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Updated: May 20, 2026
A Cell Culture Model for Producing High Titer Hepatitis E Virus Stocks
Published on: June 26, 2020
Detection and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis E viruses from mongooses in Okinawa, Japan
Minoru Nidaira1, Kazuaki Takahashi, Go Ogura
1Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-1202, Japan.
Abstract:
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has previously been reported in wild mongooses on Okinawa Island; to date however, only one HEV RNA sequence has been identified in a mongoose. Hence, this study was performed to detect HEV RNA in 209 wild mongooses on Okinawa Island. Six (2.9%) samples tested positive for HEV RNA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 6 HEV RNAs belonged to genotype 3 and were classified into groups A and B. In group B, mongoose-derived HEV sequences were very similar to mongoose HEV previously detected on Okinawa Island, as well as to those of a pig. This investigation emphasized the possibility that the mongoose is a reservoir animal for HEV on Okinawa Island.
