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Panajotov J, Falkenhagen A, Gadicherla AK, Johne R. Molecularly generated rat hepatitis E virus strains from human and rat show efficient replication in a human hepatoma cell line. Virus Res 2024; 344:199364. [PMID: 38522562 PMCID: PMC10995862 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Whereas HEV genotypes 1-4 of species Paslahepevirus balayani are commonly found in humans, infections with ratHEV (species Rocahepevirus ratti) were previously considered to be restricted to rats. However, several cases of human ratHEV infections have been described recently. To investigate the zoonotic potential of this virus, a genomic clone was constructed here based on sequence data of ratHEV strain pt2, originally identified in a human patient with acute hepatitis from Hongkong. For comparison, genomic clones of ratHEV strain R63 from a rat and of HEV genotype 3 strain 47832mc from a human patient were used. After transfection of in vitro-transcribed RNA from the genomic clones into the human hepatoma cell line HuH-7-Lunet BLR, virus replication was shown for all strains by increasing genome copy numbers in cell culture supernatants. These cells developed persistent virus infections, and virus particles in the culture supernatant as well as viral antigen within the cells were demonstrated. All three generated virus strains successfully infected fresh HuH-7-Lunet BLR cells. In contrast, the human hepatoma cell lines HuH-7 and PLC/PRF/5 could only be infected with the genotype 3 strain and to a lesser extent with ratHEV strain R63. Infection of the rat-derived hepatoma cell lines clone 9, MH1C1 and H-4-II-E did not result in efficient virus replication for either strain. The results indicate that ratHEV strains from rats and humans can infect human hepatoma cells. The replication efficiency is strongly dependent on the cell line and virus strain. The investigated rat hepatoma cell lines could not be infected and other rat-derived cells should be tested in future to identify permissive cell lines from rats. The developed genomic clone can represent a useful tool for future research investigating pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of ratHEV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ashish K Gadicherla
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
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2
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Valusenko-Mehrkens R, Schilling-Loeffler K, Johne R, Falkenhagen A. VP4 Mutation Boosts Replication of Recombinant Human/Simian Rotavirus in Cell Culture. Viruses 2024; 16:565. [PMID: 38675907 PMCID: PMC11054354 DOI: 10.3390/v16040565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rotavirus A (RVA) is the leading cause of diarrhea requiring hospitalization in children and causes over 100,000 annual deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. In order to generate next-generation vaccines against African RVA genotypes, a reverse genetics system based on a simian rotavirus strain was utilized here to exchange the antigenic capsid proteins VP4, VP7 and VP6 with those of African human rotavirus field strains. One VP4/VP7/VP6 (genotypes G9-P[6]-I2) triple-reassortant was successfully rescued, but it replicated poorly in the first cell culture passages. However, the viral titer was enhanced upon further passaging. Whole genome sequencing of the passaged virus revealed a single point mutation (A797G), resulting in an amino acid exchange (E263G) in VP4. After introducing this mutation into the VP4-encoding plasmid, a VP4 mono-reassortant as well as the VP4/VP7/VP6 triple-reassortant replicated to high titers already in the first cell culture passage. However, the introduction of the same mutation into the VP4 of other human RVA strains did not improve the rescue of those reassortants, indicating strain specificity. The results show that specific point mutations in VP4 can substantially improve the rescue and replication of recombinant RVA reassortants in cell culture, which may be useful for the development of novel vaccine strains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (R.V.-M.); (K.S.-L.); (R.J.)
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Schilling-Loeffler K, Ben Romdhane R, Günther T, Johne R. Household dishwashing detergents efficiently inactivate HSV-1, but not the non-enveloped viruses HAV and MNV, while all viruses were removed from glass by manual scrubbing. Food Microbiol 2024; 118:104404. [PMID: 38049263 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the stability of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and murine norovirus (MNV) on glass, their inactivation by three household dishwashing detergents and during a glass rinsing process. After drying on glass and storage in darkness, virus titers decreased by 4.7, 5.5 and 4.5 log10 plaque forming units (PFU) in 21, 28 and 14 days for HSV-1, HAV and MNV, respectively. Daylight storage resulted in shorter survival times. While HAV and MNV titers were not significantly affected by 60 s incubation in dishwashing detergents at up to 43 °C, HSV-1 titer decreased significantly by > 4 log10 PFU/mL at the same conditions with each detergent used. After cleaning artificially contaminated drinking glasses with a manual glass scrubbing device, HSV-1, HAV and MNV titers decreased significantly by 4.4 ± 0.1 to 5.3 ± 0.0 log10 PFU. Our study shows, that all tested viruses can remain infectious after drying on glass up to several weeks. Household dishwashing detergents efficiently inactivate the enveloped virus HSV-1, but not the non-enveloped viruses HAV and MNV. The applied manual glass rinsing procedure efficiently removed all three viruses from drinking glasses, probably due to the combination of chemical and mechanical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Racem Ben Romdhane
- German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Taras Günther
- German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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Johne R, Scholz J, Falkenhagen A. Heat stability of foodborne viruses - Findings, methodological challenges and current developments. Int J Food Microbiol 2024; 413:110582. [PMID: 38290272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Heat treatment of food represents an important measure to prevent pathogen transmission. Thus far, evaluation of heat treatment processes is mainly based on data from bacteria. However, foodborne viruses have gained increasing attention during the last decades. Here, the published literature on heat stability and inactivation of human norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) was reviewed. Data for surrogate viruses were not included. As stability assessment for foodborne viruses is often hampered by missing infectivity assays, an overview of applied methods is also presented. For NoV, molecular capsid integrity assays were mainly applied, but data from initial studies utilizing novel intestinal enteroid or zebrafish larvae assays are available now. However, these methods are still limited in applicability and sensitivity. For HAV, sufficient cell culture-based inactivation data are available, but almost exclusively for one single strain, thus limiting interpretation of the data for the wide range of field strains. For HEV, data are now available from studies using pig inoculation or cell culture. The results of the reviewed studies generally indicate that NoV, HAV and HEV possess a high heat stability. Heating at 70-72 °C for 2 min significantly reduces infectious titers, but often does not result in a >4 log10 decrease. However, heat stability greatly varied dependent on virus strain, matrix and heating regime. In addition, the applied method largely influenced the result, e.g. capsid integrity assays tend to result in higher measured stabilities than cell culture approaches. It can be concluded that the investigated foodborne viruses show a high heat stability, but can be inactivated by application of appropriate heating protocols. For HAV, suggestions for safe time/temperature combinations for specific foods can be derived from the published studies, with the limitation that they are mostly based on one strain only. Although significant improvement of infectivity assays for NoV and HEV have been made during the last years, further method development regarding sensitivity, robustness and broader applicability is important to generate more reliable heat inactivation data for these foodborne viruses in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Johannes Scholz
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Falkenhagen
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
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Gremmel N, Keuling O, Eiden M, Groschup MH, Johne R, Becher P, Baechlein C. Hepatitis E virus neutralization by porcine serum antibodies. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0037323. [PMID: 37823649 PMCID: PMC10662371 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00373-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The consumption of raw or undercooked meat products poses a serious risk for human hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections. In many high-income countries, domestic pigs and wild boars represent the main animal reservoirs for HEV and are usually identified by reverse transcription-PCR and antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to characterize the humoral immune response in more detail, a cell culture-based serum neutralization assay using a culture-adapted HEV strain was established here. Measurement of neutralizing antibodies was only possible after removing the viral quasi-envelope by detergent treatment. Serum samples of 343 wild boars from Northern Germany were first analyzed for anti-HEV IgG using an in-house ELISA, resulting in 19% positive samples. Subsequently, a subset of 41 representative samples was tested with the neutralization assay, and the results correlated well with those obtained by ELISA. Not only the human HEV strain 47832c but also two porcine HEV strains were shown to be neutralized by porcine serum antibodies. Neutralizing activity was also found in samples containing both HEV-specific antibodies and HEV RNA. Testing of serum samples derived from two experimentally infected domestic pigs showed a steep increase in neutralizing activity at 24 or 51 days post infection, dependent on the used infectious dose. The developed assay can be useful for characterization of the humoral immune response after HEV infection and for assessing the efficiency of HEV vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Gremmel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Oliver Keuling
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Becher
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine Baechlein
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
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Johne R, Tausch SH, Ulrich RG, Schilling-Loeffler K. Genome analysis of the novel putative rotavirus species K. Virus Res 2023; 334:199171. [PMID: 37433351 PMCID: PMC10410577 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Rotaviruses are causative agents of diarrhea in humans and animals. Currently, the species rotavirus A-J (RVA-RVJ) and the putative species RVK and RVL are defined, mainly based on their genome sequence identities. RVK strains were first identified in 2019 in common shrews (Sorex aranaeus) in Germany; however, only short sequence fragments were available so far. Here, we analyzed the complete coding regions of strain RVK/shrew-wt/GER/KS14-0241/2013, which showed highest sequence identities with RVC. The amino acid sequence identity of VP6, which is used for rotavirus species definition, reached only 51% with other rotavirus reference strains thus confirming classification of RVK as a separate species. Phylogenetic analyses for the deduced amino acid sequences of all 11 virus proteins showed, that for most of them RVK and RVC formed a common branch within the RVA-like phylogenetic clade. Only the tree for the highly variable NSP4 showed a different branching; however, with very low bootstrap support. Comparison of partial nucleotide sequences of other RVK strains from common shrews of different regions in Germany indicated a high degree of sequence variability (61-97% identity) within the putative species. These RVK strains clustered separately from RVC genotype reference strains in phylogenetic trees indicating diversification of RVK independent from RVC. The results indicate that RVK represents a novel rotavirus species, which is most closely related to RVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin 10589, Germany.
| | - Simon H Tausch
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin 10589, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, and Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Greifswald-Insel, Riems 17493, Germany
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Ulrich RG, Drewes S, Haring V, Panajotov J, Pfeffer M, Rubbenstroth D, Dreesman J, Beer M, Dobler G, Knauf S, Johne R, Böhmer MM. [Viral zoonoses in Germany: a One Health perspective]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2023:10.1007/s00103-023-03709-0. [PMID: 37261460 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-023-03709-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing occurrence of monkeypox (mpox) diseases outside Africa have illustrated the vulnerability of populations to zoonotic pathogens. In addition, other viral zoonotic pathogens have gained importance in recent years.This review article addresses six notifiable viral zoonotic pathogens as examples to highlight the need for the One Health approach in order to understand the epidemiology of the diseases and to derive recommendations for action by the public health service. The importance of environmental factors, reservoirs, and vectors is emphasized, the diseases in livestock and wildlife are analyzed, and the occurrence and frequency of diseases in the population are described. The pathogens selected here differ in their reservoirs and the role of vectors for transmission, the impact of infections on farm animals, and the disease patterns observed in humans. In addition to zoonotic pathogens that have been known in Germany for a long time or were introduced recently, pathogens whose zoonotic potential has only lately been shown are also considered.For the pathogens discussed here, there are still large knowledge gaps regarding the transmission routes. Future One Health-based studies must contribute to the further elucidation of their transmission routes and the development of prevention measures. The holistic approach does not necessarily include a focus on viral pathogens/diseases, but also includes the question of the interaction of viral, bacterial, and other pathogens, including antibiotic resistance and host microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer G Ulrich
- Institut für neue und neuartige Tierseuchenerreger, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Deutschland.
| | - Stephan Drewes
- Institut für neue und neuartige Tierseuchenerreger, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Deutschland
| | - Viola Haring
- Institut für neue und neuartige Tierseuchenerreger, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Deutschland
| | - Jessica Panajotov
- Fachgruppe Viren in Lebensmitteln, Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institut für Tierhygiene und Öffentliches Veterinärwesen, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Deutschland
| | - Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institut für Virusdiagnostik, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Deutschland
| | | | - Martin Beer
- Institut für Virusdiagnostik, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Deutschland
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Abteilung Virologie und Rickettsiologie, Institut für Mikrobiologie der Bundeswehr, München, Deutschland
| | - Sascha Knauf
- Institut für Internationale Tiergesundheit/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Deutschland
| | - Reimar Johne
- Fachgruppe Viren in Lebensmitteln, Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Merle M Böhmer
- Landesinstitut Gesundheit II - Task Force Infektiologie, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL), München, Deutschland
- Institut für Sozialmedizin und Gesundheitssystemforschung, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Deutschland
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Müller I, Althof N, Hoffmann B, Klaus C, Schilling-Loeffler K, Falkenhagen A, Johne R. Comparison of Extraction Methods for the Detection of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus RNA in Goat Raw Milk and Cream Cheese. Food Environ Virol 2023; 15:32-42. [PMID: 36127560 PMCID: PMC9488872 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-022-09535-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Infection with the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) can cause meningitis, meningoencephalitis and myelitis in humans. TBEV is an enveloped RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, which is mostly transmitted via tick bites. However, transmission by consumption of virus-contaminated goat raw milk and goat raw milk products has also been described. Only a few methods have been reported for the detection of TBEV in food so far. Here, we compare different virus extraction methods for goat raw milk and goat raw milk cream cheese and subsequent detection of TBEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. Langat virus (LGTV), a naturally attenuated TBEV strain, was used for artificial contamination experiments. Mengovirus and the human coronavirus 229E were compared to assess their suitability to serve as internal process controls. Out of three tested extraction protocols for raw milk, sample centrifugation followed by direct RNA extraction from the aqueous interphase yielded the best results, with a recovery rate (RR) of 31.8 ± 4.9% for LGTV and a detection limit of 6.7 × 103 LGTV genome copies/ml. Out of two methods for cream cheese, treatment of the samples with TRI Reagent® and chloroform prior to RNA extraction showed the best RR of 4.7 ± 1.6% for LGTV and a detection limit of 9.4 × 104 LGTV genome copies/g. RRs of Mengovirus and LGTV were similar for both methods; therefore, Mengovirus is suggested as internal process control virus. The developed methods may be useful for screening or surveillance studies, as well as in outbreak investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Müller
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Althof
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute for Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christine Klaus
- Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Falkenhagen
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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Althof N, Trojnar E, Johne R. Rotaviruses in Wild Ungulates from Germany, 2019-2022. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030566. [PMID: 36985140 PMCID: PMC10058221 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Rotavirus A (RVA) is an important cause of diarrhea in humans and animals. However, RVA in wild animals has only scarcely been investigated so far. Here, the presence of RVA in wild ungulates hunted between 2019 and 2022 in Brandenburg, Germany, was investigated using real-time RT-PCR and sequencing of RT-PCR products. By analyzing intestinal contents, RVA-RNA was detected in 1.0% (2/197) of wild boar (Sus scrofa), 1.3% (2/152) of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and 2.1% (2/95) of fallow deer (Dama dama) but not in 28 red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples. Genotyping identified G3P[13] strains in wild boar, which were closely related to previously described pig and wild boar strains. Genotype G10P[15] strains, closely related to strains from roe deer, sheep, or cattle, were found in roe deer. The strains of fallow deer represented genotype G3P[3], clustering in a group containing different strains from several hosts. The results indicated a low prevalence of RVA in wild ungulates in Germany. Associations of specific genotypes with certain ungulate species seem to exist but should be confirmed by analyses of more samples in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Althof
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Trojnar
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
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10
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Johne R, Tausch SH, Schilling-Loeffler K, Ulrich RG. Genome sequence analysis of a novel rotavirus strain indicates a broad genetic diversity of rotavirus A in shrews. Infect Genet Evol 2023; 107:105392. [PMID: 36494067 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rotavirus A (RVA) is an etiologic agent of diarrhea in humans and animals. It shows a high degree of genetic heterogeneity. Although distinct associations of RVA genotypes with certain host species are common, interspecies-transmission has also been described. Recently, RVA strains, which are genetically distinct and cluster basally to all other RVA strains in phylogenetic trees, have been identified in common shrews (Sorex araneus). Here, the genome sequence analysis of another RVA strain (RVA/Common Shrew-wt/GER/KS11-0893/2010/G42P[58]) from a common shrew from Germany is described. Generally, the strain shows low sequence identities to established strains, which is reflected by the assessment of the novel genotypes G42-P[58]-I32-R28-C24-M24-A39-N28-T28-E32-H28 to its genome segments. Specifically, the strain is phylogenetically distant from previously described RVA strains of common shrews, whereas it is more closely related to other avian and mammalian RVA strains including those from Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus). The results indicate that a broad variety of diverse RVA strains can be found in shrews suggesting a significant role of these animals in rotavirus evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Simon H Tausch
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja Schilling-Loeffler
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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11
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Matthijnssens J, Attoui H, Bányai K, Brussaard CPD, Danthi P, del Vas M, Dermody TS, Duncan R, Fāng Q, Johne R, Mertens PPC, Mohd Jaafar F, Patton JT, Sasaya T, Suzuki N, Wei T. ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Spinareoviridae 2022. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinareoviridae is a large family of icosahedral viruses that are usually regarded as non-enveloped with segmented (9–12 linear segments) dsRNA genomes of 23–29 kbp. Spinareovirids have a broad host range, infecting animals, fungi and plants. Some have important pathogenic potential for humans (e.g. Colorado tick fever virus), livestock (e.g. avian orthoreoviruses), fish (e.g. aquareoviruses) and plants (e.g. rice ragged stunt virus and rice black streaked dwarf virus). This is a summary of the ICTV Report on the family Spinareoviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/spinareoviridae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Houssam Attoui
- National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Maisons Alfort, France
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, H-1143, Hungary
| | - Corina P. D. Brussaard
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research & University of Utrecht, Texel, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mariana del Vas
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Terence S. Dermody
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Roy Duncan
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Qín Fāng
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Takahide Sasaya
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Fukuyama, Japan
| | | | - Taiyun Wei
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
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12
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Matthijnssens J, Attoui H, Bányai K, Brussaard CPD, Danthi P, Del Vas M, Dermody TS, Duncan R, Fāng 方勤 Q, Johne R, Mertens PPC, Mohd Jaafar F, Patton JT, Sasaya 笹谷孝英 T, Suzuki 鈴木信弘 N, Wei 魏太云 T. ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Sedoreoviridae 2022. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 36215107 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sedoreoviridae is a large family of icosahedral viruses that are usually regarded as non-enveloped with segmented (10-12 linear segments) dsRNA genomes of 18-26 kbp. Sedoreovirids have a broad host range, infecting mammals, birds, crustaceans, arthropods, algae and plants. Some of them have important pathogenic potential for humans (e.g. rotavirus A), livestock (e.g. bluetongue virus) and plants (e.g. rice dwarf virus). This is a summary of the ICTV Report on the family Sedoreoviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/sedoreoviridae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Houssam Attoui
- National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Maisons Alfort, France
| | | | - Corina P D Brussaard
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research & University of Utrecht, Texel, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mariana Del Vas
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Terence S Dermody
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Roy Duncan
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Qín Fāng 方勤
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Taiyun Wei 魏太云
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
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13
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Wolff A, Günther T, Johne R. Stability of Hepatitis E Virus After Drying on Different Surfaces. Food Environ Virol 2022; 14:138-148. [PMID: 35084668 PMCID: PMC8793819 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-022-09510-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3 is mainly transmitted by consumption of contaminated food produced from infected animals. However, transmission via contaminated surfaces has also to be considered. Here, the genotype 3c strain 47832c was dried on steel, wood, plastics and ceramics, stored at 23 °C or 3 °C for up to 8 weeks and remaining infectivity was titrated on cell culture. During the drying process, only a mean 0.2 log10 decrease of HEV infectivity was observed. At 23 °C, remaining infectious virus was detected until week 4 on most surfaces, but HEV was completely inactivated (> 4 log10 decrease) after 8 weeks. At 3 °C, HEV was detectable up to 8 weeks on most surfaces, with an average 2.3 log10 decrease. HEV showed the highest stability on plastics, which was lower on ceramics and steel, and lowest on wood. The addition of bovine serum albumin mimicking high protein load had only a slight stabilizing effect. In conclusion, HEV shows a high stability against drying and subsequent storage on different surfaces. Strict application of hygienic measures during food production is therefore crucial in order to prevent HEV persistence on surfaces and subsequent cross-contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Wolff
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Taras Günther
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Schilling-Loeffler K, Falkenhagen A, Johne R. Coronaviruses are stable on glass, but are eliminated by manual dishwashing procedures. Food Microbiol 2022; 106:104036. [PMID: 35690440 PMCID: PMC8986060 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2022.104036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is primarily transmitted from human to human via droplets and aerosols. While transmission via contaminated surfaces is also considered possible, the overall risk of this transmission route is assumed to be low. Nevertheless, transmission through contaminated drinking glasses may pose an increased risk as the glass is in direct contact with the mouth and oral cavity. Using human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) as surrogate for SARS-CoV-2, this study examined coronavirus stability on glass, inactivation by dishwashing detergents, and virus elimination by a manual glass scrubbing device. Infectious HCoV-229E was recovered from glass for 7 and 21 days of storage under daylight and dark conditions, respectively. Near complete inactivation of HCoV-229E (>4 log10 reduction) was observed after incubation with two common dishwashing detergents at room temperature for 15 s, whereas incubation at 43 °C for 60 s was necessary for a third detergent to achieve a similar titer reduction. The virus was efficiently removed from contaminated drinking glasses using a manual glass scrubbing device in accordance with German standard DIN 6653-3. The results confirm that coronaviruses are relatively stable on glass, but indicate that common manual dishwashing procedures can efficiently eliminate coronaviruses from drinking glasses.
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15
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Schotte U, Martin A, Brogden S, Schilling-Loeffler K, Schemmerer M, Anheyer-Behmenburg HE, Szabo K, Müller-Graf C, Wenzel JJ, Kehrenberg C, Binder A, Klein G, Johne R. Phylogeny and spatio-temporal dynamics of hepatitis E virus infections in wild boar and deer from six areas of Germany during 2013-2017. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e1992-e2005. [PMID: 35340119 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Infections with the zoonotic HEV genotype 3, which can be transmitted from infected wild boar and deer to humans, are increasingly detected in Europe. To investigate the spatio-temporal HEV infection dynamics in wild animal populations, a study involving 3572 samples of wild boar and three deer species from six different geographic areas in Germany over a 4-year period was conducted. The HEV-specific antibody detection rates increased between 2013/14 and 2016/17 in wild boar from 9.5% to 22.8%, and decreased in deer from 1.1% to 0.2%. At the same time, HEV-RNA detection rates increased in wild boar from 2.8% to 13.3% and in deer from 0.7% to 4.2%. Marked differences were recorded between the investigated areas, with constantly high detection rates in one area and new HEV introductions followed by increasing detection rates in others. Molecular typing identified HEV subtypes 3c, 3f, 3i and a putative new subtype related to Italian wild boar strains. In areas, where sufficient numbers of positive samples were available for further analysis, a specific subtype dominated over the whole observation period. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the close relationship between strains from the same area and identified closely related human strains from Germany. The results suggest that the HEV infection dynamics in wild animals is dependent on the particular geographical area where area-specific dominant strains circulate over a long period. The virus can spread from wild boar, which represent the main wild animal reservoir, to deer, and generally from wild animals to humans. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Schotte
- Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Germany
| | - Annett Martin
- German Federal institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Brogden
- Institute of Food Quality and Food Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany.,Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Mathias Schemmerer
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, National Consultant Laboratory for HAV and HEV, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Kathrin Szabo
- Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen J Wenzel
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, National Consultant Laboratory for HAV and HEV, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Kehrenberg
- Institute of Veterinary Food Science, Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Germany
| | - Alfred Binder
- Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Germany
| | - Günter Klein
- Institute of Food Quality and Food Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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16
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Johne R, Schilling-Loeffler K, Ulrich RG, Tausch SH. Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of a Prototype Strain of the Novel Putative Rotavirus Species L. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030462. [PMID: 35336869 PMCID: PMC8954357 DOI: 10.3390/v14030462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rotaviruses infect humans and animals and are a main cause of diarrhea. They are non-enveloped viruses with a genome of 11 double-stranded RNA segments. Based on genome analysis and amino acid sequence identities of the capsid protein VP6, the rotavirus species A to J (RVA-RVJ) have been defined so far. In addition, rotaviruses putatively assigned to the novel rotavirus species K (RVK) and L (RVL) have been recently identified in common shrews (Sorex araneus), based on partial genome sequences. Here, the complete genome sequence of strain KS14/0241, a prototype strain of RVL, is presented. The deduced amino acid sequence for VP6 of this strain shows only up to 47% identity to that of RVA to RVJ reference strains. Phylogenetic analyses indicate a clustering separated from the established rotavirus species for all 11 genome segments of RVL, with the closest relationship to RVH and RVJ within the phylogenetic RVB-like clade. The non-coding genome segment termini of RVL showed conserved sequences at the 5′-end (positive-sense RNA strand), which are common to all rotaviruses, and those conserved among the RVB-like clade at the 3′-end. The results are consistent with a classification of the virus into a novel rotavirus species L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (K.S.-L.); (S.H.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katja Schilling-Loeffler
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (K.S.-L.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Simon H. Tausch
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (K.S.-L.); (S.H.T.)
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17
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Johne R, Althof N, Nöckler K, Falkenhagen A. [Hepatitis E virus-a zoonotic virus: distribution, transmission pathways, and relevance for food safety]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2022; 65:202-208. [PMID: 34982174 PMCID: PMC8813789 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-021-03476-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Das Hepatitis-E-Virus (HEV) ist ein Erreger einer akuten Hepatitis beim Menschen. Darüber hinaus treten zunehmend auch chronische Infektionen mit fataler Leberzirrhose bei immunsupprimierten Transplantationspatienten auf. Die Zahl der gemeldeten Hepatitis-E-Fälle in Deutschland hat in den vergangenen Jahren stark zugenommen. Hier kommt vor allem der Genotyp 3 vor, der zoonotisch von Tieren auf den Menschen übertragen werden kann. Haus- und Wildschweine, die ohne die Ausbildung klinischer Symptome infiziert werden, stellen das Hauptreservoir dar. In diesem Artikel werden die Verbreitung von HEV in Tieren in Deutschland, mögliche Übertragungswege des Virus und insbesondere die Bedeutung von Lebensmitteln bei der Übertragung anhand der aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Literatur dargestellt. HEV ist in Haus- und Wildschweinen in Deutschland stark verbreitet und wird hauptsächlich über direkten Kontakt oder den Verzehr von Lebensmitteln, die aus diesen Tieren hergestellt wurden, auf den Menschen übertragen. Beim HEV-RNA-Nachweis in spezifischen Lebensmitteln bleibt allerdings oft unklar, ob das enthaltene Virus noch infektiös ist oder durch die Herstellungsbedingungen inaktiviert wurde. Neuere Studien weisen auf eine hohe Stabilität des HEV unter verschiedenen physikochemischen Bedingungen hin, wohingegen eine Inaktivierung unter anderem durch Erhitzung erreicht wird. Generell wird deshalb ein ausreichendes Erhitzen von Schweinefleisch und -leber vor dem Verzehr empfohlen und für Risikogruppen zusätzlich der Verzicht auf den Verzehr kurzgereifter Rohwürste. Weitere Forschungen sind nötig, um relevante Risikolebensmittel zu identifizieren, alternative Übertragungswege zu untersuchen und effiziente Maßnahmen zu entwickeln, die eine zoonotische Virusübertragung zukünftig verringern oder vermeiden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reimar Johne
- Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Deutschland.
| | - Nadine Althof
- Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Karsten Nöckler
- Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Deutschland
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18
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Falkenhagen A, Tausch SH, Labutin A, Grützke J, Heckel G, Ulrich RG, Johne R. OUP accepted manuscript. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac004. [PMID: 35169491 PMCID: PMC8838746 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Species A rotaviruses (RVAs) are important aetiological agents of severe diarrhoea in young children. They are also widely distributed in mammals and birds, and increasing evidence indicates the possibility of zoonotic transmission of RVA strains between animals and humans. Moreover, reassortment of the eleven segments of the RVA genome can result in rapid biological changes and may influence pathogenic properties. Here, the nearly complete genome of an RVA strain from a common shrew (Sorex araneus) was sequenced, which showed high nucleotide sequence similarity to additionally determined partial sequences from common shrew RVAs but only very low identity (below 68 per cent) to RVAs from other animal species and humans. New genotypes were assigned to most genome segments of the novel common shrew RVA strain KS14/269, resulting in the genome constellation G39-P[55]-I27-R26-C22-M22-A37-N26-T26-E30-H26. Phylogenetic analyses clustered the common shrew RVAs as ancestral branches of other mammalian and avian RVAs for most of the genome segments, which is in contrast to the phylogeny of the hosts. Nevertheless, conserved sequences typical for all RVAs were identified at the 5ʹ- and 3ʹ- non-coding segment termini. To explore whether the common shrew RVA can exchange genetic material with other mammalian RVAs by reassortment, a reverse genetics system based on the simian RVA strain SA11 was used. However, no viable reassortants could be rescued by exchanging the VP4-, VP6-, or VP7-encoding genome segment alone or in combinations. It can be concluded that highly divergent RVAs are present in common shrews, indicating an evolution of these viruses largely separated from other mammalian and avian RVAs. The zoonotic potential of the virus seems to be low but needs to be further analysed in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin 10589, Germany
| | - Simon H Tausch
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin 10589, Germany
| | - Anton Labutin
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Josephine Grützke
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin 10589, Germany
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
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19
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Velavan TP, Pallerla SR, Johne R, Todt D, Steinmann E, Schemmerer M, Wenzel JJ, Hofmann J, Shih JWK, Wedemeyer H, Bock CT. Hepatitis E: An update on One Health and clinical medicine. Liver Int 2021; 41:1462-1473. [PMID: 33960603 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the main causes of acute hepatitis and the de facto global burden is underestimated. HEV-related clinical complications are often undetected and are not considered in the differential diagnosis. Convincing findings from studies suggest that HEV is clinically relevant not only in developing countries but also in industrialized countries. Eight HEV genotypes (HEV-1 to HEV-8) with different human and animal hosts and other HEV-related viruses are in circulation. Transmission routes vary by genotype and location, with large waterborne outbreaks in developing countries and zoonotic food-borne infections in developed countries. An acute infection can be aggravated in pregnant women, organ transplant recipients, patients with pre-existing liver disease and immunosuppressed patients. HEV during pregnancy affects the fetus and newborn with an increased risk of vertical transmission, preterm and stillbirth, neonatal jaundice and miscarriage. Hepatitis E is associated with extrahepatic manifestations that include neurological disorders such as neuralgic amyotrophy, Guillain-Barré syndrome and encephalitis, renal injury and haematological disorders. The risk of transfusion-transmitted HEV is increasingly recognized in Western countries where the risk may be because of a zoonosis. RNA testing of blood components is essential to determine the risk of transfusion-transmitted HEV. There are currently no approved drugs or vaccines for HEV infections. This review focuses on updating the latest developments in zoonoses, screening and diagnostics, drugs in use and under development, and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thirumalaisamy P Velavan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, VG-CARE, Hanoi, Vietnam.,Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Srinivas R Pallerla
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, VG-CARE, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mathias Schemmerer
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, National Consultant Laboratory for HAV and HEV, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen J Wenzel
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, National Consultant Laboratory for HAV and HEV, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Hofmann
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Labor Berlin-Charité-Vivantes GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Claus-Thomas Bock
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Division of Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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20
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Horvatits T, Wißmann JE, Johne R, Groschup MH, Gadicherla AK, Schulze Zur Wiesch J, Eiden M, Todt D, Reimer R, Dähnert L, Schöbel A, Horvatits K, Lübke R, Wolschke C, Ayuk F, Rybczynski M, Lohse AW, Addo MM, Herker E, Lütgehetmann M, Steinmann E, Pischke S. Hepatitis E virus persists in the ejaculate of chronically infected men. J Hepatol 2021; 75:55-63. [PMID: 33484776 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are prevalent worldwide. Various viruses have been detected in the ejaculate and can outlast the duration of viremia, indicating replication beyond the blood-testis barrier. HEV replication in diverse organs, however, is still widely misunderstood. We aimed to determine the occurrence, features and morphology of HEV in the ejaculate. METHODS The presence of HEV in testis was assessed in 12 experimentally HEV-genotype 3-infected pigs. We further tested ejaculate, urine, stool and blood from 3 chronically HEV genotype 3-infected patients and 6 immunocompetent patients with acute HEV infection by HEV-PCR. Morphology and genomic characterization of HEV particles from various human compartments were determined by HEV-PCR, density gradient measurement, immune-electron microscopy and genomic sequencing. RESULTS In 2 of the 3 chronically HEV-infected patients, we observed HEV-RNA (genotype 3c) in seminal plasma and semen with viral loads >2 logs higher than in the serum. Genomic sequencing showed significant differences between viral strains in the ejaculate compared to stool. Under ribavirin-treatment, HEV shedding in the ejaculate continued for >9 months following the end of viremia. Density gradient measurement and immune-electron microscopy characterized (enveloped) HEV particles in the ejaculate as intact. CONCLUSIONS The male reproductive system was shown to be a niche of HEV persistence in chronic HEV infection. Surprisingly, sequence analysis revealed distinct genetic HEV variants in the stool and serum, originating from the liver, compared to variants in the ejaculate originating from the male reproductive system. Enveloped HEV particles in the ejaculate did not morphologically differ from serum-derived HEV particles. LAY SUMMARY Enveloped hepatitis E virus particles could be identified by PCR and electron microscopy in the ejaculate of immunosuppressed chronically infected patients, but not in immunocompetent experimentally infected pigs or in patients with acute self-limiting hepatitis E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Horvatits
- I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with the Sections Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany.
| | - Jan-Erik Wißmann
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Bochum, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany; Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald-Isle of Riems, Germany
| | - Ashish K Gadicherla
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Schulze Zur Wiesch
- I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with the Sections Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany
| | - Martin Eiden
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany; Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald-Isle of Riems, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Rudolph Reimer
- Heinrich-Pette-Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Dähnert
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany; Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald-Isle of Riems, Germany
| | - Anja Schöbel
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Karoline Horvatits
- I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with the Sections Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rabea Lübke
- I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with the Sections Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christine Wolschke
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Francis Ayuk
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Meike Rybczynski
- University Heart Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ansgar W Lohse
- I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with the Sections Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany
| | - Marylyn M Addo
- I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with the Sections Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany
| | - Eva Herker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marc Lütgehetmann
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany; Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sven Pischke
- I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with the Sections Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Heidelberg Partner sites, Germany
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21
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Aganovic K, Hertel C, Vogel RF, Johne R, Schlüter O, Schwarzenbolz U, Jäger H, Holzhauser T, Bergmair J, Roth A, Sevenich R, Bandick N, Kulling SE, Knorr D, Engel KH, Heinz V. Aspects of high hydrostatic pressure food processing: Perspectives on technology and food safety. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2021; 20:3225-3266. [PMID: 34056857 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The last two decades saw a steady increase of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) used for treatment of foods. Although the science of biomaterials exposed to high pressure started more than a century ago, there still seem to be a number of unanswered questions regarding safety of foods processed using HHP. This review gives an overview on historical development and fundamental aspects of HHP, as well as on potential risks associated with HHP food applications based on available literature. Beside the combination of pressure and temperature, as major factors impacting inactivation of vegetative bacterial cells, bacterial endospores, viruses, and parasites, factors, such as food matrix, water content, presence of dissolved substances, and pH value, also have significant influence on their inactivation by pressure. As a result, pressure treatment of foods should be considered for specific food groups and in accordance with their specific chemical and physical properties. The pressure necessary for inactivation of viruses is in many instances slightly lower than that for vegetative bacterial cells; however, data for food relevant human virus types are missing due to the lack of methods for determining their infectivity. Parasites can be inactivated by comparatively lower pressure than vegetative bacterial cells. The degrees to which chemical reactions progress under pressure treatments are different to those of conventional thermal processes, for example, HHP leads to lower amounts of acrylamide and furan. Additionally, the formation of new unknown or unexpected substances has not yet been observed. To date, no safety-relevant chemical changes have been described for foods treated by HHP. Based on existing sensitization to non-HHP-treated food, the allergenic potential of HHP-treated food is more likely to be equivalent to untreated food. Initial findings on changes in packaging materials under HHP have not yet been adequately supported by scientific data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemal Aganovic
- DIL German Institute of Food Technologies e.V., Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Christian Hertel
- DIL German Institute of Food Technologies e.V., Quakenbrück, Germany
| | - Rudi F Vogel
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Schlüter
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Potsdam, Germany.,Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | | | - Henry Jäger
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Wien, Austria
| | - Thomas Holzhauser
- Division of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI), Langen, Germany
| | | | - Angelika Roth
- Senate Commission on Food Safety (DFG), IfADo, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Robert Sevenich
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Potsdam, Germany.,Technical University of Berlin (TUB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Niels Bandick
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Volker Heinz
- DIL German Institute of Food Technologies e.V., Quakenbrück, Germany
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22
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Scholz J, Falkenhagen A, Johne R. The Translated Amino Acid Sequence of an Insertion in the Hepatitis E Virus Strain 47832c Genome, But Not the RNA Sequence, Is Essential for Efficient Cell Culture Replication. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050762. [PMID: 33926134 PMCID: PMC8145396 DOI: 10.3390/v13050762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause hepatitis E in humans. Recently, the occurrence of HEV strains carrying insertions in their hypervariable genome region has been described in chronically infected patients. The insertions originate from human genes or from the HEV genome itself. Although their distinct functions are largely unknown, an involvement in efficient cell culture replication was shown for some strains. The HEV strain 47832c, originally isolated from a chronically infected transplant patient, carries a bipartite insertion composed of HEV genome duplications. Here, several mutants with deletions and substitutions of the insertion were generated and tested in cell culture. Complete deletion of the insertion abolished virus replication and even a single glycine to arginine substitution led to reduced cell culture growth. A mutant encoding a frameshift of the inserted sequence was not infectious, whereas a mutant carrying synonymous codons in this region replicated similar like the wild type. Substitution of the insertion with the S17 insertion from HEV strain Kernow C1-p6 did not result in viable virus, which might indicate strain- or cell type-specificity of the insertions. Generally, the translated amino acid sequence of the insertion, but not the RNA sequence, seems to be responsible for the observed effect.
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23
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Falkenhagen A, Huyzers M, van Dijk AA, Johne R. Rescue of Infectious Rotavirus Reassortants by a Reverse Genetics System Is Restricted by the Receptor-Binding Region of VP4. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030363. [PMID: 33668972 PMCID: PMC7996497 DOI: 10.3390/v13030363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The rotavirus species A (RVA) capsid contains the spike protein VP4, which interacts with VP6 and VP7 and is involved in cellular receptor binding. The capsid encloses the genome consisting of eleven dsRNA segments. Reassortment events can result in novel strains with changed properties. Using a plasmid-based reverse genetics system based on simian RVA strain SA11, we previously showed that the rescue of viable reassortants containing a heterologous VP4-encoding genome segment was strain-dependent. In order to unravel the reasons for the reassortment restrictions, we designed here a series of plasmids encoding chimeric VP4s. Exchange of the VP4 domains interacting with VP6 and VP7 was not sufficient for rescue of viable viruses. In contrast, the exchange of fragments encoding the receptor-binding region of VP4 resulted in virus rescue. All parent strains and the rescued reassortants replicated efficiently in MA-104 cells used for virus propagation. In contrast, replication in BSR T7/5 cells used for plasmid transfection was only efficient for the SA11 strain, whereas the rescued reassortants replicated slowly, and the parent strains failing to produce reassortants did not replicate. While future research in this area is necessary, replication in BSR T7/5 cells may be one factor that affects the rescue of RVAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Marno Huyzers
- Human Metabolomics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, 2531 Potchefstroom, South Africa; (M.H.); (A.A.v.D.)
| | - Alberdina A. van Dijk
- Human Metabolomics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, 2531 Potchefstroom, South Africa; (M.H.); (A.A.v.D.)
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany;
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24
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Pallerla SR, Schembecker S, Meyer CG, Linh LTK, Johne R, Wedemeyer H, Bock CT, Kremsner PG, Velavan TP. Hepatitis E virus genome detection in commercial pork livers and pork meat products in Germany. J Viral Hepat 2021; 28:196-204. [PMID: 32869414 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of hepatitis worldwide. HEV is also widespread in many developed countries, where the number of infections is steadily increasing. In those countries, the virus is transmitted mainly through consumption of undercooked or raw food or through contact with animals. Especially, pigs serve as a main reservoir of HEV. Here, we investigated the prevalence of HEV RNA in pork livers and pork meat products to assess the actual risk of HEV infection through food consumption in Germany. A total of 131 pork products were collected from grocery stores and butcher shops between October 2019 and February 2020 and screened for HEV RNA using nested PCR and subsequent sequencing. Overall, 10% of the samples were positive for HEV, including pork livers (5%), spreadable liver sausages (13%) and liver pâté samples (15%). Sequence analyses indicated that the large majority of HEV strains belonged to subtype HEV-3c, representing the most frequent subtype in Germany. One sample belonged to subtype HEV-3f. Further sequence analysis revealed large sequence variation between the samples; however, most of the mutations identified were synonymous. Although infectivity of the virus was not tested, the results suggest a considerable risk of HEV infection through food consumption. Therefore, preventive measures should be taken according to a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivas Reddy Pallerla
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, VG-CARE, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Sonja Schembecker
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian G Meyer
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, VG-CARE, Hanoi, Vietnam.,Medical Faculty, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Le Thi Kieu Linh
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, VG-CARE, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Hannover, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - C-Thomas Bock
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Division of Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thirumalaisamy P Velavan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, VG-CARE, Hanoi, Vietnam.,Medical Faculty, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
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25
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Johne R, Wolff A, Gadicherla AK, Filter M, Schlüter O. Stability of hepatitis E virus at high hydrostatic pressure processing. Int J Food Microbiol 2020; 339:109013. [PMID: 33340943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.109013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3 is the main genotype in Europe. The foodborne transmission via consumption of meat and meat products prepared from infected pigs or wild boars is considered the major transmission route of this genotype. High hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) is a technique, which can be used for inactivation of pathogens in food. Here, preparations of a cell culture-adapted HEV genotype 3 strain in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were subjected to HPP and the remaining infectivity was titrated in cell culture by counting fluorescent foci of replicating virus. A gradual decrease in infectivity was found by application of 100 to 600 MPa for 2 min. At 20 °C, infectivity reduction of 0.5 log10 at 200 MPa and 1 log10 at 400 MPa were observed. Slightly higher infectivity reduction of 1 log10 at 200 MPa and 2 log10 at 400 MPa were found by application of the pressure at 4 °C. At both temperatures, the virus was nearly completely inactivated (>3.5 log10 infectivity decrease) at 600 MPa; however, low amounts of remaining infectious virus were observed in one of three replicates in both cases. Transmission electron microscopy showed disassembled and distorted particles in the preparations treated with 600 MPa. Time-course experiments at 400 MPa showed a continuous decline of infectivity from 30 s to 10 min, leading to a 2 log10 infectivity decrease at 20 °C and to a 2.5 log10 infectivity decrease at 4 °C for a 10 min pressure application each. Predictive models for inactivation of HEV by HPP were generated on the basis of the generated data. The results show that HPP treatment can reduce HEV infectivity, which is mainly dependent on pressure height and duration of the HPP treatment. Compared to other viruses, HEV appears to be relatively stable against HPP and high pressure/long time combinations have to be applied for significant reduction of infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
| | - A Wolff
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - A K Gadicherla
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - M Filter
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - O Schlüter
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Quality and Safety of Food and Feed, Germany
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26
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Wolff A, Günther T, Albert T, Johne R. Effect of Sodium Chloride, Sodium Nitrite and Sodium Nitrate on the Infectivity of Hepatitis E Virus. Food Environ Virol 2020; 12:350-354. [PMID: 32852672 PMCID: PMC7658080 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-020-09440-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can cause acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3, which is highly prevalent in Europe, is mainly transmitted by consumption of raw meat and raw meat products produced from infected pigs or wild boars. High salt concentrations represent an important measure to preserve meat products and to inactivate foodborne pathogens. Here, an HEV preparation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was subjected to different salt concentrations and the remaining infectivity was measured in a cell culture assay. Treatments with up to 20% sodium chloride for 24 h at 23 °C, with and without addition of 0.015% sodium nitrite or 0.03% sodium nitrate, did not lead to virus inactivation as compared to PBS only. Conditions usually applied for short-term and long-term fermented raw sausages were simulated by incubation at 22 °C for up to 6 days and at 16 °C for up to 8 weeks, respectively. Only 2% sodium chloride with 0.015% sodium nitrite showed a weak (< 1 log10), but significant, infectivity reduction after 2 and 4 days as compared to PBS only. Addition of 2% sodium chloride and 0.03% sodium nitrate showed a slight, but not significant, decrease in infectivity after 2 and 8 weeks as compared to PBS only. In conclusion, HEV is highly stable at high salt concentrations and at salt conditions usually applied to preserve raw meat products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Wolff
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Taras Günther
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thiemo Albert
- Institute of Food Hygiene, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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27
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Trojnar E, Contzen M, Moor D, Carl A, Burkhardt S, Kilwinski J, Berghof-Jäger K, Mormann S, Schotte U, Kontek A, Althof N, Mäde D, Johne R. Interlaboratory Validation of a Detection Method for Hepatitis E Virus RNA in Pig Liver. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8101460. [PMID: 32977593 PMCID: PMC7598171 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: In the last years, the number of notified hepatitis E cases in humans has continuously increased in Europe. Foodborne infection with the zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 is considered the major cause of this disease. Undercooked liver and raw sausages containing the liver of pigs and wild boar are at high risk of containing HEV. However, so far, no standardized method for the detection of HEV-RNA in pig liver is available. Methods: An international collaborative study on method reproducibility involving 11 laboratories was performed for an HEV-RNA detection method, which consists of steps of sample homogenization, RNA extraction and real-time RT-PCR detection, including a process control. Naturally contaminated pork liver samples containing two different amounts of HEV and a HEV-negative pork liver sample were tested by all laboratories using the method. Results: Valid results were retrieved from 10 laboratories. A specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 79% were calculated for the method. False negative results were only retrieved from the sample containing very low HEV amounts near the detection limit. Conclusions: The results show that the method is highly specific, sufficiently sensitive and robust for use in different laboratories. The method can, therefore, be applied to routine food control as well as in monitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Trojnar
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (E.T.); (N.A.)
| | - Matthias Contzen
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Stuttgart, 70736 Fellbach, Germany;
| | - Dominik Moor
- Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, 3003 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Anja Carl
- Bayrisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | | | - Jochen Kilwinski
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, 59821 Arnsberg, Germany; (J.K.); (S.M.)
| | | | - Sascha Mormann
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, 59821 Arnsberg, Germany; (J.K.); (S.M.)
| | - Ulrich Schotte
- Zentrales Institut des Sanitätsdienstes der Bundeswehr Kiel, 24119 Kronshagen, Germany;
| | - Anne Kontek
- Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 26133 Oldenburg, Germany;
| | - Nadine Althof
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (E.T.); (N.A.)
| | - Dietrich Mäde
- Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz Sachsen-Anhalt, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (E.T.); (N.A.)
- Correspondence:
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28
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Patzina-Mehling C, Falkenhagen A, Trojnar E, Gadicherla AK, Johne R. Potential of avian and mammalian species A rotaviruses to reassort as explored by plasmid only-based reverse genetics. Virus Res 2020; 286:198027. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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29
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Scholz J, Falkenhagen A, Bock CT, Johne R. Reverse genetics approaches for hepatitis E virus and related viruses. Curr Opin Virol 2020; 44:121-128. [PMID: 32818718 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Related viruses have been found in several animal species. Reverse genetics systems (RGSs), which enable the generation of infectious virus from cloned cDNA by transfection of cultured cells or intrahepatic injection into laboratory animals, have been developed for HEV genotypes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 as well as for avian HEV and rat HEV. However, low virus recovery rates and slow replication in cell cultures are observed for most of the HEV types. Nevertheless, the RGSs enabled the site-directed mutagenesis of single nucleotides, deletion of genome fragments, insertion of sequence tags and a marker gene as well as the generation of chimeric viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Scholz
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claus-Thomas Bock
- Division of Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
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30
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Falkenhagen A, Patzina-Mehling C, Rückner A, Vahlenkamp TW, Johne R. Generation of simian rotavirus reassortants with diverse VP4 genes using reverse genetics. J Gen Virol 2020; 100:1595-1604. [PMID: 31665098 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Species A rotaviruses (RVAs) are a major cause of gastroenteritis in animals and humans. Their genome consists of 11 segments of dsRNA, and reassortment events between animal and human strains can contribute to the high genetic diversity of RVAs. We used a plasmid-based reverse genetics system to investigate the reassortment potential of the genome segment encoding the viral outer capsid protein VP4, which is a major antigenic determinant, mediates viral entry and plays an important role in host cell tropism. We rescued reassortant viruses containing VP4 from porcine, bovine, bat, pheasant or chicken RVA strains in the backbone of simian strain SA11. The VP4 reassortants could be stably passaged in MA-104 cells and induced cytopathic effects. However, analysis of growth kinetics revealed marked differences in replication efficiency. Our results show that the VP4-encoding genome segment has a high reassortment potential, even between virus strains from highly divergent species. This can result in replication-competent reassortants with new genomic, growth and antigenic features.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antje Rückner
- Institute of Virology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Reimar Johne
- The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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31
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Beyer S, Szewzyk R, Gnirss R, Johne R, Selinka HC. Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 in Wastewater and Urban Surface Waters in Germany. Food Environ Virol 2020; 12:137-147. [PMID: 32172512 PMCID: PMC7225198 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-020-09424-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In highly populated areas, environmental surveillance of wastewater and surface waters is a key factor to control the circulation of viruses and risks for public health. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 is considered as an emerging pathogen in industrialized countries. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the prevalence of HEV in environmental waters in urban and suburban regions in Germany. HEV was monitored in water samples using quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and nested RT-PCR without or with virus concentration via polyethylene glycol precipitation or ultracentrifugation. By RT-qPCR, 84-100% of influent samples of wastewater treatment plants were positive for HEV RNA. Genotypes HEV-3c and 3f were identified in wastewater, with HEV-3c being the most prevalent genotype. These data correlate with subtypes identified earlier in patients from the same area. Comparison of wastewater influent and effluent samples revealed a reduction of HEV RNA of about 1 log10 during passage through wastewater treatment plants. In addition, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) after heavy rainfalls were shown to release HEV RNA into surface waters. About 75% of urban river samples taken during these CSO events were positive for HEV RNA by RT-qPCR. In contrast, under normal weather conditions, only around 30% of river samples and 15% of samples from a bathing water located at an urban river were positive for HEV. Median concentrations of HEV RNA of all tested samples at this bathing water were below the limit of detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Beyer
- Section II 1.4 Microbiological Risks, German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regine Szewzyk
- Section II 1.4 Microbiological Risks, German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina Gnirss
- Berliner Wasserbetriebe (BWB), Cicerostr. 24, 10709, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans-Christoph Selinka
- Section II 1.4 Microbiological Risks, German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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32
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Wolff A, Günther T, Albert T, Schilling-Loeffler K, Gadicherla AK, Johne R. Stability of hepatitis E virus at different pH values. Int J Food Microbiol 2020; 325:108625. [PMID: 32361052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.108625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3 is mainly transmitted by consumption of raw and fermented meat products prepared from infected pigs or wild boars. Lowering of pH during fermentation is one of the microbiological hurdles considered to inhibit growth of certain pathogens. However, no data are currently available on pH stability of HEV. As a reliable and reproducible measurement of HEV infectivity in meat products is not established so far, the stability of the cell culture-adapted HEV genotype 3 strain 47832c was analyzed here in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at different pH values. Only a minimal decrease of infectivity (up to 0.6 log10 focus forming units) was found after treatment at pH 2 to 9 for 3 h at room temperature. At pH 10, a decrease of about 3 log10 was evident, whereas no remaining virus (>3.5 log10 decrease) was detected at pH 1. The conditions usually achieved during curing of raw sausages were simulated using D/L-lactic acid added to PBS resulting in pH 4.5 to 6.5. After incubation at 4 °C for 7 days at these conditions, no significant differences as compared to a standard PBS solution at pH 7.7 were evident. At room temperature, a 0.8 log10 decrease was found at pH 4.7 after 7 days incubation compared to pH 7.7, but less at the other pH values. In conclusion, only minimal inactivating effects were found at pH conditions commonly occurring during food processing. Therefore, remaining infectious virus might be present in fermented meat products if HEV-contaminated starting material was used. Additional effects of other factors like high salt concentrations and low aw values should be investigated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Wolff
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany
| | - T Günther
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany
| | - T Albert
- University of Leipzig, Institute for Food Hygiene, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - K Schilling-Loeffler
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany
| | - A K Gadicherla
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany
| | - R Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany.
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Johne R, Tausch SH, Grützke J, Falkenhagen A, Patzina-Mehling C, Beer M, Höper D, Ulrich RG. Distantly Related Rotaviruses in Common Shrews, Germany, 2004-2014. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 25:2310-2314. [PMID: 31742508 PMCID: PMC6874240 DOI: 10.3201/eid2512.191225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We screened samples from common shrews (Sorex araneus) collected in Germany during 2004–2014 and identified 3 genetically divergent rotaviruses. Virus protein 6 sequence similarities to prototype rotaviruses were low (64.5% rotavirus A, 50.1% rotavirus C [tentative species K], 48.2% rotavirus H [tentative species L]). Shrew-associated rotaviruses might have zoonotic potential.
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Patzina-Mehling C, Falkenhagen A, Gadicherla AK, Grützke J, Tausch SH, Johne R. Whole genome sequence analysis of cell culture-adapted rotavirus A strains from chicken. Infect Genet Evol 2020; 81:104275. [PMID: 32147474 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Rotavirus A (RVA) is a major cause of gastroenteritis in humans and mammalian animals, and has also been abundantly detected in avian species. Avian RVA infection is associated with diarrhea, reduced growth and increased mortality, leading to economic losses in the poultry industry. Avian RVA forms a unique genetic clade within the whole RVA species. However, up to now, only a few full-length avian RVA genomes have been published and only a small number of avian RVA strains have been adapted to grow in cell culture for subsequent studies. Here, the four cell culture-adapted chicken RVA strains 02V0002G3, 04V0027G6, 05V0500F6 and 06V0661G1 were characterized in more detail. Transmission electron microscopy of the viruses derived from culture supernatant showed a typical triple-layered morphology of rotavirus particles; in addition, strain 06V0661G1 showed a high proportion of double-layered particles. The (nearly) complete genome sequences of the viruses were determined using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The resulting sequences were compared to full-length or partial sequences of the strains previously determined using Sanger sequencing; and a few nucleotide mismatches, some of them resulting in amino acid substitutions, were identified. The genomes of strains 02V0002G3, 04V0027G6 and 05V0500F6 were closely related to each other showing a G19-P[30]-I11-R6-C6-M7-A16-N6-T8-E10-H8 genotype constellation. Strain 06V0661G1 carries the VP4 genotype P[31] in the same genetic backbone like the other strains. However, further sequence analysis showed that the genes of this strain, especially that encoding NSP3, clustered more separately from the other strains in phylogenetic trees. The characterized cell culture-adapted chicken RVA strains may be useful for future studies investigating genetic diversity and replication of avian rotaviruses, as well as for the development of vaccines and diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander Falkenhagen
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ashish K Gadicherla
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Josephine Grützke
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon H Tausch
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
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35
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Trojnar E, Kästner B, Johne R. No Evidence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Farmed Deer in Germany. Food Environ Virol 2020; 12:81-83. [PMID: 31625032 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-019-09407-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic agent, which is mainly transmitted by consumption of undercooked meat products originating from infected animals. Domestic pigs and wild boars are the major animal reservoirs, but HEV infections have been also repeatedly described in wild deer species. However, farmed deer has been only sparsely investigated so far. Here, 108 blood and 106 liver samples from fallow deer, red deer, and sika deer strictly hold in game enclosures from 11 farms in Germany were analyzed for markers of HEV infection. Using a commercial double antigen sandwich ELISA, 3/108 (2.7%) serum samples were scored borderline for HEV-specific antibodies, whereas the remaining samples were negative. No HEV-RNA (0%) was detected in the 106 liver samples. The results suggest a low risk of HEV infection in farmed deer in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Trojnar
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Kästner
- Thuringian State Office for Agriculture and Rural Area, Naumburger Straße 98, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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Scholz J, Bächlein C, Gadicherla AK, Falkenhagen A, Tausch SH, Johne R. Establishment of a Plasmid-Based Reverse Genetics System for the Cell Culture-Adapted Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3c Strain 47832c. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9030157. [PMID: 32106549 PMCID: PMC7157446 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9030157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Investigation of HEV replication is hampered by the lack of broadly applicable, efficient cell culture systems and tools for site-directed mutagenesis of HEV. The cell culture-adapted genotype 3c strain 47832c, which represents a typical genotype predominantly detected in Europe, has previously been used for several basic and applied research studies. Here, a plasmid-based reverse genetics system was developed for this strain, which efficiently rescued the infectious virus without the need for in vitro RNA transcription. The cotransfection of T7 RNA polymerase-expressing BSR/T7 cells with one plasmid encoding the full-length viral genome and two helper plasmids encoding vaccinia virus capping enzymes resulted in the production of infectious HEV, which could be serially passaged on A549/D3 cells. The parental and recombinant virus exhibited similar replication kinetics. A single point mutation creating an additional restriction enzyme site could be successfully introduced into the virus genome of progeny virus, indicating that the system is suitable for site-directed mutagenesis. This system is the first plasmid-based HEV reverse genetics system, as well as the first reverse genetics system for HEV genotype 3c, and should therefore be of broad use for basic and applied HEV research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Scholz
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (A.K.G.); (A.F.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Christine Bächlein
- Institute of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Ashish K. Gadicherla
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (A.K.G.); (A.F.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (A.K.G.); (A.F.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Simon H. Tausch
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (A.K.G.); (A.F.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (A.K.G.); (A.F.); (S.H.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Falkenhagen A, Patzina-Mehling C, Gadicherla AK, Strydom A, O’Neill HG, Johne R. Generation of Simian Rotavirus Reassortants with VP4- and VP7-Encoding Genome Segments from Human Strains Circulating in Africa Using Reverse Genetics. Viruses 2020; 12:v12020201. [PMID: 32054092 PMCID: PMC7077283 DOI: 10.3390/v12020201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human rotavirus A (RVA) causes acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. The broad use of two vaccines, which are based on RVA strains from Europe and North America, significantly reduced rotavirus disease burden worldwide. However, a lower vaccine effectiveness is recorded in some regions of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa, where diverse RVA strains are circulating. Here, a plasmid-based reverse genetics system was used to generate simian RVA reassortants with VP4 and VP7 proteins derived from African human RVA strains not previously adapted to cell culture. We were able to rescue 1/3 VP4 mono-reassortants, 3/3 VP7 mono-reassortants, but no VP4/VP7 double reassortant. Electron microscopy showed typical triple-layered virus particles for the rescued reassortants. All reassortants stably replicated in MA-104 cells; however, the VP4 reassortant showed significantly slower growth compared to the simian RVA or the VP7 reassortants. The results indicate that, at least in cell culture, human VP7 has a high reassortment potential, while reassortment of human VP4 from unadapted human RVA strains with simian RVA seems to be limited. The characterized reassortants may be useful for future studies investigating replication and reassortment requirements of rotaviruses as well as for the development of next generation rotavirus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.F.); (C.P.-M.); (A.K.G.)
| | - Corinna Patzina-Mehling
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.F.); (C.P.-M.); (A.K.G.)
| | - Ashish K. Gadicherla
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.F.); (C.P.-M.); (A.K.G.)
| | - Amy Strydom
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa; (A.S.); (H.G.O.)
| | - Hester G. O’Neill
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa; (A.S.); (H.G.O.)
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.F.); (C.P.-M.); (A.K.G.)
- Correspondence:
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38
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Realpe-Quintero M, Montalvo MC, Mirazo S, Panduro A, Roman S, Johne R, Fierro NA. Challenges in research and management of hepatitis E virus infection in Cuba, Mexico, and Uruguay. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2019; 42:e41. [PMID: 31093069 PMCID: PMC6386046 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2018.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The symposium “Epidemiology of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) Infection and Associated Immune Response” was held at the Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico, on 14 June 2017, to define the status of research on HEV infection in three countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)—Cuba, Mexico, and Uruguay—compared to the situation in Germany. Scientists identified specific research gaps in understanding HEV transmission and the resulting impact on development of disease in the three abovementioned LAC countries. Specific recommendations for implementing standardized serologic and molecular diagnostic methods and epidemiologic, basic, and applied research aimed to develop prevention and handling strategies for this infection, along with the associated comorbidities in the three LAC countries, were also discussed. Given similar demographic, sanitary, and economic conditions in other LAC countries that could predispose them to be at high risk for HEV transmission and infection, these research gaps and recommendations might apply to the entire LAC region. This report was prepared by meeting participants based on 1) symposium presentations, 2) literature reviews, and 3) group discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Realpe-Quintero
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo de Biologicos, Hospital Veterinario de Pequeñas Especies, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biologicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Maria C Montalvo
- Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Hepatitis Virales, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri, Havana, Cuba
| | - Santiago Mirazo
- Laboratorio de Virologia, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Arturo Panduro
- Servicio de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Sonia Roman
- Servicio de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nora A Fierro
- Unidad de Inmunovirologia, Servicio de Biología Molecular, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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Althof N, Trojnar E, Böhm T, Burkhardt S, Carl A, Contzen M, Kilwinski J, Mergemeier S, Moor D, Mäde D, Johne R. Interlaboratory Validation of a Method for Hepatitis E Virus RNA Detection in Meat and Meat Products. Food Environ Virol 2019; 11:1-8. [PMID: 30465253 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-018-9360-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Increasing numbers of hepatitis E cases are currently recognized in many European countries. The zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 mainly circulates in domestic pigs and wild boars, and can be transmitted to humans via consumption of insufficiently heated meat or meat products produced from those animals. Here, a detailed protocol for detection of HEV RNA in meat products is provided, which is based on the method originally described by Szabo et al. (Intl J Food Microbiol 215:149-156, 2015). It consists of a TRI Reagent®/chloroform-based food matrix homogenization, a silica bead-based RNA extraction and a real-time RT-PCR-based RNA detection. The method was further validated in a ring trial with nine independent laboratories using pork liver sausage samples artificially contaminated with different amounts of HEV. The results indicate sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the method for its broad future use in survey studies, routine food control or outbreak investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Althof
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Trojnar
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Böhm
- Landesbetrieb Hessisches Landeslabor, Kassel, Germany
| | | | - Anja Carl
- Bayrisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Contzen
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Stuttgart, Fellbach, Germany
| | - Jochen Kilwinski
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, Arnsberg, Germany
| | | | - Dominik Moor
- Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dietrich Mäde
- Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz Sachsen-Anhalt, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
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40
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Di Pasquale S, Cozzi L, Lena R, Di Sandro A, De Magistris I, De Medici D, Johne R, Suffredini E. Development of a viability PCR assay for the analysis of Hepatitis E virus in food matrices. Eur J Public Health 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cky213.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S Di Pasquale
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - L Cozzi
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - R Lena
- Ministero della Salute, Directorate General for Food Hygiene and Safety and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
| | - A Di Sandro
- Ministero della Salute, Directorate General for Food Hygiene and Safety and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
| | - I De Magistris
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - D De Medici
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - R Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment - Department Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - E Suffredini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
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Bartsch C, Höper D, Mäde D, Johne R. Analysis of frozen strawberries involved in a large norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak using next generation sequencing and digital PCR. Food Microbiol 2018; 76:390-395. [PMID: 30166165 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2018.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Virus-contaminated frozen berries have been frequently identified as cause of foodborne disease outbreaks. To provide new tools for virus detection and characterization in berries, next generation sequencing (NGS) and reverse transcription-digital PCR (RT-dPCR) techniques were tested here with strawberries previously involved in a large-scale norovirus (NoV) gastroenteritis outbreak in Germany. By NGS, about 29 million sequence reads were generated, which mainly showed identities to sequences from the plant matrix and from the bacterial flora. Most abundant virus sequences originated from plant-specific viruses, whereas sequences with high identity to human viruses were rare. Only two sequence reads showed homologies to human NoV. They were identical to GII.P16/GII.13 NoV sequences from patients and a strawberry sample independently analyzed during the outbreak. Quantification of the GII NoV RNA of the berries using RT-dPCR confirmed a low mean virus amount of 185 copies/25 g, which is similar to independently assessed RT-qPCR results (257 copies/25 g). The study shows that identification of human-pathogenic viruses in naturally contaminated frozen berries is possible using NGS technologies. However, the method needs to be further optimized in order to enable convenient and reproducible detection of a low amount of human-pathogenic virus sequences in a background of highly abundant nucleic acids of other sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bartsch
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Höper
- Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald (Insel Riems), Germany
| | - Dietrich Mäde
- State Office for Consumer Protection, Freiimfelder Str. 68, 06112, Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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Glitscher M, Himmelsbach K, Woytinek K, Johne R, Reuter A, Spiric J, Schwaben L, Grünweller A, Hildt E. Inhibition of Hepatitis E Virus Spread by the Natural Compound Silvestrol. Viruses 2018; 10:E301. [PMID: 29865243 PMCID: PMC6024817 DOI: 10.3390/v10060301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Every year, there are about 20 Mio hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections and 60,000 deaths that are associated with HEV worldwide. At the present, there exists no specific therapy for HEV. The natural compound silvestrol has a potent antiviral effect against the (-)-strand RNA-virus Ebola virus, and also against the (+)-strand RNA viruses Corona-, Picorna-, and Zika virus. The inhibitory effect on virus spread is due to an inhibition of the DEAD-box RNA helicase eIF4A, which is required to unwind structured 5'-untranslated regions (UTRs). This leads to an impaired translation of viral RNA. The HEV (+)-strand RNA genome contains a 5'-capped, short 5'-UTR. This study aims to analyze the impact of silvestrol on the HEV life cycle. Persistently infected A549 cells were instrumental. This study identifies silvestrol as a potent inhibitor of the release of HEV infectious viral particles. This goes along with a strongly reduced HEV capsid protein translation, retention of viral RNA inside the cytoplasm, and without major cytotoxic effects. Interestingly, in parallel silvestrol affects the activity of the antiviral major vault protein (MVP) by translocation from the cytoplasm to the perinuclear membrane. These data further characterize the complex antiviral activity of silvestrol and show silvestrol's broad spectrum of function, since HEV is a virus without complex secondary structures in its genome, but it is still affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirco Glitscher
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.
| | | | - Kathrin Woytinek
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.
| | - Reimar Johne
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andreas Reuter
- Department of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.
| | - Jelena Spiric
- Department of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.
| | - Luisa Schwaben
- Department of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.
| | - Arnold Grünweller
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
| | - Eberhard Hildt
- Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
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43
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Ryll R, Eiden M, Heuser E, Weinhardt M, Ziege M, Höper D, Groschup MH, Heckel G, Johne R, Ulrich RG. Hepatitis E virus in feral rabbits along a rural-urban transect in Central Germany. Infect Genet Evol 2018; 61:155-159. [PMID: 29597055 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit associated genotype 3 hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains were detected in feral, pet and farm rabbits in different parts of the world since 2009 and recently also in human patients. Here, we report a serological and molecular survey on 72 feral rabbits, collected along a rural-urban transect in and next to Frankfurt am Main, Central Germany. ELISA investigations revealed in 25 of 72 (34.7%) animals HEV-specific antibodies. HEV derived RNA was detected in 18 of 72 (25%) animals by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. The complete genomes from two rabbitHEV-strains, one from a rural site and the other from an inner-city area, were generated by a combination of high-throughput sequencing, a primer walking approach and 5'- and 3'- rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Phylogenetic analysis of open reading frame (ORF)1-derived partial and complete ORF1/ORF2 concatenated coding sequences indicated their similarity to rabbit-associated HEV strains. The partial sequences revealed one cluster of closely-related rabbitHEV sequences from the urban trapping sites that is well separated from several clusters representing rabbitHEV sequences from rural trapping sites. The complete genome sequences of the two novel strains indicated similarities of 75.6-86.4% to the other 17 rabbitHEV sequences; the amino acid sequence identity of the concatenated ORF1/ORF2-encoded proteins reached 89.0-93.1%. The detection of rabbitHEV in an inner-city area with a high human population density suggests a high risk of potential human infection with the zoonotic rabbitHEV, either by direct or indirect contact with infected animals. Therefore, future investigations on the occurrence and frequency of human infections with rabbitHEV are warranted in populations with different contact to rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Ryll
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Eiden
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Elisa Heuser
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Markus Weinhardt
- Department of Zoology, State Museum of Natural History, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Madlen Ziege
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Potsdam (Golm), Germany
| | - Dirk Höper
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Gerald Heckel
- University of Bern, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Bern, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Quartier Sorge - Batiment Genopode, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Germany.
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Anheyer-Behmenburg HE, Szabo K, Schotte U, Binder A, Klein G, Johne R. Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boars and Spillover Infection in Red and Roe Deer, Germany, 2013-2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:130-133. [PMID: 27983488 PMCID: PMC5176221 DOI: 10.3201/eid2301.161169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine animal hepatitis E virus (HEV) reservoirs, we analyzed serologic and molecular markers of HEV infection among wild animals in Germany. We detected HEV genotype 3 strains in inner organs and muscle tissues of a high percentage of wild boars and a lower percentage of deer, indicating a risk for foodborne infection of humans.
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van Beek J, de Graaf M, Al-Hello H, Allen DJ, Ambert-Balay K, Botteldoorn N, Brytting M, Buesa J, Cabrerizo M, Chan M, Cloak F, Di Bartolo I, Guix S, Hewitt J, Iritani N, Jin M, Johne R, Lederer I, Mans J, Martella V, Maunula L, McAllister G, Niendorf S, Niesters HG, Podkolzin AT, Poljsak-Prijatelj M, Rasmussen LD, Reuter G, Tuite G, Kroneman A, Vennema H, Koopmans MPG. Molecular surveillance of norovirus, 2005-16: an epidemiological analysis of data collected from the NoroNet network. Lancet Infect Dis 2018; 18:545-553. [PMID: 29396001 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of a vaccine for norovirus requires a detailed understanding of global genetic diversity of noroviruses. We analysed their epidemiology and diversity using surveillance data from the NoroNet network. METHODS We included genetic sequences of norovirus specimens obtained from outbreak investigations and sporadic gastroenteritis cases between 2005 and 2016 in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. We genotyped norovirus sequences and analysed sequences that overlapped at open reading frame (ORF) 1 and ORF2. Additionally, we assessed the sampling date and country of origin of the first reported sequence to assess when and where novel drift variants originated. FINDINGS We analysed 16 635 norovirus sequences submitted between Jan 1, 2005, to Nov 17, 2016, of which 1372 (8·2%) sequences belonged to genotype GI, 15 256 (91·7%) to GII, and seven (<0·1%) to GIV.1. During this period, 26 different norovirus capsid genotypes circulated and 22 different recombinant genomes were found. GII.4 drift variants emerged with 2-3-year periodicity up to 2012, but not afterwards. Instead, the GII.4 Sydney capsid seems to persist through recombination, with a novel recombinant of GII.P16-GII.4 Sydney 2012 variant detected in 2014 in Germany (n=1) and the Netherlands (n=1), and again in 2016 in Japan (n=2), China (n=8), and the Netherlands (n=3). The novel GII.P17-GII.17, first reported in Asia in 2014, has circulated widely in Europe in 2015-16 (GII.P17 made up a highly variable proportion of all sequences in each country [median 11·3%, range 4·2-53·9], as did GII.17 [median 6·3%, range 0-44·5]). GII.4 viruses were more common in outbreaks in health-care settings (2239 [37·2%] of 6022 entries) compared with other genotypes (101 [12·5%] of 809 entries for GI and 263 [13·5%] of 1941 entries for GII non-GII.Pe-GII.4 or GII.P4-GII.4). INTERPRETATION Continuous changes in the global norovirus genetic diversity highlight the need for sustained global norovirus surveillance, including assessment of possible immune escape and evolution by recombination, to provide a full overview of norovirus epidemiology for future vaccine policy decisions. FUNDING European Union's Horizon 2020 grant COMPARE, ZonMw TOP grant, the Virgo Consortium funded by the Dutch Government, and the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janko van Beek
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Miranda de Graaf
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Haider Al-Hello
- Department of Health Security, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David J Allen
- Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London, UK; Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, National Institute for Health Research, UK
| | - Katia Ambert-Balay
- National Reference Centre for Gastroenteritis Viruses, University Hospital of Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France; AgroSup Dijon PAM UMR A 02.102, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Nadine Botteldoorn
- Scientific Service of Foodborne Pathogens, Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mia Brytting
- Microbial Typing Unit, The Public Health Agency of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Javier Buesa
- Viral Gastroenteritis Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Cabrerizo
- Enterovirus and Viral Gastroenteritis Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Translational Research Network in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martin Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Fiona Cloak
- Gastroenteric, Vectorborne and Zoonotic Unit, Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ilaria Di Bartolo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
| | - Susana Guix
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joanne Hewitt
- Norovirus Reference Laboratory, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Porirua, New Zealand
| | - Nobuhiro Iritani
- Department of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan
| | - Miao Jin
- Key Laboratory of Medical Virology and Viral Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China, Beijing, China
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingeborg Lederer
- Reference Centres and Reference Laboratories, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria
| | - Janet Mans
- Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Leena Maunula
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Sandra Niendorf
- Consultant Laboratory for Noroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hubert G Niesters
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Division of Clinical Virology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Alexander T Podkolzin
- RussianFederal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mateja Poljsak-Prijatelj
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lasse Dam Rasmussen
- Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gábor Reuter
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gráinne Tuite
- National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Annelies Kroneman
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Harry Vennema
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Marion P G Koopmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands.
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Van der Poel WHM, Dalton HR, Johne R, Pavio N, Bouwknegt M, Wu T, Cook N, Meng XJ. Knowledge gaps and research priorities in the prevention and control of hepatitis E virus infection. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 65 Suppl 1:22-29. [PMID: 29318757 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV), family Hepeviridae, is a main cause of epidemic hepatitis in developing countries and sporadic and cluster cases of hepatitis in industrialized countries. There are an increasing number of reported cases in humans especially in industrialized countries, and there is a high potential for transboundary spread of zoonotic genotypes of the virus through the transport of pigs, pig products and by-products. Bloodborne transmission of the virus has been reported with a significant medical concern. To better coordinate HEV research and design better control measures of HEV infections in animals, a group of HEV experts reviewed the current knowledge on the disease and considered the existing disease control tools. It was concluded that there is a lack of in-depth information about the spread of the virus from pigs to humans. The role of animals other than pigs in the zoonotic transmission of the virus to humans and the extent of foodborne transmission are poorly understood. Factors involved in development of clinical disease such as infectious dose, susceptibility and virulence of virus strains need to be studied more extensively. However, such studies are greatly hindered by the absence of a broadly applicable, efficient and sensitive in vitro cell culture system for HEV. Diagnostic tools for HEV are available but need to be further validated, harmonized and standardized. Commercially available HEV vaccines for the control of HEV infection in animal populations are needed as such vaccines can minimize the zoonotic risk for humans. Anti-HEV drugs for treatment of HEV-infected patients need to be studied more extensively. The detailed expert review can be downloaded from the project website at http://www.discontools.eu/.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - H R Dalton
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - R Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BFR), Berlin, Germany
| | - N Pavio
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Paris, France
| | | | - T Wu
- School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - N Cook
- Jorvik Food and Environmental Virology Ltd, York, UK
| | - X J Meng
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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47
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Pavio N, Doceul V, Bagdassarian E, Johne R. Recent knowledge on hepatitis E virus in Suidae reservoirs and transmission routes to human. Vet Res 2017; 48:78. [PMID: 29157309 PMCID: PMC5696788 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-017-0483-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes self-limiting acute hepatitis in humans that can eventually result in acute liver failures or progress to chronic infections. While in tropical and sub-tropical areas, HEV infections are associated with important waterborne epidemics, in Northern countries, HEV infections are autochthonous with a zoonotic origin. In the past decade, it has become clear that certain HEV genotypes are zoonotic and that swine, and more generally Suidae, are the main reservoir. Zoonotic transmissions of the virus may occur via direct contact with infected pigs, wild boars or consumption of contaminated meat. This review describes the current knowledge on domestic and wild Suidae as reservoirs of HEV and the evidence of the different routes of HEV transmission between these animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Pavio
- Animal Health Laboratory, UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France
- UMR 1161 Virology, INRA, Maisons-Alfort, France
- UMR 1161 Virology, PRES University Paris 12, National Veterinary School, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Virginie Doceul
- Animal Health Laboratory, UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France
- UMR 1161 Virology, INRA, Maisons-Alfort, France
- UMR 1161 Virology, PRES University Paris 12, National Veterinary School, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eugénie Bagdassarian
- Animal Health Laboratory, UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France
- UMR 1161 Virology, INRA, Maisons-Alfort, France
- UMR 1161 Virology, PRES University Paris 12, National Veterinary School, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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48
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Spahr C, Knauf-Witzens T, Vahlenkamp T, Ulrich RG, Johne R. Hepatitis E virus and related viruses in wild, domestic and zoo animals: A review. Zoonoses Public Health 2017; 65:11-29. [PMID: 28944602 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E is a human disease mainly characterized by acute liver illness, which is caused by infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). Large hepatitis E outbreaks have been described in developing countries; however, the disease is also increasingly recognized in industrialized countries. Mortality rates up to 25% have been described for pregnant women during outbreaks in developing countries. In addition, chronic disease courses could be observed in immunocompromised transplant patients. Whereas the HEV genotypes 1 and 2 are mainly confined to humans, genotypes 3 and 4 are also found in animals and can be zoonotically transmitted to humans. Domestic pig and wild boar represent the most important reservoirs for these genotypes. A distinct subtype of genotype 3 has been repeatedly detected in rabbits and a few human patients. Recently, HEV genotype 7 has been identified in dromedary camels and in an immunocompromised transplant patient. The reservoir animals get infected with HEV without showing any clinical symptoms. Besides these well-known animal reservoirs, HEV-specific antibodies and/or the genome of HEV or HEV-related viruses have also been detected in many other animal species, including primates, other mammals and birds. In particular, genotypes 3 and 4 infections are documented in many domestic, wildlife and zoo animal species. In most cases, the presence of HEV in these animals can be explained by spillover infections, but a risk of virus transmission through contact with humans cannot be excluded. This review gives a general overview on the transmission pathways of HEV to humans. It particularly focuses on reported serological and molecular evidence of infections in wild, domestic and zoo animals with HEV or HEV-related viruses. The role of these animals for transmission of HEV to humans and other animals is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Spahr
- Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Gardens, Stuttgart, Germany.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - T Vahlenkamp
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Virology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - R G Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - R Johne
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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49
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Cook N, D'Agostino M, Johne R. Potential Approaches to Assess the Infectivity of Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Products: A Review. Food Environ Virol 2017; 9:243-255. [PMID: 28470455 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-017-9303-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E, caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), is an emerging issue. HEV appears common in pigs (although infected pigs do not show clinical signs), and evidence suggests that a number of hepatitis E cases have been associated with the consumption of undercooked pork meat and products. Little information is available on whether cooking can eliminate HEV, since there is currently no robust method for measuring its infectivity. HEV infectivity can be clearly demonstrated by monitoring for signs of infection (e.g., shedding of virus) in an animal model. However, this approach has several disadvantages, such as lack of reproducibility and unsuitability for performing large numbers of tests, high costs, and not least ethical considerations. Growth in cell culture can unambiguously show that a virus is infectious and has the potential for replication, without the disadvantages of using animals. Large numbers of tests can also be performed, which can make the results more amenable to statistical interpretation. However, no HEV cell culture system has been shown to be applicable to all HEV strains, none has been standardized, and few studies have demonstrated their use for measurement of HEV infectivity in food samples. Nonetheless, cell culture remains the most promising approach, and the main recommendation of this review is that there should be an extensive research effort to develop and validate a cell culture-based method for assessing HEV infectivity in pork products. Systems comprising promising cell lines and HEV strains which can grow well in cell culture should be tested to select an assay for effective and reliable measurement of HEV infectivity over a wide range of virus concentrations. The assay should then be harnessed to a procedure which can extract HEV from pork products, to produce a method suitable for further use. The method can then be used to determine the effect of heat or other elimination processes on HEV in pork meat and products, or to assess whether HEV detected in any surveyed foodstuffs is infectious and therefore poses a risk to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Cook
- Fera Science Ltd., Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK.
- Jorvik Food and Environmental Virology Ltd., York, UK.
| | - Martin D'Agostino
- Fera Science Ltd., Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK
- Campden BRI, Chipping Campden, UK
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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50
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Ricci A, Allende A, Bolton D, Chemaly M, Davies R, Fernandez Escamez PS, Herman L, Koutsoumanis K, Lindqvist R, Nørrung B, Robertson L, Ru G, Sanaa M, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Snary E, Speybroeck N, Ter Kuile B, Threlfall J, Wahlström H, Di Bartolo I, Johne R, Pavio N, Rutjes S, van der Poel W, Vasickova P, Hempen M, Messens W, Rizzi V, Latronico F, Girones R. Public health risks associated with hepatitis E virus (HEV) as a food-borne pathogen. EFSA J 2017; 15:e04886. [PMID: 32625551 PMCID: PMC7010180 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important infection in humans in EU/EEA countries, and over the last 10 years more than 21,000 acute clinical cases with 28 fatalities have been notified with an overall 10-fold increase in reported HEV cases; the majority (80%) of cases were reported from France, Germany and the UK. However, as infection in humans is not notifiable in all Member States, and surveillance differs between countries, the number of reported cases is not comparable and the true number of cases would probably be higher. Food-borne transmission of HEV appears to be a major route in Europe; pigs and wild boars are the main source of HEV. Outbreaks and sporadic cases have been identified in immune-competent persons as well as in recognised risk groups such as those with pre-existing liver damage, immunosuppressive illness or receiving immunosuppressive treatments. The opinion reviews current methods for the detection, identification, characterisation and tracing of HEV in food-producing animals and foods, reviews literature on HEV reservoirs and food-borne pathways, examines information on the epidemiology of HEV and its occurrence and persistence in foods, and investigates possible control measures along the food chain. Presently, the only efficient control option for HEV infection from consumption of meat, liver and products derived from animal reservoirs is sufficient heat treatment. The development of validated quantitative and qualitative detection methods, including infectivity assays and consensus molecular typing protocols, is required for the development of quantitative microbial risk assessments and efficient control measures. More research on the epidemiology and control of HEV in pig herds is required in order to minimise the proportion of pigs that remain viraemic or carry high levels of virus in intestinal contents at the time of slaughter. Consumption of raw pig, wild boar and deer meat products should be avoided.
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