2010年浙江省部分地区急性出血性 结膜炎暴发疫情病原学研究

为查明引起2010年浙江省急性出血性结膜炎(AHC)暴发疫情的病因,并对病原进行分子溯源。本研究采用荧光RT-PCR方法直接从患者眼拭子样本中检测肠道病毒(EV)和柯萨奇病毒A24变异株(CA24v)核酸;用Hep-2细胞分离病毒,对阳性分离物提取病毒核酸后进行VP1全基因和3C蛋白酶区(3C)扩增和测序,同源性与进化分析。结果13份眼拭子样本中EV和CA24v核酸均阳性8份,分离到CA24v6株。选取4株病毒测序,获得VP1全长均为915个核苷酸(nt),3C区全长495nt,VP1和3C区均没有nt插入和缺失。2010年浙江4株CA24v分离株之间在3C区和VP1区核苷酸和氨基酸(aa)高度同源,2010年浙江CA24v分离株与原型株EH24/70在3C区的nt和aa同源性分别为85.2%～85.8%和96.2%～96.7%,与2002～2008年浙江、云南和广东CA24v株的同源性分别为93.4%～96.2%和96.7%～99.3%;浙江2010年CA24v株在3C区进化树的GⅣ基因亚型C4分枝上(GⅣ-C4),在VP1基因进化树的人类肠道病毒C组(EV-C)CA24v分枝上。研究表明引起2010年浙江省急性出血性结膜炎暴发流行的病原为CA24v,GⅣ基因亚型,与引起2002～2008年浙江AHC流行的CA24v株(GⅣ)具有密切的亲缘关系,推测CA24v病毒自2002年以来一直在本地低强度循环,2010年又导致了浙江AHC的暴发。     

山东省急性出血性结膜炎病原学鉴定及其柯萨奇A24病毒基因特征分析

为明确2010年引起山东省青岛市、临沂市急性出血性结膜炎(Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis,AHC)流行的病原,采集26例患者的眼结膜拭子标本,分别采用实时荧光定量PCR(Real time-PCR)和细胞培养方法进行检测。Real time-PCR结果显示,17份标本柯萨奇病毒A组24型(Coxsackievirus A24,CVA24)阳性,阳性率为65.39%,肠道病毒70型(Enterovirus 70,EV70)和腺病毒均为阴性;使用Hep-2细胞共分离到10株病毒,通过VP1区基因扩增及核苷酸序列测定,10株病毒均鉴定为CVA24,同源性分析显示其核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为99.3%～100.0%和99.5%～100.0%,在系统进化树上聚集成一簇,本次分离的毒株与山东省急性弛缓性麻痹(AFP)病例中分离到的毒株序列差异较大,分别属于5个不同的进化分支。提示CVA24可能为引起两地AHC流行的病原,且属于同一传播链。     

2010年内蒙古自治区手足口病病原谱及人肠道病毒71型分子特征研究

研究2010年中国内蒙古自治区引起手足口病(Hand foot and mouth disease,HFMD)的病原谱及人肠道病毒71型(Human enterovirus,HEV71)的分子特征。采集内蒙古自治区12个盟市门诊就诊的HFMD患者粪便和咽拭子标本共921份,进行病毒分离,然后利用三通道实时荧光定量PCR法[同时检测HEV71,柯萨奇病毒A16型(CVA16)和人肠道病毒(HEV)]对阳性分离物进行鉴定,对鉴定为其它HEV的阳性分离物进行VP4和VP1编码区扩增及核苷酸序列测定和分析。921份标本共分离出153株病毒,阳性率为16.61%,其中61株为HEV71,占39.87%,82株为CVA16,占53.59%,7株为其它HEV(分别为6株CVB4和1株Ⅱ型脊髓灰质炎疫苗病毒株),占6.53%,3株为腺病毒。重症病例中分离到9株病毒,其中6株为HEV71,3株为CVA16。选取从临床诊断分别为普通型病例、重型病例的HFMD患者临床标本中分离到的32株HEV71代表株进行VP1编码区基因扩增及核苷酸序列测定和分析,与HEV71其它各基因型和基因亚型的代表株构建亲缘性进化树。32株内蒙古HEV71代表株与1998年以来中国大陆HEV71分离株的VP1区核苷酸和氨基酸水平上的同源性都较高,尤其与2008年的北京代表株同源性最高,与C4基因亚型代表株聚为一支,属于C4基因亚型C4a进化分支,但它们之间的核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性略有差异,分别为96.4%～100%和98.14%～100%,与2007年的内蒙古代表株存在一定的差异,核苷酸同源性为96.95%～97.87%。亲缘进化关系树显示,这些HEV71处于不同的簇中,属于多个病毒传播链。2010年内蒙古HFMD的病原谱以CVA16和HEV71为主,重症病例中以HEV71居多。内蒙古流行的HEV71属于C4基因亚型C4a进化分支,并且存在多个传播链,与2008年北京代表株亲缘关系比2007年内蒙古代表株亲缘关系近,说明内蒙古流行的HEV71不是独立进化的,而是与中国流行的HEV71在共同进化。     

2007年内蒙古一起手足口病暴发的流行病学和病原学分析

2007年内蒙古自治区鄂尔多斯市准格尔旗暴发了一起手足口病疫情,患者大多出现发热症状,在手、足、口腔和臀部等一个或多个部位出现斑丘疹或疱疹。患者以5岁以下散居幼儿为主,暴发过程中有一个明显的发病高峰。从28名住院儿童采集了23份粪便标本和6份咽拭子标本进行病毒分离,共分离到了15株肠道病毒,其中9株鉴定为人肠道病毒71型(HEV71,分离率为31.03%),1株鉴定为柯萨奇病毒A组16型(CVA16)。结合分析这起暴发中患者的临床表现、流行病学调查结果以及实验室检测结果,表明HEV71可能是引起这起HFMD暴发的主要病原体。9株HEV71分离株在全长VP1区核苷酸水平和氨基酸水平上差异都较小,核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别高于99.4%和99.0%,说明这起疫情是由同一个病毒传播链引起的。同源性进化分析结果表明,从这起疫情中分离到的HEV71属于C4基因亚型,而C4基因亚型自1998年首次在广东省深圳市报道以来,一直在我国持续流行,是中国大陆HEV71流行的优势基因亚型,提示C4基因亚型HEV71在中国大陆可能有较广泛的分布和传播。     

手足口病病例肠道病毒CVA12型的鉴定及VP1基因特征分析

目的运用分子生物学方法对长沙市1例手足口病(Hand foot and mouth Disease,HFMD)患者咽拭子标本进行未分型肠道病毒的鉴定及VP1基因特征分析。方法采用兼并引物RT-PCR扩增病毒VP1区片段,BLAST比对确定其型别;特异性引物扩增VP1区基因全长,测定序列进行分析。结果所得序列BLAST比对分析为Coxsackievirus A12(CVA12)型肠道病毒;病毒VP1区基因序列全长为888bp,编码296个氨基酸,同源性分析显示与国内外CVA12毒株核苷酸同源性介于81.9%~98.4%之间;氨基酸同源性在95.3%~100.0%之间。与CVA12美国标准株Texas-12核苷酸同源性为81.9%,氨基酸同源性为95.3%。系统进化表明,长沙市CVA12与国内毒株亲缘关系较近,而与日本、美国则亲缘关系较远。结论从1例手足口病轻症病例中鉴定出CVA12型肠道病毒,该病毒VP1区基因进化特征与国内CVA12毒株亲缘关系近。     

2007―2008年肠道病毒71型北京地区分离株的VP4基因序列分析

为了解2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的肠道病毒71 型( EV71) 是否存在基因序列变异及其与病毒毒力的关系, 我们选择2007 年分离的3 株EV71( 其中1 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子标本, 其余2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿咽拭子标本) 和2008 年分离的5 株EV71( 其中3 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子或鼻拭子标本, 2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿的疱疹液标本) , 提取基因组RNA, 经反转录-聚合酶链反应( RT-PCR) 扩增得到VP4 基因片段, 并进行核苷酸序列测定, 使用生物信息软件与GenBank 中的EV71 VP4 基因进行序列及病毒型别分析。结果表明, 所测得的8 株EV71 VP4 基因全长均为207 bp, 编码69 个氨基酸, 理论相对分子质量( Mr) 为7 ×10³。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 基因的核苷酸同源性在94% ～100% , 与GenBank 中其他EV71 病毒株VP4 的核苷酸同源性为82% ～100% , 与阜阳、深圳和台湾等地区流行的EV71 VP4 的核苷酸同源性比其他地区高。除了与印度报道的VP4 编码的氨基酸在第7 和54 位不同外( 印度株: 7 位蛋氨酸, 54位苏氨酸; 其余株7 位苏氨酸,54 位丙氨酸) , 这8 株EV71 VP4 编码的氨基酸序列之间以及与其他EV71 VP4编码的氨基酸同源性均为100%。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 与文献报道的3 株重症感染病毒株VP4 ( BrCr、MS 和NCKU9822) 核苷酸有较大差别, 而8 株病毒株中从重症感染( BJ97、BJ110B、BJ110Y 和BJ4243) 与轻症感染( BJ25、BJ47、BJ65 和BJ67) 分离到的毒株之间VP4 基因序列未见明显改变, 只有几个核苷酸存在差别。VP4 核苷酸序列的进化树分析表明, 这8 株EV71 均属于C4 亚型, 显示2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的EV71的VP4 基因相当保守, 分离自伴有神经系统感染的重症手足口病和普通手足口病患儿的EV71 的VP4 基因之间在核苷酸水平未出现同样的变异。结果提示, 近2 年来北京地区所流行的EV71 属C4 亚型。     

2018-2021年广东汕头手足口病病原谱及CVA6/CVA10基因特征分析

本研究旨在通过对手足口病（Hand, foot and mouth disease,HFMD）病例的病原学标本进行肠道病毒分型鉴定,和对CVA6和CVA10开展VP1基因全长序列分析,探究广东省汕头市HFMD病原谱及CVA6和CVA10基因进化特征,为当地HFMD肠道病毒监测及预警提供一定的技术支撑。将汕头市病原监测哨点医院2018-2021年的HFMD样本进行RT-PCR肠道病毒病原学分型,筛选出CVA6和CVA10样本进行VP1区全长基因扩增和测序,并通过系统进化分析、同源性和突变位点分析了解其遗传进化特征。结果显示,2018-2021年共监测到HFMD阳性样本706份,其主要病原体为CVA6和CVA10。CVA6和CVA10流行株分别属于D3和C2亚型。CVA6样本VP1核苷酸和氨基酸的相似性分别为91.37%～100.00%和92.79%～100.00%,与2010年的中国台湾株高度同源（GenBank:JQ946055.1）。CVA10样本VP1核苷酸和氨基酸的相似性分别为92.28%～100.00%和96.98%～100.00%,与2014年的广东株高度同源（GenBank...     

2009-2019年中国大陆柯萨奇病毒A14型基因特征分析

柯萨奇病毒A14型属于肠道病毒A组，可引起手足口病和无菌性脑膜炎等疾病，但目前全球对CVA14的分子流行病学研究较少，尚无对CVA14基于全长VP1区进行明确分型的相关研究。因得到中国手足口病监测网络的技术支持，本研究获得2009-2019年在中国大陆分离到的15株CVA14，应用RT-PCR对其全长VP1区进行扩增、测序和分析，并与GenBank中下载的22条CVA14全长VP1序列共同构建系统发育树。结果显示，2009-2019年中国大陆分离的15株CVA14与原型株G-14的核苷酸与氨基酸相似性分别为81.8%～82.9%与95.6%～96.9%,15株CVA14之间的核苷酸与氨基酸相似性分别为91.7%～99.7%与98.3%～100%。中国大陆所有的22条CVA14序列之间的核苷酸与氨基酸相似性分别为91.7%～100.0%与98.3%～100.0%。中国大陆所有的CVA14与国外8条CVA14序列之间的核苷酸与氨基酸相似性分别为80.7%～86.0%与94.9%～97.9%。基于全长VP1系统发育树，全球CVA14可划分为A-G七个基因型，目前全球范围内流行的CVA14的基...     

基因序列分析

为了解2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的肠道病毒71 型( EV71) 是否存在基因序列变异及其与病毒毒力的关系, 我们选择2007 年分离的3 株EV71( 其中1 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子标本, 其余2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿咽拭子标本) 和2008 年分离的5 株EV71( 其中3 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子或鼻拭子标本, 2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿的疱疹液标本) , 提取基因组RNA, 经反转录-聚合酶链反应( RT-PCR) 扩增得到VP4 基因片段, 并进行核苷酸序列测定, 使用生物信息软件与GenBank 中的EV71 VP4 基因进行序列及病毒型别分析。结果表明, 所测得的8 株EV71 VP4 基因全长均为207 bp, 编码69 个氨基酸, 理论相对分子质量( Mr) 为7 ×10³。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 基因的核苷酸同源性在94% ～100% , 与GenBank 中其他EV71 病毒株VP4 的核苷酸同源性为82% ～100% , 与阜阳、深圳和台湾等地区流行的EV71 VP4 的核苷酸同源性比其他地区高。除了与印度报道的VP4 编码的氨基酸在第7 和54 位不同外( 印度株: 7 位蛋氨酸, 54位苏氨酸; 其余株7 位苏氨酸,54 位丙氨酸) , 这8 株EV71 VP4 编码的氨基酸序列之间以及与其他EV71 VP4编码的氨基酸同源性均为100%。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 与文献报道的3 株重症感染病毒株VP4 ( BrCr、MS 和NCKU9822) 核苷酸有较大差别, 而8 株病毒株中从重症感染( BJ97、BJ110B、BJ110Y 和BJ4243) 与轻症感染( BJ25、BJ47、BJ65 和BJ67) 分离到的毒株之间VP4 基因序列未见明显改变, 只有几个核苷酸存在差别。VP4 核苷酸序列的进化树分析表明, 这8 株EV71 均属于C4 亚型, 显示2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的EV71的VP4 基因相当保守, 分离自伴有神经系统感染的重症手足口病和普通手足口病患儿的EV71 的VP4 基因之间在核苷酸水平未出现同样的变异。结果提示, 近2 年来北京地区所流行的EV71 属C4 亚型。     

Molecular analysis of Coxsackievirus A24 variant isolates from three outbreaks of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in 1988, 1994 and 2007 in Beijing,China

Coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) is a major pathogen that causes continued outbreaks and pandemics of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC). In China, the first confirmed outbreak of CVA24v-related AHC occurred in Beijing in 1988, followed by another two significant outbreaks respectively in 1994 and 2007, which coincides with the three-stage dynamic distribution of AHC in the world after 1970s. To illustrate the genetic characteristics of CVA24v in different periods, a total of 23 strains were isolated from those three outbreaks and the whole genome of those isolations were sequenced and analyzed. Compared with the prototype strain, the 23 strains shared four nucleotide deletions in the 5' UTR except the 0744 strain isolated in 2007. And at the 98th site, one nucleotide insertion was found in all the strains collected from 2007. From 1994 to 2007, amino acid polarity in the VP1 region at the 25th and the 32nd site were changed. Both the 3C and VP1 phylogenetic tree indicated that isolates from 1988 and 1994 belonged to Genotype III (GIII), and 2007 strains to Genotype IV (GIV). According to the Bayesian analysis based on complete genome sequence, the most recent common ancestors for the isolates in 1988, 1994 and 2007 were respectively estimated around October 1987, February 1993 and December 2004. The evolutionary rate of the CVA24v was estimated to be 7.45×10^-3 substitutions/site/year. Our study indicated that the early epidemic of CVA24v in Chinese mainland was the GIII. Point mutations and amino acid changes in different genotypes of CVA24v may generate intensity differences of the AHC outbreak. CVA24v has been evolving constantly with a relatively rapid rate.     

江西省2010年柯萨奇病毒A组24型变异株的全基因组序列分析

急性出血性结膜炎(Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis,AHC)是目前人类最常见的眼病之一,柯萨奇病毒A组24型变异株(Coxsackievirus A24 variant,CV-A24v)是近年来报道引起该病的主要病原体。本研究选取10株来自江西省2010年AHC暴发疫情的CV-A24v,采用特异性引物扩增并测定其全基因组序列。对该10条CV-A24v的全基因组序列进行系统发育分析以及重组分析,计算本研究测定的江西10条以及GenBank中所有22条CV-A24v的全基因组序列的氨基酸置换熵值,并预测其正向选择位点。结果表明,在江西10条CV-A24v基因组序列中未检测到重组。基于全基因组序列构建的最大似然树表明江西10株CV-A24v属于GIV基因型,且分处于两条传播链。对上述32条CV-A24v序列的氨基酸置换熵值计算,共得到25个易突变位点(熵值>0.6),易突变概率最高的区段为2A区。基于Datamonkey中FUBAR和FEL模型分析,发现位于结构蛋白VP2区的234位氨基酸为两种模型共同获得的CV-A24v的正向选择位点。本研究分析了江西10株CV-A24v的全基因组序列特征,为CV-A24v引起的AHC防控工作提供了基础资料。     

A Sialic Acid Binding Site in a Human Picornavirus

The picornaviruses coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) and enterovirus 70 (EV70) cause continued outbreaks and pandemics of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC), a highly contagious eye disease against which neither vaccines nor antiviral drugs are currently available. Moreover, these viruses can cause symptoms in the cornea, upper respiratory tract, and neurological impairments such as acute flaccid paralysis. EV70 and CVA24v are both known to use 5-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) for cell attachment, thus providing a putative link between the glycan receptor specificity and cell tropism and disease. We report the structures of an intact human picornavirus in complex with a range of glycans terminating in Neu5Ac. We determined the structure of the CVA24v to 1.40 Å resolution, screened different glycans bearing Neu5Ac for CVA24v binding, and structurally characterized interactions with candidate glycan receptors. Biochemical studies verified the relevance of the binding site and demonstrated a preference of CVA24v for α2,6-linked glycans. This preference can be rationalized by molecular dynamics simulations that show that α2,6-linked glycans can establish more contacts with the viral capsid. Our results form an excellent platform for the design of antiviral compounds to prevent AHC.     

The Development and Application of the Two Real-Time RT-PCR Assays to Detect the Pathogen of HFMD

Large-scale Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) outbreaks have frequently occurred in China since 2008, affecting more than one million children and causing several hundred children deaths every year. The pathogens of HFMD are mainly human enteroviruses (HEVs). Among them, human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) are the most common pathogens of HFMD. However, other HEVs could also cause HFMD. To rapidly detect HEV71 and CVA16, and ensure detection of all HEVs causing HFMD, two real-time hybridization probe-based RT-PCR assays were developed in this study. One is a multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay, which was developed to detect and differentiate HEV71 specifically from CVA16 directly from clinical specimens within 1–2 h, and the other is a broad-spectrum real-time RT-PCR assay, which targeted almost all HEVs. The experiments confirmed that the two assays have high sensitivity and specificity, and the sensitivity was up to 0.1 TCID₅₀/ml for detection of HEVs, HEV71, and CVA16, respectively. A total of 213 clinical specimens were simultaneously detected by three kinds of assays, including the two real-time RT-PCR assays, direct conventional RT-PCR assay, and virus isolation assay on human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD cells). The total positive rate of both HEV71 and CVA16 was 69.48% with real-time RT-PCR assay, 47.42% with RT-PCR assay, and 34.58% with virus isolation assay. One HFMD clinical specimen was positive for HEV, but negative for HEV71 or CVA16, which was identified as Echovirus 11 (Echo11) by virus isolation, RT-PCR, and sequencing for the VP1 gene. The two real-time RT-PCR assays had been applied in 31 provincial HFMD labs to detect the pathogens of HFMD, which has contributed to the rapid identification of the pathogens in the early stages of HFMD outbreaks, and helped to clarify the etiologic agents of HFMD in China.     

Sialic acid is a cellular receptor for coxsackievirus A24 variant, an emerging virus with pandemic potential

Binding to target cell receptors is a critical step in the virus life cycle. Coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) has pandemic potential and is a major cause of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, but its cellular receptor has hitherto been unknown. Here we show that CVA24v fails to bind to and infect CHO cells defective in sialic acid expression. Binding of CVA24v to and infection of corneal epithelial cells are efficiently inhibited by treating cells with a sialic acid-cleaving enzyme or sialic acid-binding lectins and by treatment of the virus with soluble, multivalent sialic acid. Protease treatment of cells efficiently inhibited virus binding, suggesting that the receptor is a sialylated glycoprotein. Like enterovirus type 70 and influenza A virus, CVA24v can cause pandemics. Remarkably, all three viruses use the same receptor. Since several unrelated viruses with tropism for the eye use this receptor, sialic acid-based antiviral drugs that prevent virus entry may be useful for topical treatment of such infections.     

Coxsackievirus A24 variant uses sialic acid-containing O-linked glycoconjugates as cellular receptors on human ocular cells

Coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) is a main causative agent of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC), which is a highly contagious eye infection. Previously it has been suggested that CVA24v uses sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates as attachment receptors on corneal cells, but the nature of these receptors is poorly described. Here, we set out to characterize and identify the cellular components serving as receptors for CVA24v. Binding and infection experiments using corneal cells treated with deglycosylating enzymes or metabolic inhibitors of de novo glycosylation suggested that the receptor(s) used by CVA24v are constituted by sialylated O-linked glycans that are linked to one or more cell surface proteins but not to lipids. CVA24v bound better to mouse L929 cells overexpressing human P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) than to mock-transfected cells, suggesting that PSGL-1 is a candidate receptor for CVA24v. Finally, binding competition experiments using a library of mono- and oligosaccharides mimicking known PSGL-1 glycans suggested that CVA24v binds to Neu5Acα2,3Gal disaccharides (Neu5Ac is N-acetylneuraminic acid). These results provide further insights into the early steps of the CVA24v life cycle.     

合成肽抗原在戊型肝炎病毒感染诊断中的应用

An ELISA for the detection of anti HEV using synthetic peptide antigens was developed. The synthetic antigens were encoded by OFR2 and OFR3 genes of HEV. The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability of the synthetic antigens in the serodiagnosis of hepatitis E. The anti HEV detection using synthetic antigens was carried out in 47 healthy subjects and 89 patients with acute or chronic viral hepatitis. The results showed that the positive rate of anti HEV IgG in healthy subjects was 4.2%(2/47), and no IgM antibody to HEV was found. The positive rates of IgG and IgM antibodies to HEV in the hepatitis patients were 8.9% and 10% respectively. In addition, we compared the detecting efficacy of the synthetic antigens with that of the market reagent in 57 serum samples, the total coincident rate was 87.7% (50/57). All of the results accorded with the literatures reported. This study suggests that the ELISA based on the synthetic peptide antigens was specific, sensitive and convenient in diagnosis of HEV infection, it can be widely used in both clinical and epidemiological reseaches.     

Formation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine in human hemoglobin-effect of lifestyle factors

The formation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine (HEV) in hemoglobin has been considered as a biomarker to assess exogenous and endogenous exposures to ethylene oxide (EO) and/or ethylene (ET). Factors associated with daily exposures to such compounds might significantly affect the formation of HEV. Tobacco smoke containing EO elicited a significant increase in the levels of HEV amongst smokers, although other factors related to lifestyles may warrant further studies. The objective of this study was to specifically analyze HEV using a modified Edman degradation technique in order to study the association between lifestyle related factors (smoking, second-hand smoke exposure, tea and alcohol consumption) and HEV formation in vivo. Total of 148 Taiwanese volunteers with no history of occupational exposure to either EO or ET were recruited in this study. The HEV levels for smokers (204 +/- 151 pmol HEV/g globin, n = 70 ) were greater than those for non-smokers (57 +/- 46 pmol HEV/g globin, n = 78), HEV level increasing with the number of cigarettes smoked by subjects per day with a rate of 8.8 pmol HEV/g globin per cigarettes per day. Further analysis revealed that the rate of HEV formation in our study subjects was significantly associated with the number of daily cigarettes smoked (P < 0.001), but was not associated with tea or alcohol consumption, second-hand smoke exposure, subject age, or subject gender. These results suggest that the significantly higher levels of HEV for smokers than for non-smokers were mainly due to subject exposure to EO contained in cigarette smoke.     

Systematic pathogenesis and replication of avian hepatitis E virus in specific-pathogen-free adult chickens

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important human pathogen. Due to the lack of a cell culture system and a practical animal model for HEV, little is known about its pathogenesis and replication. The discovery of a strain of HEV in chickens, designated avian HEV, prompted us to evaluate chickens as a model for the study of HEV. Eighty-five 60-week-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 chickens (n=28) were each inoculated with 5 x 10(4.5) 50% chicken infectious doses of avian HEV by the oronasal route, group 2 chickens (n=29) were each inoculated with the same dose by the intravenous (i.v.) route, and group 3 chickens (n=28) were not inoculated and were used as controls. Two chickens from each group were necropsied at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 20, 24, 28, 35, and 42 days postinoculation (dpi), and the remaining chickens were necropsied at 56 dpi. Serum, fecal, and various tissue samples, including liver and spleen samples, were collected at each necropsy for pathological and virological testing. By 21 dpi, all oronasally and i.v. inoculated chickens had seroconverted. Fecal virus shedding was detected variably from 1 to 20 dpi for the i.v. group and from 10 to 56 dpi for the oronasal group. Avian HEV RNA was detected in serum, bile, and liver samples from both i.v. and oronasally inoculated chickens. Gross liver lesions, characterized by subcapsular hemorrhages or enlargement of the right intermediate lobe, were observed in 7 of 28 oronasally and 7 of 29 i.v. inoculated chickens. Microscopic liver lesions were mainly lymphocytic periphlebitis and phlebitis. The lesion scores were higher for oronasal (P=0.0008) and i.v. (P=0.0029) group birds than for control birds. Slight elevations of the plasma liver enzyme lactate dehydrogenase were observed in infected chickens. The results indicated that chickens are a useful model for studying HEV replication and pathogenesis. This is the first report of HEV transmission via its natural route in a homologous animal model.