Viruses (Jan 2023)

Detection of Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 in Feces of Capybaras (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris) in Brazil

  • Lia Cunha,
  • Adriana Luchs,
  • Lais S. Azevedo,
  • Vanessa C. M. Silva,
  • Marcilio F. Lemos,
  • Antonio C. Costa,
  • Adriana P. Compri,
  • Yasmin França,
  • Ellen Viana,
  • Fernanda Malta,
  • Roberta S. Medeiros,
  • Raquel Guiducci,
  • Simone G. Morillo,
  • Michele S. Gomes-Gouvea,
  • Deyvid Amgarten,
  • João R. R. Pinho,
  • Regina C. Moreira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020335
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 2
p. 335

Abstract

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Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen associated with relevant public health issues. The aim of this study was to investigate HEV presence in free-living capybaras inhabiting urban parks in São Paulo state, Brazil. Molecular characterization of HEV positive samples was undertaken to elucidate the genetic diversity of the virus in these animals. A total of 337 fecal samples were screened for HEV using RT-qPCR and further confirmed by conventional nested RT-PCR. HEV genotype and subtype were determined using Sanger and next-generation sequencing. HEV was detected in one specimen (0.3%) and assigned as HEV-3f. The IAL-HEV_921 HEV-3f strain showed a close relationship to European swine, wild boar and human strains (90.7–93.2% nt), suggesting an interspecies transmission. Molecular epidemiology of HEV is poorly investigated in Brazil; subtype 3f has been reported in swine. This is the first report of HEV detected in capybara stool samples worldwide.

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