Genetic diversity of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in imported and domestic camels in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Camels gained attention since the discovery of MERS-CoV as intermediary hosts for potentially epidemic zoonotic viruses. DcHEV is a novel zoonotic pathogen associated with camel contact. This study aimed to genetically characterize DcHEV in domestic and imported camels in Saudi Arabia. DcHEV was detected by RT-PCR in serum samples, PCR-positive samples were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. DcHEV was detected in 1.77% of samples with higher positivity in domestic DCs. All positive imported dromedaries were from Sudan with age declining prevalence. Domestic DcHEV sequences clustered with sequences from Kenya, Somalia, and UAE while imported sequences clustered with one DcHEV isolate from UAE and both sequences clustered away from isolates reported from Pakistan. Full-genome sequences showed 24 amino acid difference with reference sequences. Our results confirm the detection of DcHEV in domestic and imported DCs. Further investigations are needed in human and camel populations to identify DcHEV potential zoonosis threat.

First detection of hepatitis E virus in dromedary camels from Iran

“…13.4%) (El-Kafrawy et al, 2020). Similarly, a study conducted in Saudi Arabia found that all infected camels tested with RT-PCR were male (El-Kafrawy et al, 2022). Although our findings support the influence of gender on HEV infection in dromedary camels, some studies such as Li et al (2017) and Ouoba et al (2019) have not found any association between gender and HEV infection (Li et al, 2017;Ouoba et al, 2019).…”

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Seroprevalence Study

“…Animal reservoirs of HEV infection include rabbits, deer, pigs, and wild boars [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Zoonotic transmission of HEV to humans is documented to occur through several animal species including pigs, rabbits, wild boars, camels, bats, and goats [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 18 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 58 ]. While dromedary camels were reported to be infected with HEV genotype 7 [ 14 , 15 ], their potential to transmit the infection to humans was only reported in a single case from the United Arab Emirates [ 10 ].…”

“…Zoonotic transmission of HEV to humans is documented to occur through several animal species including pigs, rabbits, wild boars, camels, bats, and goats [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 18 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 58 ]. While dromedary camels were reported to be infected with HEV genotype 7 [ 14 , 15 ], their potential to transmit the infection to humans was only reported in a single case from the United Arab Emirates [ 10 ]. Recent HEV seroprevalence and genetic characterization studies in dromedary camels from Saudi Arabia [ 15 , 29 ] show an overall seroprevalence of 23.1% with slightly lower prevalence in imported camels compared to domestic camels (22.4% vs. 25.4%, respectively).…”

“…Although several countries in The Middle East have recorded medium to high HEV seroprevalence rates, reports on HEV genotypes are rare. HEV genotype 7 was first reported in dromedary camels by Woo et al [ 14 ] in the UAE from feces samples. Later in 2016, chronic zoonotic transmission with HEV genotype 7 was reported in a liver transplant patient who regularly consumed camel meat and milk in the UAE [ 10 ].…”

Current Knowledge of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Epidemiology in Ruminants

“…Evidence for HEV zoonotic transmission by ingestion of uncooked swine, wild boar or deer meat products have been well documented [ 23 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 ]. Among ruminants, in addition to cluster cases directly linked to the consumption of raw deer meat, there is growing evidence on the role of domestic camels as zoonotic sources of HEV gt7 infection [ 121 ], as indicated by a case of chronic hepatitis E after transplantation in a patient from the United Arab Emirates who regularly consumed camel milk and meat [ 20 ]. Human HEV infections associated with consumption of products from domestic cattle, goats and sheep have not been reported so far.…”