Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatitis E Viruses from Mongooses in Okinawa, Japan

Minoru NIDAIRA; Kazuaki TAKAHASHI; Go OGURA; Katsuya TAIRA; Shou OKANO; Jun KUDAKA; Kiyomasa ITOKAZU; Shunji MISHIRO; Masaji NAKAMURA

doi:10.1292/jvms.11-0520

Public Health

Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatitis E Viruses from Mongooses in Okinawa, Japan

Minoru NIDAIRA, Kazuaki TAKAHASHI, Go OGURA, Katsuya TAIRA, Shou OKANO, Jun KUDAKA, Kiyomasa ITOKAZU, Shunji MISHIRO, Masaji NAKAMURA

Author information

Minoru NIDAIRA
Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjo, Okinawa 901–1202, Japan
Kazuaki TAKAHASHI
Department of Medical Sciences, Toshiba General Hospital, 6–3–22 Higashi Oh-i, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140–8522, Japan
Go OGURA
Laboratory of Subtropical Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of The Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903–0213, Japan
Katsuya TAIRA
Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjo, Okinawa 901–1202, Japan
Shou OKANO
Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjo, Okinawa 901–1202, Japan
Jun KUDAKA
Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjo, Okinawa 901–1202, Japan
Kiyomasa ITOKAZU
Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjo, Okinawa 901–1202, Japan
Shunji MISHIRO
Department of Medical Sciences, Toshiba General Hospital, 6–3–22 Higashi Oh-i, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140–8522, Japan
Masaji NAKAMURA
Okinawa Prefectural Chuo Meat Inspection Center, 2015 Ozato, Nanjo, Okinawa 901–1202, Japan

Keywords: hepatitis E virus, mongoose, Okinawa, phylogenetic analysis

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2012 Volume 74 Issue 12 Pages 1665-1668

DOI https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.11-0520

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Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has previously been reported in wild mongooses on Okinawa Island; to date however, only one HEV RNA sequence has been identified in a mongoose. Hence, this study was performed to detect HEV RNA in 209 wild mongooses on Okinawa Island. Six (2.9%) samples tested positive for HEV RNA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 6 HEV RNAs belonged to genotype 3 and were classified into groups A and B. In group B, mongoose-derived HEV sequences were very similar to mongoose HEV previously detected on Okinawa Island, as well as to those of a pig. This investigation emphasized the possibility that the mongoose is a reservoir animal for HEV on Okinawa Island.

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