Natural duck hepatitis B virus infection in Australia

Natural Duck Hepatitis B Virus (DHBV) infection has been studied in Australian ducks. Sera from 430 Pekin Aylesbury cross-bred ducks taken from three separate flocks were examined for duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) DNA using a DNA dot hybridisation assay. In one flock there was significant infection with DHBV (98/140), but none was detectable in the other two flocks. Episomal DHBV DNA in liver tissue was demonstrated by gel blot hybridisation only in birds with DHBV DNA in serum. Polymerase-labelled DHBV DNA migrated as expected for linear double-stranded DNA 3.1 kilobase (kb) in length. Virus particles with characteristic DHBV morphology were observed in DHBV DNA-positive serum on electron microscopy. No overt morbidity has been noted in naturally infected ducks, but moderately severe hepatitis was found in 3/40 ducks examined histologically. These 3 ducks had DHBV DNA in serum and liver tissue. Mild hepatitis was observed in 27 ducks, but, in these, there was no correlation between the hepatitis and the presence of DHBV in serum or in liver tissue. This is the first report of DHBV in Australia. An animal model may now be established to study aspects of Hepadna virus infection which are pertinent to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) disease in man.