Identification and pathogenicity of avian hepatitis E virus from quail

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Poultry Pathology

Background:

• Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry.
• A quail farm in China reported decreased egg production, increased mortality, and hepatosplenomegaly, symptoms consistent with avian HEV infection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the presence of avian HEV on a commercial quail farm.
• To characterize the pathogenicity of avian HEV in quails under experimental conditions.

Main Methods:

• Field samples (livers, spleens) from diseased quails were collected for gross lesion observation and HEV detection.
• Experimental infection was used to characterize the pathogenicity of the isolated avian HEV strain in quails.

Main Results:

• HEV RNA was detected in field samples, with the amplified fragment showing 100% identity to a Chinese avian HEV strain.
• Experimental infection resulted in decreased egg production, seroconversion, viremia, fecal virus shedding, liver lesions, and HEV antigen presence in the liver.
• Observed differences suggest potential co-infections or other contributing factors on the affected farm.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first evidence of HEV RNA detection in quails.
• An avian HEV strain demonstrated successful infection and pathogenicity in quails under experimental settings.