Abstract

BackgroundAvian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the pathogenic agent of big liver and spleen disease (BLS) and of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in chickens, which have caused economic losses to the poultry industry in China. In this study, 18 samples of BLS chickens were collected to reveal the molecular epidemiological characteristics of avian HEV in the province of Shandong, China.ResultsGross and microscopic lesions of clinical samples were observed; then, virology detection and genetic analysis of avian HEV were performed. The results showed that there was significant swelling and rupture in the liver and that the spleen was enlarged. Microscopic lesions demonstrated obvious hemorrhage in the liver, with infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes, lymphocytes, and macrophages, as well as the reduction of lymphocytes in the spleen. Eleven of the 18 samples were positive for avian HEV, with a positive rate of 61.11%. More importantly, all avian HEV-positive samples were mixed infections: among these, the mixed infections of avian HEV and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) and avian HEV and fowl adenovirus (FAdV) were the most common. Furthermore, the genetic evolution analysis showed that all avian HEV strains obtained here did not belong to the reported 4 genotypes, thus constituting a potential novel genotype.ConclusionsThese results of this study further enrich the epidemiological data on avian HEV in Shandong, prove the genetic diversity of avian HEV in China, and uncover the complex mixed infections of avian HEV clinical samples.

Highlights

  • Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the pathogenic agent of big liver and spleen disease (BLS) and of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in chickens, which have caused economic losses to the poultry industry in China

  • Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause big liver and spleen disease (BLS) and hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in chickens, which are characterized by hepatosplenomegaly

  • Virus infections were observed in another 5 samples; these were mixed infections of chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV), fowl adenovirus (FAdV), and Marek’s disease virus (MDV)

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Summary

Introduction

Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the pathogenic agent of big liver and spleen disease (BLS) and of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in chickens, which have caused economic losses to the poultry industry in China. 18 samples of BLS chickens were collected to reveal the molecular epidemiological characteristics of avian HEV in the province of Shandong, China. Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause big liver and spleen disease (BLS) and hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in chickens, which are characterized by hepatosplenomegaly. Avian HEV is a non-enveloped, singlestranded, positive sense RNA virus belonging to Orthohepevirus B [4, 5]. The capsid protein encoded by ORF2 is highly conserved and has been extensively used in viral genotyping and genetic evolution analysis of avian HEV [6]

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