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The Journal of general virology2014; 95(Pt 8); 1701-1711; doi: 10.1099/vir.0.065094-0

Viraemic frequencies and seroprevalence of non-primate hepacivirus and equine pegiviruses in horses and other mammalian species.

Abstract: Non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV), equine pegivirus (EPgV) and Theiler's disease associated virus (TDAV) are newly discovered members of two genera in the Flaviviridae family, Hepacivirus and Pegivirus respectively, that include human hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human pegivirus (HPgV). To investigate their epidemiology, persistence and clinical features of infection, large cohorts of horses and other mammalian species were screened for NPHV, EPgV and TDAV viraemia and for past exposure through serological assays for NPHV and EPgV-specific antibodies. NPHV antibodies were detected in 43% of 328 horses screened for antibodies to NS3 and core antibodies, of which three were viraemic by PCR. All five horses that were stablemates of a viraemic horse were seropositive, as was a dog on the same farm. With this single exception, all other species were negative for NPHV antibodies and viraemia: donkeys (n=100), dogs (n=112), cats (n=131), non-human primates (n=164) and humans (n=362). EPgV antibodies to NS3 were detected in 66.5% of horses, including 10 of the 12 horses that had EPgV viraemia. All donkey samples were negative for EPgV antibody and RNA. All horse and donkey samples were negative for TDAV RNA. By comparing viraemia frequencies in horses with and without liver disease, no evidence was obtained that supported an association between active NPHV and EPgV infections with hepatopathy. The study demonstrates that NPHV and EPgV infections are widespread and enzootic in the study horse population and confirms that NPHV and potentially EPgV have higher frequencies of viral clearance than HCV and HPgV infections in humans.
© 2014 The Authors.
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Publication Date: 2014-05-09 PubMed ID: 24814924DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.065094-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the prevalence and clinical features associated with non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV) and equine pegivirus (EPgV) infections in horses and other mammals. The study did not find evidence of these viral infections contributing to liver disease in horses, though both infections were found to be widespread among the study’s horse population.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers studied two relatively new identified viruses from the Flaviviridae family – non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV) and equine pegivirus (EPgV).
  • Large cohorts of various mammalian species, including horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, non-human primates, and humans, were sampled to evaluate the prevalence of NPHV, EPgV, and Theiler’s disease associated virus (TDAV).
  • The animals were both tested for current viraemia (the presence of viruses in the blood) and serological assays for past exposure.

Main Findings

  • The researchers found that antibodies for NPHV were detected in 43% of 328 horses. However, viraemia by PCR was only confirmed in three of these horses.
  • All five horses that were stablemates of a viraemic horse were seropositive, as was a dog on the same farm.
  • Except for the previously mentioned dog, all other species tested negative for NPHV antibodies and viraemia.
  • EPgV-specific antibodies were detected in 66.5% of horses, including 10 out of the 12 horses that had EPgV viraemia. All donkey samples were negative for both EPgV antibodies and RNA.
  • All horse and donkey samples tested negative for TDAV RNA.
  • The researchers found no evidence indicating an association between active NPHV and EPgV infections with hepatopathy (liver disease), by comparing viraemia frequencies in horses with and without liver disease.

Conclusions

  • The study demonstrates that NPHV and EPgV infections are widespread and enzootic (prevalent in certain populations but not common to all) among the horse population.
  • The research also confirms that both NPHV and potentially EPgV have higher frequencies of viral clearance than HCV and HPgV infections in humans. This implies that horses have a more effective immune response in clearing these viruses compared to humans who are infected with related viruses.

Cite This Article

APA
Lyons S, Kapoor A, Schneider BS, Wolfe ND, Culshaw G, Corcoran B, Durham AE, Burden F, McGorum BC, Simmonds P. (2014). Viraemic frequencies and seroprevalence of non-primate hepacivirus and equine pegiviruses in horses and other mammalian species. J Gen Virol, 95(Pt 8), 1701-1711. https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.065094-0

Publication

The Journal of general virology
ISSN: 1465-2099
NlmUniqueID: 0077340
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 95
Issue: Pt 8
Pages: 1701-1711

Researcher Affiliations

Lyons, Sinéad
  • Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, UK.
Kapoor, Amit
  • Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Schneider, Bradley S
  • Metabiota, 1 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA.
Wolfe, Nathan D
  • Metabiota, 1 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA.
Culshaw, Geoff
  • Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, UK.
Corcoran, Brendan
  • Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, UK.
Durham, Andy E
  • Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, Hampshire, UK.
Burden, Faith
  • The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, UK.
McGorum, Bruce C
  • Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, UK.
Simmonds, Peter
  • Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Dog Diseases / epidemiology
  • Dog Diseases / virology
  • Dogs
  • Flaviviridae / immunology
  • Flaviviridae / isolation & purification
  • Flaviviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Flaviviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Flaviviridae Infections / virology
  • Flavivirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Flavivirus Infections / veterinary
  • Flavivirus Infections / virology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Viremia / epidemiology

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This article has been cited 35 times.
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