Survey for Hepatitis E virus infection in non‐human primates in zoos in Spain

Caballero‐Gómez, Javier; Rivero‐Juárez, Antonio; Cano‐Terriza, David; Risalde, María Á.; López‐López, Pedro; Frías, Mario; Jiménez‐Ruiz, Saúl; Rivero, Antonio; García‐Bocanegra, Ignacio

doi:10.1111/tbed.13196

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(33 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These results, coupled with the presence of anti‐HEV antibodies in a yearling Iberian wolf in zoo E in 2014, suggest HEV circulation in zoo animals from these zoos during the study period. Previously detected seroconversion in a common chimpanzee from zoo E between 2015 and 2016 supports this hypothesis (Caballero‐Gómez et al., 2019b ).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 54%

Monitoring of hepatitis E virus in zoo animals from Spain, 2007–2021

Caballero‐Gómez

García‐Bocanegra

Cano‐Terriza

et al. 2022

Transbounding Emerging Dis

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hepatitis E virus (HEV, family Hepeviridae) is an important emerging and zoonotic pathogen. In recent decades, the number of human cases of zoonotic hepatitis E has increased considerably in industrialized countries and HEV has been detected in an expanding range of mammal species. Although domestic pigs and wild boar are considered the main reservoirs of zoonotic HEV genotypes, the role of other susceptible animals in the epidemiology of the virus is still poorly understood. A large‐scale, long‐term study was carried out (1) to assess HEV exposure in captive zoo animals in Spain and (2) to determine the dynamics of seropositivity in individuals that were sampled longitudinally during the study period. Between 2007 and 2021, serum samples from 425 zoo animals belonging to 109 animal species (including artiodactyls, carnivores, perissodactyls, proboscideans and rodents) were collected from 11 different zoological parks in Spain. Forty‐six of these animals at seven of these zoos were also longitudinally sampled. Anti‐HEV antibodies were detected in 36 (8.5%; 95% CI: 5.8–11.1) of 425 sampled zoo animals. Specific antibodies against HEV‐3 and HEV‐C1 antigens were confirmed in ELISA‐positive animals using western blot assay. Two of 46 longitudinally surveyed animals seroconverted during the study period. Seropositivity was significantly higher in carnivores and perissodactyls than in artiodactyls, and also during the period 2012–2016 compared with 2007–2011. HEV RNA was not detected in any of the 262 animals that could be tested by RT‐PCR. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first large‐scale, long‐term surveillance on HEV in different orders of zoo mammals. Our results indicate exposure to HEV‐3 and HEV‐C1 in zoo animals in Spain and confirm a widespread but not homogeneous spatiotemporal circulation of HEV in captive species in this country. Further studies are required to determine the role of zoo species, particularly carnivores and perissodactyls, in the epidemiology of HEV and to clarify the origins of infection in zoological parks.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 54%

Monitoring of hepatitis E virus in zoo animals from Spain, 2007–2021

Caballero‐Gómez

García‐Bocanegra

Cano‐Terriza

et al. 2022

Transbounding Emerging Dis

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In connection with this, 52 (19.7%) of 264 wild boars sampled in metropolitan areas of Barcelona (northeastern Spain) were positive for HEV RNA (Wang et al, 2019), indicating a potential source of HEV transmission in urban areas. In our study region, HEV circulation has been reported in wild boar populations with prevalence values ranging between 6.8% and 23.2% (Risalde et al, 2017;Rivero-Juarez et al, 2018) and HEV exposure has also been detected in other mammals, including zoo animals and humans (Caballero-Gómez et al, 2019;Rivero-Juarez et al, 2015). In any case, additional studies are needed to determine the sources of HEV transmission in cat and dog populations in the study area.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Serological and molecular survey of hepatitis E virus in cats and dogs in Spain

Caballero‐Gómez

Rivero‐Juárez

Jurado‐Tarifa³

et al. 2022

Transbounding Emerging Dis

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that is currently recognized as one of the major causes of acute human hepatitis worldwide. In Europe, the increasing number of hepatitis E cases is mainly associated with the consumption of animal food products or contact with infected animals. Dogs and cats have been suggested as a zoonotic source of HEV infection. The aim of this study was to assess Orthohepevirus circulation, including HEV‐A, HEV‐B and HEV‐C species, in sympatric urban cats and dogs in southern Spain. Between 2017 and 2020, blood samples were collected from 144 stray cats and 152 dogs, both strays and pets. The presence of antibodies against HEV were tested using a double‐antigen sandwich ELISA and seropositive samples were further analysed by western blot. A RT‐PCR was performed to detect RNA of Orthohepevirus species (HEV‐A, HEV‐B and HEV‐C). A total of 19 (6.4%; 95%CI: 3.6‐9.2) of the 296 animals tested showed anti‐HEV antibodies by ELISA. Seropositivity was significantly higher in dogs (9.9%; 15/152; 95%CI: 5.1‐14.6) than in cats (2.8%; 4/144; 95%CI: 0.1‐5.5). Ten of the 18 ELISA‐positive animals that could be further analysed by western blot, reacted against HEV‐3 and/or HEV‐C1 antigens, which suggest circulation of both genotypes in urban cats and dogs in the study area. However, HEV‐A, HEV‐B and HEV‐C RNA were not detected in any of the tested sera. This is the first study to assess HEV circulation in both stray cats and dogs in Europe. Our results provide evidence of HEV exposure in sympatric urban cat and dog populations in southern Spain. Further studies are needed to determine the role of these species in the epidemiology of HEV.

show abstract

“…Furthermore, a serological study in Iberian red deer carried out in Spain detected IgG anti-HEV in 10.4% (101/968) of animals (Mariana Boadella et al, 2010 ). A serosurvey of HEV infection was carried out in non-human primates from zoos of Spain, revealing a prevalence of IgG ani-HEV of 4.4% (8/181) (Caballero-Gómez et al, 2019b ). Moreover, a serological survey in dogs and cats in Spain was conducted in Cordoba, having anti-HEV antibodies been detected in 9.9% (15/152) of dogs and in 2.8% (4/144) of cats (Caballero-Gómez et al, 2022b ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis E Virus in the Iberian Peninsula: A Systematic Review

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

One of the most frequent causes of acute viral hepatitis is hepatitis E virus (HEV) causing 20 million infections worldwide each year and 44,000 deaths. Studies on HEV in the Iberian Peninsula have been increasing through time with HEV infection being identified in humans and animals. The aim of the present systematic review was to compile and evaluate all the published data on HEV from studies performed in humans, animals and environmental samples in the Iberian Peninsula. The electronic databases Mendeley, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were thoroughly searched, and research published up until February 01, 2023 were included. Resulting in a total of 151 eligible papers by full reading and application of PRISMA exclusion/inclusion criteria. Overall, the present review shows that several HEV genotypes, namely HEV-1, 3, 4, and 6 as well as Rocahepevirus, are circulating in humans, animals, and in the environment in the Iberian Peninsula. HEV-3 was the most common genotype circulating in humans in Portugal and Spain, as expected for developed countries, with HEV-1 only being detected in travelers and emigrants from HEV endemic regions. Spain is the biggest pork producer in Europe and given the high circulation of HEV in pigs, with HEV-3 being primarily associated to zoonotic transmission through consumption of swine meat and meat products, in our opinion, the introduction of an HEV surveillance system in swine and inclusion of HEV in diagnostic routines for acute and chronic human hepatitis would be important. Additionally, we propose that establishing a monitoring mechanism for HEV is crucial in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence of this illness and the various strains present in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as their potential impact on public health.

show abstract

Survey for Hepatitis E virus infection in non‐human primates in zoos in Spain

Cited by 6 publications

References 22 publications

Monitoring of hepatitis E virus in zoo animals from Spain, 2007–2021

Monitoring of hepatitis E virus in zoo animals from Spain, 2007–2021

Serological and molecular survey of hepatitis E virus in cats and dogs in Spain

Hepatitis E Virus in the Iberian Peninsula: A Systematic Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About