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. 2017 Feb;64(1):137-143.
doi: 10.1111/tbed.12353. Epub 2015 Apr 19.

Presence of Hepatitis E Virus in a RED Deer (Cervus elaphus) Population in Central Italy

I Di Bartolo  1 , E Ponterio  1 , G Angeloni  1 , F Morandi  2 , F Ostanello  3 , S Nicoloso  4 , F M Ruggeri  1
Affiliations

Presence of Hepatitis E Virus in a RED Deer (Cervus elaphus) Population in Central Italy

I Di Bartolo et al. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Hepatitis E is an acute human disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). In addition to humans, HEV has been detected in several animal species and is recognized as a zoonotic pathogen. Pigs, wild boar and deer can be reservoir. In this study, we evaluated HEV prevalence in a free-living red deer (Cervus elaphus) population in central Italy by detecting virus-specific antibodies and RNA in sera. A total of 35 of 251 red deer sera were positive for anti-HEV IgG. HEV RNA was detected in 10 of 91 sera examined. Two genomic fragments targeted by diagnostic PCRs in the capsid region were sequenced, both matching with genotype 3 HEV. Overall results confirmed the occurrence of HEV infection in deer also in Italy.

Keywords: Zoonoses; anti-HEV IgG; genotype 3; hepatitis E; red deer.

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