Detection of rat hepatitis E virus in wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and Black rats (Rattus rattus) from 11 European countries

Ryll, René; Bernstein, Samuel; Heuser, Elisa; Schlegel, Mathias; Dremsek, Paul; Zumpe, Maxi; Wolf, Sandro; Pépin, Michel; Bajomi, D.; Müller, Gabi; Heiberg, Ann-Charlotte; Spahr, Carina; Lang, Johannes; Groschup, Martin H.; Ansorge, Hermann; Freise, Jona; Guenther, Sebastian; Baert, Kristof; Ruiz‐Fons, Francisco; Pikula, Jiří; Knap, Nataša; Tsakmakidis, Ιoannis; Dovas, Chrysostomos Ι.; Zanet, Stefania; Imholt, Christian; Heckel, Gerald; Johne, Reimar; Ulrich, Rainer G.

doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.07.001

Cited by 65 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This finding is in line with our previous investigations on Leptospira spp. and RnorPyV‐1, but in contrast to the results obtained for ratHEV . A former study described a lack of clearance for Bartonella infection in mice belonging to the genus Apodemus .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…The prevalence in Norway rats from Germany was 7.64%, which falls in the lower range of former studies investigating the prevalence for Bartonella spp. in Norway rats and/or black rats from China (12.5%), Japan (6.1%), Brazil (19%), Israel (24%), Portugal and the USA (11%–19.4%) . These prevalences differed mostly on a regional scale .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Norway rats are known to harbour many different zoonotic agents such as Yersinia pestis, Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp. and Coxiella burnetii , but also pathogens with no or unknown zoonotic potential . Norway rats are better studied in Europe and thus better known to carry zoonotic pathogens in comparison with black rats; however, it is likely that both species harbour and distribute a similar panel of pathogens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Norway and black rats in Europe: potential reservoirs for zoonotic arthropod‐borne pathogens?

Obiegala

Heuser

Ryll

et al. 2019

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and black rats (R. rattus) are known to be cosmopolitan reservoirs for zoonotic agents. Nevertheless, little is known about prevalence and distribution of arthropod‐borne pathogens in rats from Europe. Therefore, this survey focused on the detection of arthropod‐borne pathogens. Spleen‐derived DNA samples were available from 528 Norway rats and 74 black rats collected in several European countries. Further, these samples were processed by polymerase chain reaction for the detection of zoonotic pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (CNM), Babesia spp. and Bartonella spp. eventually followed by sequencing. RESULTS Babesia spp. was not detected. Four Norway rat samples were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA and two for CNM. In 50 rat samples, Bartonella spp. DNA was detected (8.1%; 95% Confidence interval (CI) 6.2–10.61). Whereas B. tribocorum (n = 45) and B. grahamii (n = 1) were carried exclusively in Norway rats from Central Europe (Belgium, Germany), B. coopersplainsensis (n = 4) was detected only in black rats from southern European countries (Spain, Italy). CONCLUSIONS Pathogenic Bartonella spp. DNA was found in black and Norway rats from Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium for the first time. Bartonellae were found focally in zoos suggesting Norway rats as a possible reservoir for B. tribocorum and black rats as a reservoir for B. coopersplainsensis in Europe. These findings should raise awareness of pathogenic Bartonella spp. in Norway rats, especially in terms of pest management control in zoos. Norway and black rats seem not to be predominantly involved in the life cycle of the other examined arthropod‐borne pathogens in Europe. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Norway and black rats in Europe: potential reservoirs for zoonotic arthropod‐borne pathogens?

Obiegala

Heuser

Ryll

et al. 2019

Pest Management Science

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“…Rat HEV is readily transmissible between rats (Johne et al, ) and has been detected in several species of the Rattus genus, including the black rat ( R. rattus ; Ryll et al, ), Tanezumi rat ( Rattus tanezumi ) and Rattus rattoides losea (Li et al, ). In addition, strains of the C1 genotype have also been detected in a variety of species outside the Rattus genus, such as in greater bandicoot rats ( Bandicota indica ; Li et al, ), the Asian musk shrew ( Suncus murinus ; Guan et al, ; Li et al, ) and a Syrian brown bear ( Ursus arctos syriacus ) from a German zoo (Spahr et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rodents have been shown to be susceptible to infection with a diverse range of HEV species and could, therefore, be potential sources of human and livestock (including pig) infections (Ryll et al, ; Takahashi et al, ). Large populations of some rodent species are common on and around farms due to the availability of food and shelter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First detection of Hepatitis E virus (Orthohepevirus C) in wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Great Britain

Murphy

Williams

Jennings

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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In the United Kingdom, there has been an increase in the number of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in people annually since 2010. Most of these are thought to be indigenously acquired Orthohepevirus A genotype 3 (HEV G3), which has been linked to pork production and consumption. However, the dominant subgroup circulating in British pigs differs from that which is found in people; therefore, an alternative, potentially zoonotic, source is suspected as a possible cause of these infections. Rodents, brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in particular, have been shown to carry HEV, both the swine HEV G3 genotype and Orthohepevirus C, genotype C1 (rat HEV). To investigate the prevalence of HEV in British rodents, liver tissue was taken from 307 rodents collected from pig farms (n = 12) and other locations (n = 10). The RNA from these samples was extracted and tested using a pan‐HEV nested RT‐PCR. Limited histopathology was also performed. In this study, 8/61 (13%, 95% CI, 5–21) of brown rat livers were positive for HEV RNA. Sequencing of amplicons demonstrated all infections to be rat HEV with 87%–92% nucleotide identity to other rat HEV sequences circulating within Europe and China (224 nt ORF‐1). Lesions and necrosis were observed histologically in 2/3 samples examined. No rat HEV RNA was detected in any other species, and no HEV G3 RNA was detected in any rodent in this study. This is the first reported detection of rat HEV in Great Britain. A human case of rat HEV infection has recently been reported in Asia, suggesting that rat HEV could pose a risk to public health.

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Transmission of Rat Hepatitis E Virus Infection to Humans in Hong Kong: A Clinical and Epidemiological Analysis

et al. 2020

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Background and Aims Hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants causing human infection predominantly belong to HEV species A (HEV‐A). HEV species C genotype 1 (HEV‐C1) circulates in rats and is highly divergent from HEV‐A. It was previously considered unable to infect humans, but the first case of human HEV‐C1 infection was recently discovered in Hong Kong. The aim of this study is to further describe the features of this zoonosis in Hong Kong. Approach and Results We conducted a territory‐wide prospective screening study for HEV‐C1 infection over a 31‐month period. Blood samples from 2,860 patients with abnormal liver function (n = 2,201) or immunosuppressive conditions (n = 659) were screened for HEV‐C1 RNA. In addition, 186 captured commensal rats were screened for HEV‐C1 RNA. Sequences of human‐derived and rat‐derived HEV‐C1 isolates were compared. Epidemiological and clinical features of HEV‐C1 infection were analyzed. HEV‐C1 RNA was detected in 6/2,201 (0.27%) patients with hepatitis and 1/659 (0.15%) immunocompromised persons. Including the previously reported case, eight HEV‐C1 infections were identified, including five in patients who were immunosuppressed. Three patients had acute hepatitis, four had persistent hepatitis, and one had subclinical infection without hepatitis. One patient died of meningoencephalitis, and HEV‐C1 was detected in cerebrospinal fluid. HEV‐C1 hepatitis was generally milder than HEV‐A hepatitis. HEV‐C1 RNA was detected in 7/186 (3.76%) rats. One HEV‐C1 isolate obtained from a rat captured near the residences of patients was closely related to the major outbreak strain. Conclusions HEV‐C1 is a cause of hepatitis E in humans in Hong Kong. Immunosuppressed individuals are susceptible to persistent HEV‐C1 infection and extrahepatic manifestations. Subclinical HEV‐C1 infection threatens blood safety. Tests for HEV‐C1 are required in clinical laboratories.

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Detection of rat hepatitis E virus in wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and Black rats (Rattus rattus) from 11 European countries

Cited by 65 publications

References 42 publications

Norway and black rats in Europe: potential reservoirs for zoonotic arthropod‐borne pathogens?

Norway and black rats in Europe: potential reservoirs for zoonotic arthropod‐borne pathogens?

First detection of Hepatitis E virus (Orthohepevirus C) in wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Great Britain

Transmission of Rat Hepatitis E Virus Infection to Humans in Hong Kong: A Clinical and Epidemiological Analysis

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