The diagnosis and molecular epidemiology investigation of avian hepatitis E in Shandong province, China

Kuihao Liu; Yiran Zhao; Jun Zhao; Ningwei Geng; Fanliang Meng; Siqi Wang; Jing Li; Zhaobing Zhong; Liya Zhu; Sidang Liu; Ning Li

doi:10.1186/s12917-021-03079-2

BMC Veterinary Research (Jan 2022)

The diagnosis and molecular epidemiology investigation of avian hepatitis E in Shandong province, China

Kuihao Liu,
Yiran Zhao,
Jun Zhao,
Ningwei Geng,
Fanliang Meng,
Siqi Wang,
Jing Li,
Zhaobing Zhong,
Liya Zhu,
Sidang Liu,
Ning Li

Affiliations

Kuihao Liu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Yiran Zhao: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Jun Zhao: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Ningwei Geng: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Fanliang Meng: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Siqi Wang: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Jing Li: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Zhaobing Zhong: Taian Daiyue District Administrative Examination and Approval Service Bureau
Liya Zhu: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service Centre of Linshu
Sidang Liu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention
Ning Li: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-03079-2
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the pathogenic agent of big liver and spleen disease (BLS) and of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in chickens, which have caused economic losses to the poultry industry in China. In this study, 18 samples of BLS chickens were collected to reveal the molecular epidemiological characteristics of avian HEV in the province of Shandong, China. Results Gross and microscopic lesions of clinical samples were observed; then, virology detection and genetic analysis of avian HEV were performed. The results showed that there was significant swelling and rupture in the liver and that the spleen was enlarged. Microscopic lesions demonstrated obvious hemorrhage in the liver, with infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes, lymphocytes, and macrophages, as well as the reduction of lymphocytes in the spleen. Eleven of the 18 samples were positive for avian HEV, with a positive rate of 61.11%. More importantly, all avian HEV-positive samples were mixed infections: among these, the mixed infections of avian HEV and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) and avian HEV and fowl adenovirus (FAdV) were the most common. Furthermore, the genetic evolution analysis showed that all avian HEV strains obtained here did not belong to the reported 4 genotypes, thus constituting a potential novel genotype. Conclusions These results of this study further enrich the epidemiological data on avian HEV in Shandong, prove the genetic diversity of avian HEV in China, and uncover the complex mixed infections of avian HEV clinical samples.

Published in BMC Veterinary Research

ISSN: 1746-6148 (Online)
Publisher: BMC
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine
Website: http://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com

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