title: Effect of swine hepatitis E virus on the livers of experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils by swine hepatitis E virus.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that hepatitis E virus (HEV) can be transmitted between rats, pigs, cattle, rabbits, chicken, cats, and deer. Because wild and domestic rodents have anti-HEV antibodies, they are considered potential reservoirs of HEV. In the current study, Mongolian gerbils were experimentally infected with swine hepatitis E virus and the effects of this infection were investigated. After inoculation with HEV, the liver-to-body weight ratio increased at 7 dpi. Mongolian gerbils demonstrated significant increase (p<0.05) in Aspartate Transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and total bilirubin (T-BIL) concentrations in the sera, and HEV IgG was detected at 21 days post-inoculation (dpi). Real-time PCR revealed that the copies of HEV RNA in the liver were detected at 7 dpi, and peaked at 28 dpi at a concentration of 7.73 logs g(-1). Using both light and electron microscopy, hepatic lesions were observed in the HEV inoculated animals. In the experimental group, characteristic viral hepatitis lesions were prominent in the liver. HEV antigen was detected in the liver by immunohistochemistry, and HEV ORF3 antigen was detectable in liver by Western blot. These results clearly demonstrate that viral load of HEV in livers was dynamic, and ultrastructural hepatic injury in HEV infected Mongolian gerbils and anti-HEV IgG positive seroconversion were observed during infection.
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China. Electronic address: yangyifei1987@163.com.
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: ruihan6005@163.com.
authors.forename: Ruihan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: sheruiping@126.com.
authors.forename: Ruiping
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: She
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: majidsoomro@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Majid Hussain
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Soomro
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; National Shanghai Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation Research Center, Shanghai 201203, China. Electronic address: rabbit4232@163.com.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: zizhoudufang@126.com.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: tsukimoon@126.com.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Lab of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: liucan009@126.com.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies
keywords: Hepatitis E virus; Lesion; Liver; Mongolian gerbil