猪戊型肝炎病毒swCH-GS189株ORF2基因的克隆及序列分析

为进行猪戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)ORF2基因特征研究,参照GenBank中已发表的戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)核酸序列,设计了一对扩增HEV ORF2基因的引物,利用RT-PCR等方法克隆出了一株猪戊型肝炎病毒甘肃分离株GS189的ORF2基因cDNA片段.序列测定结果表明,swCH-GS189株的ORF2基因长2 025 bp,编码674个氨基酸,与GenBank中公布的其它毒株间的核苷酸序列同源性为79.1%～91.8%,推导的氨基酸序列同源性为89.5%～98.8%.系统发育进化树结果表明,该分离株为基因IV型.     

新疆猪粪便戊型肝炎病毒RNA的检测及序列分析

从戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E virus,HEV)IgG检测阳性的新疆某猪场采集70份猪粪便,利用逆转录套式聚合酶链方法(RT-nPCR),检测HEV RNA,其中13份为阳性,阳性率18.57%.将PCR扩增产物克隆到pMD18-T载体上,构建成重组质粒并测序,结果表明,13株猪源HEV分离株在HEV ORF2 348bp核苷酸序列的同源性为97.1%～100%,为同一基因型;与HEV Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ的同源性分别为74.1%～77.6%,71.6%～74.1%,73.3%～78.2%和82.8%～91.4%,与ⅣA亚型的同源性同源性最高达89.4%～91.4%.以该核苷酸片段绘制的基因进化树显示13株猪源HEV与HEVⅣT1株在同一分支上,属基因Ⅳ型;与国内其他猪源HEV分离株该片段核苷酸序列的同源性为82.6%～91.3%,提示中国猪源HEV的基因型比较一致,同属HEVⅣ型.     

猪戊肝病毒存在准种现象

为研究猪戊肝病毒准种存在情况,采用逆转录-巢式聚合酶链反应法(RT-nested-PCR)对四株猪戊肝病毒(Hepatitis E virus)第2可读框(ORF2)部分序列进行PCR扩增,将产物克隆后,每个毒株分别随机挑取20个阳性克隆测序,进行DNA序列分析。结果显示4株HEV不同克隆间的ORF2核苷酸序列同源性分别为96.8%~99.7%、98.8%~99.7%、98.8%~99.7%和100%,有变异的克隆核苷酸序列与上海株(SAAS-JDY5)同源性为96.8%~100%。由此证实感染戊肝病毒的猪个体内存在HEV准种。     

新疆羊粪便戊型肝炎病毒RNA的检测与序列分析

【目的】为了了解新疆地区羊群中是否存在戊型肝炎的感染,我们从戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E virus,HEV)IgG检测阳性的新疆某羊场采集54份1-3岁的羊粪便,【方法】利用逆转录套式聚合酶链方法(RT-nPCR),检测HEVRNA,其中6份为阳性,阳性率11.11%。【结果】将PCR扩增产物克隆,测序并进行序列分析,结果表明,6株羊源HEV检测株在HEV ORF2 189bp 99.38%-100%,为同一基因型;与HEVⅠ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ型的同源性分别为78.67%-85.33%、81.33%-82.67%、78.67%-84.00%和84.67%-95.36%,与Ⅳ型最高同源性达94.04%-95.36%。以该189bp片段绘制进化树,发现与新疆牛源分离株、中国大陆猪源分离株(FJ610232)和中国大陆人源分离株(AJ272108)在同一分枝上,同属基因Ⅳ型;【结论】提示新疆羊群中可能存在HEV感染,并且羊可能是人类HEV传染源中除猪之外的新宿主。     

新疆猪粪便戊型肝炎病毒RNA的检测及序列分析

从戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis Evirus,HEV)IgG检测阳性的新疆某猪场采集70份猪粪便,利用逆转录套式聚合酶链方法(RT-nPCR),检测HEV RNA,其中13份为阳性,阳性率18．57％。将PCR扩增产物克隆到pMD18-T载体上,构建成重组质粒并测序,结果表明,13株猪源HEV分离株在HEV ORF2 348bp核苷酸序列的同源性为97．1％～100％,为同一基因型;与HEVⅠ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ的同源性分别为74．1％-77．6％,71．6％-74．1％,73.3％～78．2％和82．8％-91.4％,与ⅣA亚型的同源性同源性最高达89．4％-91．4％。以该核苷酸片段绘制的基因进化树显示13株猪源HEV与HEV Ⅳ T1株在同一分支上,属基因Ⅳ型;与国内其他猪源HEV分离株该片段核苷酸序列的同源性为82．6％-91．3％,提示中国猪源HEV的基因型比较一致,同属HEV Ⅳ型。     

三株散发性戊型肝炎病毒变异株的部分序列比较

对三株散发性戊型肝炎病毒Ch-T11、Ch-T21、Ch-T40的部分基因组做克隆测序,经比较发现与其它国内外HEV株ORF2部分相应核苷酸序列同源性在78.3-81.3%,Ch-T21与Ch-T40的核苷酸同源性为98.8%,而Ch-T11与前两者的同源性则分别为89.8%和90.2%.Ch-T11、Ch-T21、Ch-T40与其它HEV株相应氨基酸序列同源性在95.8-97.9%,它们之间的氨基酸同源性则为100%.系统进化树分析显示,这三株HEV可能代表着一新型HEV.     

东北地区戊型肝炎病毒基因特征分析

为探索东北地区戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)流行背景和特征,本实验用抗-HEV抗体酶联免疫试剂盒检测了不同样品血清中的抗体;对样品用RT-PCR检测HEV RNA,对PCR阳性产物进行克隆测序,然后对序列进行分析。对49个呈RNA阳性的样品进行了序列测定,结果显示HEV分离株之间核苷酸同源性为82.2%~100.0%;同时,还与其它四种基因型戊型肝炎病毒进行了核苷酸序列同源性比对,分别在75.6%~81.6%、77.7%~80.9%、73.6%~81.0%和80.9%~95.7%之间。本实验还针对吉林省内的动物源HEV与人源HEV的序列进行了比对,结果其同源性在86.2%~100.0%之间,其中有5对序列完全相同。本研究获得的44个核酸片段结合HEV基因Ⅳ型中已知亚型的12个基因序列进行了亚型分类。结果 44个核酸片段对应3个分支,包括Ⅳa、Ⅳb亚型及另一支独立分支,表明本实验所获得的独立分支里包含的病毒分离株可形成新的亚型,本实验中将其命名为Ⅳh亚型。中国东北地区主要流行的HEV基因型为Ⅳ型,并且人源HEV与动物源HEV有极高的同源性,同时,还发现中国东北地区流行着国内已有报道的Ⅳa、Ⅳb亚型外,存在着一个新的亚型。     

戊型肝炎病毒通用性PCR引物的设计及其基因分型的研究

针对戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)基因分型尚无统一标准的现状,本研究通过分析GenBank中现有的82株HEV基因组全序列,设计一组HEV通用性PCR引物(HEVuPrimer)用于扩增不同基因型HEV可测序长片段,分别基于全基因序列、HEVuPrimer扩增序列和较常用的MXJ引物扩增序列对82株HEV进行基因分型,再以HEVuPrimer扩增1～4型HEV参考株和HEVIg M抗体阳性的临床标本,进行HEV基因分型的研究。研究结果表明HE-VuPrimer扩增区段与全基因序列对82株HEV的基因分型结果完全一致;HEVuPrimer与HEV序列的匹配程度明显高于MXJ引物,且HEVuPrimer区段的基因分型结果较MXJ区段的更为准确。HEVuPrimer可同时扩增出不同基因型HEV基因片段。124份临床标本中,60份测出特异性HEV RNA,阳性率为48.4%,基因分型结果均为4型HEV,但分属于4个不同的基因亚型,核苷酸同源性为80.0%～99.9%,其中有6例近期分离的HEV毒株形成一新的基因亚型。因此,基于HEVuPrimer扩增区段的HEV基因分型方法具有较高的可靠性和可信度,为建立统一、可行的HEV基...     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒S1株基因组序列测定和分析

应用RT-PCR方法分段扩增出PRRSV上海分离株S1毒株的4条基因大片段,扩增后的产物分别克隆于pCR-XL-TOPO载体鉴定后测序,同时应用RACE方法对S1毒株的3'和5'基因末端进行了成功的扩增并克隆于pMD-18T载体进行测序,按顺序将这些序列进行拼接得到PRRSV S1株全基因组cDNA序列.测序结果表明PRRSV S1株基因组全长15441 bp,包含9个开放式阅读框,5'UTR含有189nt,3'端UTR含有181nt,其中包含30nt Poly (A).基因组序列分析结果显示该病毒与ATCC VR-2332和BJ-4分离株的核苷酸同源性分别99.5%和99.6%.与另一国内分离株CH-1a的核苷酸同源性为90.8%.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒S1株基因组序列测定和分析

应用RT-PCR方法分段扩增出PRRSV上海分离株S1毒株的4条基因大片段,扩增后的产物分别克隆于pCR-XL-TOPO载体鉴定后测序,同时应用RACE方法对S1毒株的3′和5′基因末端进行了成功的扩增并克隆于pMD-18T载体进行测序,按顺序将这些序列进行拼接得到PRRSVS1株全基因组cDNA序列。测序结果表明PRRSVS1株基因组全长15441bp,包含9个开放式阅读框,5′UTR含有189nt,3′端UTR含有181nt,其中包含30ntPoly(A)。基因组序列分析结果显示该病毒与ATCCVR-2332和BJ-4分离株的核苷酸同源性分别99.5%和99.6%。与另一国内分离株CH-1a的核苷酸同源性为90.8%。     

Serological evidence for hepatitis e virus infection in laboratory monkeys and pigs in animal facilities in Japan

In laboratory animal facilities, monkeys and pigs are used for animal experiments, but the details of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in these animals are unknown. The risk of infection from laboratory animals to humans has become a concern; therefore, much attention should be paid to the handling of these animals during their care and use, including surgical procedures performed on infected animals. In this connection, serum samples collected from 916 monkeys and 77 pigs kept in 23 animal facilities belonging to the Japanese Association of Laboratory Animal Facilities of National University Corporations (JALAN) and the Japanese Association of Laboratory Animal Facilities of Public and Private Universities (JALAP) in Japan were examined for the purpose of detecting antibodies to HEV and HEV RNA by using ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. One hundred and seven serum samples of 916 (11.7%) monkeys were positive for anti-HEV IgG, and 7 and 17 serum samples of 916 (0.8% and 5.3%) monkeys were positive for anti-HEV IgM and IgA, respectively. Thirty-six samples from 62 (58.1%) farm pigs were positive for anti-HEV IgG, whereas all samples tested from miniature pigs were negative (0/15, 0%). Seven samples from 62 (9.1%) farm pigs and 7 samples from 916 (0.8%) monkeys were positive for IgM antibody, but these HEV-IgM antibody positive serum samples were HEV-RNA negative by RT-PCR. The IgM antibody positive rate (9.1%) of farm pigs was much higher than that of monkeys (0.8%). These results suggest the relative levels of risk of HEV infection from these animals to animal handlers and researchers who work with them in laboratory animal facilities.     

Hepatitis E virus infection in two different regions of Indonesia with identification of swine HEV genotype 3

Hepatitis E is an emerging disease with a high incidence globally. Few data are available on hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Indonesia. To obtain molecular information on HEV infection in two regions of Indonesia with different customs and swine breeding conditions, serum samples from 137 swine farm workers, 100 blood donors and 100 swine (27 fecal samples also obtained) in Yogyakarta (Central Java) and from 12 and 64 swine farm workers, 42 and 135 local residents and 89 and 119 swine in Tulungagung (East Java) and Mengwi (Bali), respectively, from our previous study, were compared. Serological tests for anti‐HEV antibodies by ELISA, HEV‐RNA detection by RT‐PCR and phylogenetic analysis were performed. The total prevalence of anti‐HEV antibodies in humans was higher in Bali (11.6%) than in Java (5.1%; P = 0.015). No significant differences in anti‐HEV prevalence among swine farm workers and local residents in Java were found. The finding of swine HEV genotype 3 in specimens from Yogyakarta and genotype 4 from Tulungagung and Bali is somewhat different from other reports. We suggest other factors in addition to close contact with swine might play an important role in HEV transmission of non‐endemic/related custom groups. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on swine HEV genotype 3 in Indonesia.     

不同人类免疫缺陷病毒感染途径群体中戊型肝炎病毒的流行情况

本研究旨在了解不同人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)感染途径群体中戊型肝炎病毒(hepatitis E virus,HEV)抗体情况,探讨HEV疫苗接种的必要性。采集HIV感染者的血清或血浆,利用酶联免疫吸附试验(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)检测HEV IgG抗体、IgM抗体及抗原,荧光定量聚合酶链反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)检测HEV核酸,Roche高纯化HIV-1核酸定量检测试剂盒(PCR荧光法)检测HIV感染者的HIV载量。比较分析不同HIV感染途径群体中HEV流行率的差别。结果显示,HIV感染者中HEV IgG抗体的阳性率为37.4%,静脉吸毒、成分献血和传播途径不明HIV感染群体的HEV IgG抗体阳性率分别为49.3%、39.5%和30.4%。HEV核酸荧光PCR检测结果均为阴性。3种HIV感染群体之间HEV IgG抗体阳性率差异无统计学意义(χ~2=2.978,P0.05)。HEV IgG阳性与阴性感染者之间HIV载量差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结果提示,为保护HIV感染者免受HEV感染,应考虑接种HEV疫苗。     

中国西藏部分地区猪戊型肝炎病毒流行病学调查

戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E Virus,HEV)感染是一个重要的全球公共卫生问题,而猪被认为是HEV的天然宿主。HEV可以跨种间传播,且已经证实生吃感染的猪肉会导致人感染。在中国西藏许多地区仍然有生吃猪肉、猪肝等的习惯,且不同种家畜混合饲养,极易造成HEV感染和传播。然而中国西藏地区猪HEV流行情况报道甚少。文中对中国西藏5个地区市(拉萨、日喀则、山南、那曲和昌都)猪血清进行HEV Immunoglobulin-M(Ig M)和Ig G抗体检测,并通过逆转录巢氏PCR(RT-n PCR)进行HEV RNA检测和定量RT-PCR(q RT-PCR)进行病毒拷贝计算,首次报道了藏猪血清HEV RNA阳性率。结果显示,在西藏猪中HEV有较高的流行趋势。猪血清HEV Ig M抗体阳性率高达7.6%(26/340),HEV Ig G抗体阳性率为1.8%(6/340),HEV RNA阳性率高达7.6%(26/340),血清中病毒拷贝高达1.7×107 copies/m L,而且5个地区有不同的流行趋势。结果表明西藏猪HEV感染情况严重。有关部门应加强管理,以避免人与动物之间的交叉感染和暴发。     

Understanding animal welfare

Background

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen of which swine was reported as major reservoirs. HEV has been divided into 4 different genotypes according to phylogenetic analysis. Recent reports showed that genotype 4 HEV is freely transmitted between humans and swine in eastern China, including Shanghai area. This paper investigated the recent infection status of HEV among swine population of Shanghai area in China.

Methods

480 swine faecal specimens were collected from 23 farms which distribute all over Shanghai from September to November, 2007 and tested for the presence of HEV RNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

Our results showed that 26.1% (6/23) of the swine farms were positive for HEV RNA and the positive rate of the six farms were ranged from 9.1% to 33.3%. The HEV RNA positive rate for total samples were 5% (24/480). The resulted positive band specific for HEV was sequenced and sequence analysis indicated that all of these isolates belonged to genotype 4 HEV. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the 24 isolates clustered into 4 distinct subgroups, sharing 83.3–89.7% inter-subgroup and 97–99% intra-subgroup identities. More over, isolates in three of the four subgroups closely clustered with previous identified strains, sharing up high to 97% identity with them.

Conclusion

These results suggested that there were 4 different subgenotypes of HEV prevalent in Shanghai, and some of them may not be indigenous to Shanghai but introduced from other geographic regions.     

Seroprevalence and Incidence of hepatitis E in Blood Donors in Upper Austria

Background

In recent years various studies showed, that hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a growing public health problem in many developed countries. Therefore, HEV infections might bear a transmission risk by blood transfusions. The clinical relevance still requires further investigations. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of acute HEV infections in Upper Austrian blood donors as well as a risk estimation of this transfusion-related infection.

Methods and Findings

A total of 58,915 blood donors were tested for HEV RNA using a commercial HEV RT-PCR Kit. 7 of these donors (0.01%) were PCR-positive with normal laboratory parameters in absence of clinical signs of hepatitis. Viral load determined by quantitative real-time PCR showed a HEV nucleic acid concentration of 2,217 293,635 IU/ml. At follow-up testing (2–11 weeks after donation) all blood donors had negative HEV RNA results. Additionally, genotyping was performed by amplification and sequencing of the ORF1 or ORF2 region of the HEV genome. All HEV RNA positive donor samples revealed a genotype 3 isolate. For the antibody screening, anti-HEV IgM and IgG were detected by ELISA. Follow up serological testing revealed that no donor was seropositive for HEV IgM or IgG antibodies at time of donation. Moreover, we verified the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG in 1,203 of the HEV RNA negative tested blood donors. Overall 13.55% showed positive results for anti-HEV IgG.

Conclusions

In the presented study, we investigated HEV infections in blood donations of Upper Austria over 1 year. We concluded that 1 out of 8,416 blood donations is HEV RNA positive. Seroprevalence of anti HEV IgG results in an age-related increase of 13.55%. Therefore, based on this data, we recommend HEV-PCR screening to prevent transmission of hepatitis E virus by transfusion.     

High Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in Swedish Moose – A Phylogenetic Characterization and Comparison of the Virus from Different Regions

Background

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infects a range of species, including humans, pigs, wild boars and deer. Zoonotic transmission may contribute to the high HEV seroprevalence in the human population of many countries. A novel divergent HEV from moose (Alces alces) in Sweden was recently identified by partial genome sequencing. Since only one strain was found, its classification within the HEV family, prevalence in moose and zoonotic potential was unclear. We therefore investigated samples from 231 moose in seven Swedish counties for HEV, and sequenced a near complete moose HEV genome. Phylogenetic analysis to classify this virus within the family Hepeviridae and to explore potential host specific determinants was performed.

Methods and Findings

The HEV prevalence of moose was determined by PCR (marker for active infection) and serological assays (marker of past infection) of sera and 51 fecal samples from 231 Swedish moose. Markers of active and past infection were found in 67 (29%) animals, while 34 (15%) were positive for HEV RNA, 43 (19%) were seropositive for anti-HEV antibodies, and 10 (4%) had both markers. The number of young individuals positive for HEV RNA was larger than for older individuals, and the number of anti-HEV antibody positive individuals increased with age. The high throughput sequenced moose HEV genome was 35-60% identical to existing HEVs. Partial ORF1 sequences from 13 moose strains showed high similarity among them, forming a distinct monophyletic clade with a common ancestor to HEV genotype 1-6 group, which includes members known for zoonotic transmission.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates a high frequency of HEV in moose in Sweden, with markers of current and past infection demonstrated in 30% of the animals. Moose is thus an important animal reservoir of HEV. The phylogenetic relationship demonstrated that the moose HEV belonged to the genotype 1-6 group, which includes strains that also infect humans, and therefore may signify a potential for zoonotic transmission of this HEV.     

南京地区戊型肝炎病毒基因型鉴定和变异分析

为了解南京地区戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E virus,HEV)基因型的分布以及变异状况,本研究采用逆转录套式聚合酶反应(RT-nPCR)的方法检测南京地区40份急性散发性戊型肝炎患者的粪便标本,对PCR产物进行测序,利用生物信息学软件比较核苷酸的同源性、遗传距离,进行基因分型和变异分析。40份粪便标本中检测到14份阳性HEV、RNA,检出率为35%,基因分型均为HEV IV型,且分属2个不同的亚型;利用生物信息学软件对国内I型和IV型毒株加以比较,发现HEV IV型毒株比I型变异程度高,不同年份的HEV IV型毒株变异更大,有新的亚型出现,且变异有随时间推移而增大的趋势。     

广西地区野鼠戊型肝炎病毒感染情况调查

从广西壮族自治区5个市采集256份野鼠肝脏和对应的血清211份,采用HEV抗体(HEV-Ab)酶联免疫试剂盒(双抗原夹心法)对血清样本进行抗-HEV检测,并对不同地区HEV抗体阳性率进行χ2检验。采用HEV核酸荧光PCR试剂盒对肝脏样本进行HEV核酸检测。结果显示,211份野鼠血清抗-HEV的抗体阳性率为6.6%,其中百色市的抗体阳性率最高,为14.1%,其他地区抗体阳性率均在10%以下。256份野鼠肝脏中未检测到HEV核酸。由此可见,广西壮族自治区5个市的野鼠中存在HEV感染,但其是否为HEV的自然宿主及在戊型肝炎传播中起何作用需进一步研究。