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Serological survey of hepatitis E virus infection in farmed and pet rabbits in Italy

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Abstract

The recent identification in rabbits of hepatitis E viruses (HEV) related to viruses infecting humans raises the question of the role of this species as possible HEV reservoir. A serological survey on rabbit HEV infection was conducted in Italy during 2013-2014, including both farmed and pet rabbits. We found an anti-HEV antibody seroprevalence of 3.40 % in 206 farmed rabbits (collected on 7 farms) and 6.56 % in 122 pets. RNA was extracted from IgG-positive sera and analyzed by HEV-specific real-time RT-PCR. None of the samples were positive, confirming that no viremia was present in the presence of IgG. Only one serum sample from a farmed rabbit was positive for IgM, but no HEV RNA was detected in it. Pet rabbit feces were also tested for HEV RNA, with negative results. This finding suggests that HEV is circulating in rabbits in Italy.

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Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under Grant Agreement no. 278433 PREDEMICS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Ilaria Di Bartolo, L. De Sabato, M. Monini, E. Ponterio & F. M. Ruggeri

  2. Macerata, Italy

    A. Marata

  3. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy

    N. Martinelli

  4. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy

    C. F. Magistrali

  5. Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, BO, Italy

    F. Ostanello

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  1. Ilaria Di Bartolo
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  2. L. De Sabato
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  3. A. Marata
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  4. N. Martinelli
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  5. C. F. Magistrali
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  6. M. Monini
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  7. E. Ponterio
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  8. F. Ostanello
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  9. F. M. Ruggeri
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Correspondence to Ilaria Di Bartolo.

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None of the authors have a conflict of interest that could influence the results of the paper.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Di Bartolo, I., De Sabato, L., Marata, A. et al. Serological survey of hepatitis E virus infection in farmed and pet rabbits in Italy. Arch Virol 161, 1343–1346 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-016-2778-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-016-2778-y

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