A Multifaceted Approach for Evaluating Hepatitis E Virus Infectivity In Vitro: Cell Culture and Innovative Molecular Methods for Integrity Assessment.

Hepatitis E virus is a prominent cause of viral hepatitis worldwide. In Western countries, most infections are asymptomatic. However, acute self-limiting hepatitis and chronic cases in immunocompromised individuals can occur.

Zoonotic pathogens linked with hedgehog diphtheric disease.

Hedgehog diphtheric disease (HDD), an ulcerative skin disease with a high fatality rate, is an emerging threat to European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). We explored the potential role of a panel of zoonotic pathogens in the presumed multifactorial nature of HDD in 188 hedgehogs from 3 wildlife rescue centres in Belgium. As expected, and with a prevalence of 67% in 57 hedgehogs with skin lesions, characteristic of HDD, the occurrence of Corynebacterium ulcerans was strongly associated with the disease.