Chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is frequently reported in immunocompromised patients, but has also been increasingly reported in non-immunocompromised individuals. We characterized the course of chronic HEV infection in immunocompetent rabbits. In two independent experiments, 40 specific-pathogen-free rabbits were infected with a rabbit HEV genotype 3 strain in serial diluted titers (108 to 104 copies/mL). Serum and fecal samples were collected weekly and were tested for HEV RNA, antigen, anti-HEV and liver enzymes. Rabbits that spontaneously cleared the infection before 10 weeks post-inoculation (wpi) were kept to the end of the study as recovery control. Liver tissues were collected from HEV-infected rabbits at 5, 10 and 26 wpi for histopathological analysis. Nineteen rabbits (47.5%) developed chronic HEV infection with persistent viraemia and fecal HEV shedding for >6 months. Seroconversion to anti-HEV was observed in 84.2% (16/19) of the chronically infected rabbits. Serum levels of aminotransferase were persistently elevated in most of the rabbits. Characterizations of chronic HEV infection in immunocompetent settings could be recapitulated in rabbits, which can serve as a valuable tool for future studies on pathogenesis.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9229306 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v14061252 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Evaluating the economic viability of hepatitis E virus serological screening among blood donors: A prospective study from India for advancing blood safety.
Asian J Transfus Sci
December 2024
Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) stands out as a significant transfusion-transmissible infection, yet it is not included in the screening protocols of many countries. The present study was conducted to assess the cost-benefit implications of incorporating HEV screening among blood donors which is one of the preventive strategies in reducing transfusion transmissible HEV.
Methodology: A decision tree model was prepared to assist the cost-benefit analysis.
Rapid visual detection of hepatitis E virus combining reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification with lateral flow dipstick and real-time fluorescence.
J Clin Microbiol
January 2025
Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Unlabelled: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a globally prevalent zoonotic pathogen that is primarily spread through the fecal-oral route, such as by consuming undercooked or contaminated pork. HEV infection leads to an estimated 3.3 million symptomatic cases of viral hepatitis and 70,000 deaths in human populations each year.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among the Arab population in Northern Israel: an insight into the seroepidemiology and associated risk factors.
Epidemiol Infect
January 2025
Gastroenterology Department, Nazareth Hospital EMMS, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of viral hepatitis. We examined HEV seroprevalence and associations of sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics with HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositivity in the Arab population. A cross-sectional single-centre study was conducted among adults in the Nazareth area during 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effectiveness of two doses of recombinant hepatitis E vaccine in response to an outbreak in Bentiu, South Sudan: a case-control and bias indicator study.
Lancet Infect Dis
January 2025
Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Médecins Sans Frontières, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address:
Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis, particularly in Asia and Africa, where HEV genotypes 1 and 2 are prevalent. Although a recombinant vaccine, Hecolin, is available, it has not been used to control outbreaks. The licensed three-dose regimen might pose challenges for it to be an impactful outbreak control tool.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunogenicity and safety of HepE Hecolin® in chronic hepatitis B patients at clinically stable stage: An open-label study in China.
Hum Vaccin Immunother
December 2025
Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Acute hepatitis E infection could induce severe outcomes among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Between 2016 and 2017, an open-label study was conducted to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of hepatitis E vaccine (HepE) in CHB patients, using healthy adults as parallel controls in China. Eligible participants who were aged ≥30 y were enrolled in the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!