Ferret hepatitis E virus infection in Japan

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

• Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant cause of acute hepatitis in humans and has been detected in various animal species.
• Ferrets are popular pets globally, and their potential role as reservoirs or hosts for HEV requires investigation.
• Understanding HEV strains in non-indigenous animal populations is crucial for disease surveillance and control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detect and characterize ferret hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA in pet ferret fecal samples in Japan.
• To investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of ferret HEV strains circulating in Japan.
• To determine the likely origin and introduction pathways of ferret HEV in Japan.

Main Methods:

• Collection of 85 fecal samples from pet ferrets across 10 animal hospitals in Japan.
• Detection of ferret HEV RNA using molecular methods (RT-PCR).
• Phylogenetic analysis of partial ORF1 gene sequences to determine genetic relationships.

Main Results:

• Ferret HEV RNA was detected in 6 out of 85 (7.1%) fecal samples.
• Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Japanese ferret HEV strains were distinct from previously reported strains (e.g., from the Netherlands).
• The identified Japanese ferret HEV strains clustered into two distinct genetic groups, suggesting intra-Japan diversity.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the circulation of genetically diverse ferret HEV strains in Japan.
• The findings strongly suggest that ferret HEV has been introduced into Japan through the importation of ferrets.
• Further surveillance and research are warranted to understand the epidemiology and potential zoonotic implications of ferret HEV in Japan.