Infezione sperimentale di suini convenzionali con virus dell'epatite E (HEV) e circovirus suino tipo 2 (PCV2): risultati preliminari

Hepatitis E (HE), caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), is an infectious disease that in humans shows clinical and morphological features of acute hepatitis. Increasing evidence support the hypothesis that HE is an emerging zoonotic disease, and that pigs are the main animal reservoir of the infection. At present little information is available about the clinical significance and pathogenesis of the infection in pigs. The objectives of this study were: a) the investigation of pathogenesis and dynamics of HEV infection in piglets experimentally infected with HEV or coinfected with PCV2; b) the evaluation of possible correlations and interactions between HEV and PCV2.