title: Serological evidence of infection with hepatitis E virus among wild Yezo-deer, Cervus nippon yesoensis, in Hokkaido, Japan.
abstract: In this study, 520 serum samples from Yezo-deer in the Hidaka district, Hokkaido, Japan were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate whether the animals were infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV). The distribution of optical density values showed a bimodal pattern and 181 samples (34.8%) were deemed to be antibody-positive against HEV. At least five (2.8%) of the positive sera gave specific bands by Western blot analysis. An age-dependent increase in prevalence of the antibodies was found among the animals. These findings indicate that Yezo-deer are a possible host for HEV infection. To avoid the risk of becoming HEV infected, the consumption of raw Yezo-deer meat must be prohibited.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomiyama
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okazaki
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D003670:Deer; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies