A surveillance study of hepatitis E virus infection in household cats. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Capozza, Paolo; Martella, Vito; Lanave, Gianvito; Beikpour, Farzad; Di Profio, Federica; Palombieri, Andrea; Sarchese, Vittorio; Marsilio, Fulvio; La Rosa, Giuseppina; Suffredini, Elisabetta; Camero, Michele; Buonavoglia, Canio; Di Martino, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Research in veterinary science. Volume 137(2021)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Hepeviridae -- HEV -- Antibody -- RT-PCR -- Cat; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Médecine vétérinaire -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Diergeneeskunde; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.04.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-5288

Abstract

Abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) typically causes self-limiting acute viral hepatitis, however chronic infection and extrahepatic manifestations have increasingly become a significant health problem. Domestic pigs and wild boars are the main reservoirs of HEV genotype 3 and genotype 4 for human infections in industrialized countries, although molecular and serological evidence suggest that several additional animal species may act as HEV hosts. In this study, by assessing serologically and molecularly the sera of 324 household cats from Apulia region (Italy), HEV antibodies were detected with an overall prevalence of 3.1%. Viral RNA was not detected in the sera of the animals using both HEV-specific assays and a pan-hepevirus broadly reactive set of primers for Hepeviridae . These findings document a low seroprevalence to HEV in cats in the investigated geographical setting. The exact nature of the HEV-like strains circulating in feline population remains to be established. Highlights: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging public health concern worldwide. Pigs and wild boars are recognized as the main animal HEV reservoirs. Other animal species may have a potential role in HEV epidemiology, including pets. Herein, HEV antibodies were found in owned cat sera with a prevalence rate of 3.1%. This finding suggests a natural exposure of tested cats to HEV or HEV-like viruses.