Serological evidence of infection with rodent-borne hepatitis E virus HEV-C1          or antigenically related virus in humans

Kenta SHIMIZU; Sugihiro HAMAGUCHI; Cuong Chi NGO; Tian-Cheng LI; Shuji ANDO; Kumiko YOSHIMATSU; Shumpei P. YASUDA; Takaaki KOMA; Rie ISOZUMI; Yoshimi TSUDA; Hiromi FUJITA; Thuy Thanh PHAM; Mai Quynh LE; Anh Duc DANG; Tuan Quang NGUYEN; Lay-Myint YOSHIDA; Koya ARIYOSHI; Jiro ARIKAWA

doi:10.1292/jvms.16-0200

Public Health

Serological evidence of infection with rodent-borne hepatitis E virus HEV-C1 or antigenically related virus in humans

Kenta SHIMIZU, Sugihiro HAMAGUCHI, Cuong Chi NGO, Tian-Cheng LI, Shuji ANDO, Kumiko YOSHIMATSU, Shumpei P. YASUDA, Takaaki KOMA, Rie ISOZUMI, Yoshimi TSUDA, Hiromi FUJITA, Thuy Thanh PHAM, Mai Quynh LE, Anh Duc DANG, Tuan Quang NGUYEN, Lay-Myint YOSHIDA, Koya ARIYOSHI, Jiro ARIKAWA

Author information

Kenta SHIMIZU
Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–8638, Japan
Sugihiro HAMAGUCHI
Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1–12–4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852–8523, Japan
Cuong Chi NGO
Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1–12–4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852–8523, Japan
Tian-Cheng LI
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4–7–1 Gakuen, Musashi-murayama, Tokyo 208–0011, Japan
Shuji ANDO
Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1–23–1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162–8640, Japan
Kumiko YOSHIMATSU
Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–8638, Japan
Shumpei P. YASUDA
Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–8638, Japan
Takaaki KOMA
Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–8638, Japan
Rie ISOZUMI
Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–8638, Japan
Yoshimi TSUDA
Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–8638, Japan
Hiromi FUJITA
Mahara Institute of Medical Acarology, 56–3 Korekuni, Aratano, Anan, Tokushima 779–1510, Japan
Thuy Thanh PHAM
Bach Mai Hospital, 78 Giai Phong Street, Hanoi 844, Vietnam
Mai Quynh LE
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 1 Yersin Street, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
Anh Duc DANG
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 1 Yersin Street, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
Tuan Quang NGUYEN
Bach Mai Hospital, 78 Giai Phong Street, Hanoi 844, Vietnam
Lay-Myint YOSHIDA
Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1–12–4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852–8523, Japan
Koya ARIYOSHI
Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1–12–4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852–8523, Japan
Jiro ARIKAWA
Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–8638, Japan

Keywords: antibody, hepatitis E virus, immunodiagnosis, rat, zoonosis

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2016 Volume 78 Issue 11 Pages 1677-1681

DOI https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.16-0200

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Abstract

Zoonotic potential of a rat-derived hepatitis E virus (HEV), designated as HEV-C1, remains unknown. To evaluate the risk for HEV-C1 infection in humans, paired sera of 208 hospitalized febrile patients collected from 2001 to 2003 in Hanoi, Vietnam, were examined for IgG antibodies to HEV-C1 and genotype 1 HEV (HEV-1), which is common in humans. IgG antibodies to virus-like particles (VLPs) of HEV-C1 and/or HEV-1 were detected from 99 of the 208 convalescent sera in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgG antibody titers to HEV-C1 antigen in 3 of the 99 sera were more than 8-fold higher than those to HEV-1 antigen. IgM antibodies to HEV-C1 antigen were detected in acute sera from 2 of the 3 patients in ELISA and Western blotting. However, no HEV genome was detected. Clinical information was available for 1 of the 2 patients. Hepatic enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, were mildly elevated (156 IU/l and 68 IU/l, respectively), and hepatomegaly was detected by ultrasonography. The patient recovered from the illness after 17 days. These results indicated that HEV-C1 or its variants infect humans in Vietnam and may cause acute febrile illness with mild liver dysfunction.

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