Zoonotic viruses are thought to be the highest risk of epidemic diseases for next years. Among others, these also include group A rotaviruses (RVA) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). RVA infection is preferentially speciesspecific, and heterologous infections may also occur (animal-to-human virus transmission). Recently, a human RVA of rabbit origin was described in a child, and a bovine-like RVA was isolated from a rabbit. Hepatitis E is an emerging disease recognized as a zoonosis. Recently HEV was detected in both farmed and wild rabbits in several countries. Risk of HEV zoonotic transmission from rabbits to humans is supported by experimental infection of non-human primates and swine with rabbit HEV and by the detection of a rabbit related HEV strain in a man. During 2013, a total of 121 rabbits attending veterinary examination were enrolled in this study. Sera and feces were collected from the same animal (except 7 fecal samples). Twenty-one samples were collected from studmare rabbits. Sera were analyzed in Western blotting and Immunocytochemistry using as antigens: i. a baculovirus expressed HEV capsid protein, ii. purified SA11 RV or iii. a crude extract of mock-infected Sf9. RNA was extracted using Qiagen RNAEasy. RT-PCRs were performed using the OneStep RT-PCR (Qiagen). None of the 135 fecal samples, showed presence of HEV genome. IgG against HEV were detected in 4/121 pet rabbits tested. Rabbits showed no clinical signs of RVA infection. Twelve out of 52 sera recognized specific RVA proteins. Twelve samples were positive in RT-PCR, one of which was confirmed through sequence analyses. One animal was positive for both RVA and HEV IgG. The seroprevalence to HEV in rabbits was low (3.3%); pets living in households have no contact with other animals, implying that apossible HEV transmission through the fecal-oral route is reduced. Studying naturally occurring heterologous rotaviruses may help understand how rotavirus cross the host-species barrier and enlighten the molecular determinants that control host-species specificity and pathogenicity. Contact between pet rabbits and their owners might favor bi-directional animal-to-human transmission. Possible foodborne transmission of rabbit HEV should also be evaluated.
M. Monini, L. De Sabato, I. Di Bartolo, A. Marata, P. Bassi, F. Ostanello, et al. (2014). Rotavirus and Hepatitis E virus infections in rabbits.
Rotavirus and Hepatitis E virus infections in rabbits
OSTANELLO, FABIO;
2014
Abstract
Zoonotic viruses are thought to be the highest risk of epidemic diseases for next years. Among others, these also include group A rotaviruses (RVA) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). RVA infection is preferentially speciesspecific, and heterologous infections may also occur (animal-to-human virus transmission). Recently, a human RVA of rabbit origin was described in a child, and a bovine-like RVA was isolated from a rabbit. Hepatitis E is an emerging disease recognized as a zoonosis. Recently HEV was detected in both farmed and wild rabbits in several countries. Risk of HEV zoonotic transmission from rabbits to humans is supported by experimental infection of non-human primates and swine with rabbit HEV and by the detection of a rabbit related HEV strain in a man. During 2013, a total of 121 rabbits attending veterinary examination were enrolled in this study. Sera and feces were collected from the same animal (except 7 fecal samples). Twenty-one samples were collected from studmare rabbits. Sera were analyzed in Western blotting and Immunocytochemistry using as antigens: i. a baculovirus expressed HEV capsid protein, ii. purified SA11 RV or iii. a crude extract of mock-infected Sf9. RNA was extracted using Qiagen RNAEasy. RT-PCRs were performed using the OneStep RT-PCR (Qiagen). None of the 135 fecal samples, showed presence of HEV genome. IgG against HEV were detected in 4/121 pet rabbits tested. Rabbits showed no clinical signs of RVA infection. Twelve out of 52 sera recognized specific RVA proteins. Twelve samples were positive in RT-PCR, one of which was confirmed through sequence analyses. One animal was positive for both RVA and HEV IgG. The seroprevalence to HEV in rabbits was low (3.3%); pets living in households have no contact with other animals, implying that apossible HEV transmission through the fecal-oral route is reduced. Studying naturally occurring heterologous rotaviruses may help understand how rotavirus cross the host-species barrier and enlighten the molecular determinants that control host-species specificity and pathogenicity. Contact between pet rabbits and their owners might favor bi-directional animal-to-human transmission. Possible foodborne transmission of rabbit HEV should also be evaluated.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
