PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis worldwide. Pigs are the natural host of HEV genotype 3 and the main reservoir of HEV. As the host range of HEV genotype 3 expands, the possibility that HEV from various species can be transmitted to humans via pigs is increasing. We investigated the potential cross-species transmission of HEV by infecting minipigs with swine HEV (swHEV), rabbit HEV (rbHEV), and human HEV (huHEV) and examining their histopathological characteristics and distribution in various organs. Fifteen specific-pathogen-free Yucatan minipigs were infected with swHEV, rbHEV, huHEV, or a mock control. In the present study, we analysed faecal shedding, viremia, and serological parameters over a seven-week period. Our results indicated that swHEV exhibited more robust shedding and viremia than non-swHEVs. Only swHEV affected the serological parameters, suggesting strain-specific differences. Histopathological examination revealed distinct patterns in the liver, pancreas, intestine, and lymphoid tissues after infection with each HEV strain. Notably, all three HEVs induced histopathological changes in the pancreas, supporting the association of HEVs with acute pancreatitis. Our results also identified skeletal muscle as a site of HEV antigen presence, suggesting a potential link to myositis. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the infection dynamics of different HEV strains in minipigs, emphasizing the strain-specific variations in virological, serological, and histological parameters. The observed differences in infection kinetics and tissue tropism will contribute to our understanding of HEV pathogenesis and the potential for cross-species transmission.
摘要：
戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）是世界范围内病毒性肝炎的主要病因。猪是3型HEV的天然宿主,也是HEV的主要宿主。随着HEV基因型3的宿主范围扩大，来自各种物种的HEV可以通过猪传播给人类的可能性正在增加。我们通过用猪HEV（swHEV）感染小型猪，调查了HEV的潜在跨物种传播。兔HEV（rbHEV），和人类HEV（huHEV），并检查其组织病理学特征和在各个器官中的分布。15只无特定病原体的尤卡坦小型猪感染了swHEV，rbHEV,huHEV,或者模拟控制。在本研究中,我们分析了粪便脱落，病毒血症,和七周的血清学参数。我们的结果表明，swHEV比非swHEV表现出更强烈的脱落和病毒血症。只有swHEV影响血清学参数,表明菌株特异性差异。组织病理学检查显示肝脏有不同的模式，胰腺,肠,和每个HEV菌株感染后的淋巴组织。值得注意的是,所有三种HEV都会引起胰腺的组织病理学变化，支持HEV与急性胰腺炎的关联。我们的结果还确定骨骼肌是HEV抗原存在的部位，提示与肌炎有潜在联系.总之,这项研究为不同HEV菌株在小型猪中的感染动态提供了有价值的见解，强调病毒学中的菌株特异性变化，血清学,和组织学参数。观察到的感染动力学和组织嗜性的差异将有助于我们对HEV发病机理和跨物种传播潜力的理解。
