Epizootiological study of rodent-borne hepatitis E virus HEV-C1 in small mammals in Hanoi, Vietnam

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 79; no. 1; pp. 76 - 81
• Main Authors: OBANA, Satomu, SHIMIZU, Kenta, YOSHIMATSU, Kumiko, HASEBE, Futoshi, HOTTA, Kozue, ISOZUMI, Rie, NGUYEN, Hoa Thuy, LE, Mai Quynh, YAMASHIRO, Tetsu, TSUDA, Yoshimi, ARIKAWA, Jiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01.01.2017; Japan Science and Technology Agency; The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Hepatitis; Hepatitis Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis E - epidemiology; Hepatitis E - veterinary; hepatitis E virus; Hepatitis E virus - genetics; Hepatitis E virus - immunology; Hepatitis E virus - isolation & purification; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulins; Infections; Mammals; Phylogeny; Public Health; Rats; Rattus tanezumi; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA, Viral - blood; rodent; Rodent Diseases - epidemiology; Rodent Diseases - virology; Rodents; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Vietnam; Vietnam - epidemiology; Viruses; zoonosis; Vietnam
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.16-0355

There is concern about the zoonotic potential of rodent-borne hepatitis E virus, designated as HEV-C1. However, epizootiological information about HEV-C1 is limited. To address this issue, serum samples from 443 small mammals captured at 5 sites in Hanoi, Vietnam, were examined for anti-HEV-C1 IgG antibodies. In addition, livers of seropositive animals were examined for viral RNA. Anti-HEV-C1 antibodies were detected in 57 (12.9%) of the 443 serum samples. Seropositive animals were found in all of the sites (4.7% to 22.2%). Anti-HEV-C1 antibodies were detected from 48 (12.3%) of 389 Rattus norvegicus and 9 (19.6%) of 46 R. tanezumi, but were not detected from 8 Suncus murinus. Viral RNAs were detected from 13 (22.8%) of the 57 seropositive rodents. The detection rate of viral RNA in seropositive R. tanezumi (66.7%, 6/9) was significantly higher than that in seropositive R. norvegicus (14.6%, 7/48). The results suggest that R. tanezumi is more susceptible than R. norvegicus to HEV-C1 infection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Vietnamese strains were divided into 3 clusters in genetic group 2 of HEV-C1. Multiple clusters of viruses were detected at several sites without species specificity, suggesting that 3 clusters of HEV-C1 co-circulate in Hanoi, Vietnam.