Novel Hepatitis E Virus Genotype in Norway Rats, Germany

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Abstract

Human hepatitis E virus infections may be caused by zoonotic transmission of virus genotypes 3 and 4. To determine whether rodents are a reservoir, we analyzed the complete nucleotide sequence of a hepatitis E–like virus from 2 Norway rats in Germany. The sequence suggests a separate genotype for this hepatotropic virus.

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Detection of a novel hepatitis E-like virus in faeces of wild rats using a nested broad-spectrum RT-PCR.

Anita Plenge-Bönig, Reimar Johne, Jochen Reetz … (2010)

Hepatitis E is a rare human disease in developed countries. It is caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), which is probably transmitted zoonotically to humans from domestic pigs and wild boars. Multiple reports on the detection of HEV-specific antibodies in rats have suggested the presence of an HEV-related agent; however, infectious virus or a viral genome has not been demonstrated so far. Here, a nested broad-spectrum RT-PCR protocol was developed capable of detecting different HEV types including those derived from wild boar and chicken. Screening of 30 faecal samples from wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Hamburg (Germany) resulted in the detection of two sequences with similarities to human, mammalian and avian HEV. Virus particles with a morphology reminiscent of HEV were demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy in one of these samples and the virus was tentatively designated rat HEV. Genome fragments with sizes of 4019 and 1545 nt were amplified from two samples. Sequence comparison with human and avian strains revealed only 59.9 and 49.9 % sequence identity, respectively. Similarly, the deduced amino acid sequence for the complete capsid protein had 56.2 and 42.9 % identity with human and avian strains, respectively. Inoculation of the samples onto three different permanent rat liver cell lines did not result in detectable virus replication as assayed by RT-PCR with cells of the fifth virus passage. Further investigations are necessary to clarify the zoonotic potential of rat HEV and to assess its suitability to serve in a laboratory rat animal model for human hepatitis E.

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A survey of zoonotic pathogens carried by Norway rats in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

J Easterbrook, J Kaplan, N B Vanasco … (2007)

Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) carry several zoonotic pathogens and because rats and humans live in close proximity in urban environments, there exists potential for transmission. To identify zoonotic agents carried by rats in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, we live-trapped 201 rats during 2005-2006 and screened them for a panel of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Antibodies against Seoul virus (57.7%), hepatitis E virus (HEV, 73.5%), Leptospira interrogans (65.3%), Bartonella elizabethae (34.1%), and Rickettsia typhi (7.0%) were detected in Norway rats. Endoparasites, including Calodium hepatica (87.9%) and Hymenolepis sp. (34.4%), and ectoparasites (13.9%, primarily Laelaps echidninus) also were present. The risk of human exposure to these pathogens is a significant public health concern. Because these pathogens cause non-specific and often self-limiting symptoms in humans, infection in human populations is probably underdiagnosed.

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Transmission routes and risk factors for autochthonous hepatitis E virus infection in Europe: a systematic review.

E Duizer, O Wichmann, Cathryn Lewis (2010)

Increasing numbers of non-travel-associated hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have been reported in Europe in recent years. Our objective was to review the evidence on risk factors and transmission routes of autochthonous HEV infection and hepatitis E in Europe in order to develop recommendations for future research, prevention and control. A systematic literature review was performed to identify all primary reports and studies published during 1998-2008 on hepatitis E in humans and animals in Europe by searching Pubmed, reference lists of major articles and international conference proceedings. Each of the 106 included studies was categorized into one of three evidence levels (EL) based on study design and diagnostic methodology. The evidence was generally weak (73 were assigned to EL1, two to both EL1 and EL2, and 30 to EL2), further compounded by the use of poorly validated serological assays in some studies. Only one case-control study was assigned to EL3. Persons with autochthonous hepatitis E infection were on average older than the general population and predominantly male. There was no evidence for one main transmission route of HEV infection or risk factor for hepatitis E. However, zoonotic transmission seemed likely and person-to-person transmission too inefficient to cause clinical disease. Multiple routes of transmission probably exist and should be further investigated through analytical studies and reliable diagnostic kits. Based on current evidence that points to zoonotic transmission from pigs, thorough cooking of all porcine products, prevention of cross-contamination in the kitchen and improved education for occupationally exposed people (e.g. pig farmers, veterinarians and sewage workers) may help prevent HEV infection. Although evidence for parenteral transmission is limited, it is recommended that a risk assessment is undertaken.

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Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Emerg Infect Dis

Journal ID (publisher-id): EID

Title: Emerging Infectious Diseases

Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ISSN (Print): 1080-6040

ISSN (Electronic): 1080-6059

Publication date (Print): September 2010

Volume: 16

Issue: 9

Pages: 1452-1455

Affiliations

[1]Author affiliations: Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany (R. Johne, J. Reetz, A. Schielke);

[2]University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland (G. Heckel, E. Kindler);

[3]Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland (G. Heckel);

[4]Institute of Hygiene and Environment Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany (A. Plenge-Bönig);

[5]Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany (C. Maresch, R.G. Ulrich);

[6]Free University of Berlin, Berlin (A. Schielke)

Author notes

Address for correspondence. Rainer G. Ulrich, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany; email: rainer.ulrich@ 123456fli.bund.de

Article

Publisher ID: 10-0444

DOI: 10.3201/eid1609.100444

PMC ID: 3294985

PubMed ID: 20735931

SO-VID: d9b0a879-9179-4be2-9a6e-8a3fae7d61f2

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Novel Hepatitis E Virus Genotype in Norway Rats, Germany

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Most cited references 11

Detection of a novel hepatitis E-like virus in faeces of wild rats using a nested broad-spectrum RT-PCR.

A survey of zoonotic pathogens carried by Norway rats in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Transmission routes and risk factors for autochthonous hepatitis E virus infection in Europe: a systematic review.

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