sera with an overall prevalence of 21.6% and OD450 values ranging from 0.17 to 1.96
We found an overall low seroprevalence rate for HEV (3.5%; 4/115), confirming previous data collected during 2013–2015 surveillance from three distinct Italian Alpine regions [69], in which HEV antibodies were detected with rates of 1.2%
Summary
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. HEV typically causes self-limiting acute viral hepatitis, chronic infection with neurological and other extrahepatic manifestations has been reported [1]. Based on the full-length genome analysis, HEV strains within the species Orthohepevirus A have been assigned to at least eight distinct genotypes (Gt1–Gt8) [5], with four major Gts (1–4) implicated in human infection. Gt3 and Gt4 are zoonotic and cause sporadic and cluster cases of hepatitis E in both industrialized and developing countries [6,7]. Except for Gt7, identified from a chronically infected human liver transplant patient who consumed camel milk and meat [11], the zoonotic potential of Gt5, Gt6, and Gt8 is still unclear
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