First description of hepatitis E virus in Australian rabbits

M. Jenckel; R. N. Hall; T. Strive

doi:10.1111/avj.13073

First description of hepatitis E virus in Australian rabbits

M. Jenckel
, R. N. Hall
, T. Strive

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the first detection of hepatitis E virus in rabbits in Australia. While conducting metatranscriptomic sequencing of liver samples collected from domestic rabbits that had died, we detected hepatitis E virus in three samples. Two viral genome sequences were obtained, which shared 96% nucleotide identity and clustered with hepatitis E strains isolated from rabbits and humans in Europe. This raises a potential public health risk in Australia, as the abundance of wild rabbits and the increasing popularity of domestic rabbits as pets represent a substantial human/rabbit interface to allow for potential zoonotic infections to occur.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	356-358
Number of pages	3
Journal	Australian Veterinary Journal
Volume	99
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13073
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1111/avj.13073

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title = "First description of hepatitis E virus in Australian rabbits",

abstract = "We report the first detection of hepatitis E virus in rabbits in Australia. While conducting metatranscriptomic sequencing of liver samples collected from domestic rabbits that had died, we detected hepatitis E virus in three samples. Two viral genome sequences were obtained, which shared 96\% nucleotide identity and clustered with hepatitis E strains isolated from rabbits and humans in Europe. This raises a potential public health risk in Australia, as the abundance of wild rabbits and the increasing popularity of domestic rabbits as pets represent a substantial human/rabbit interface to allow for potential zoonotic infections to occur.",

keywords = "HEV, human wildlife interface, metatranscriptomics, rabbits, virus discovery, zoonoses",

author = "M. Jenckel and Hall, \{R. N.\} and T. Strive",

note = "Funding Information: The project was co-funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (P.PSH.1059) and CSIRO. Rabbit samples were obtained through a project funded by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (P01-B-002). Funding Information: The project was co‐funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (P.PSH.1059) and CSIRO. Rabbit samples were obtained through a project funded by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (P01‐B‐002). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Australian Veterinary Association.",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1111/avj.13073",

language = "English",

volume = "99",

pages = "356--358",

journal = "Australian Veterinary Journal",

issn = "0005-0423",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "8",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - First description of hepatitis E virus in Australian rabbits

AU - Jenckel, M.

AU - Hall, R. N.

AU - Strive, T.

N1 - Funding Information: The project was co-funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (P.PSH.1059) and CSIRO. Rabbit samples were obtained through a project funded by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (P01-B-002). Funding Information: The project was co‐funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (P.PSH.1059) and CSIRO. Rabbit samples were obtained through a project funded by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (P01‐B‐002). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Australian Veterinary Association.

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - We report the first detection of hepatitis E virus in rabbits in Australia. While conducting metatranscriptomic sequencing of liver samples collected from domestic rabbits that had died, we detected hepatitis E virus in three samples. Two viral genome sequences were obtained, which shared 96% nucleotide identity and clustered with hepatitis E strains isolated from rabbits and humans in Europe. This raises a potential public health risk in Australia, as the abundance of wild rabbits and the increasing popularity of domestic rabbits as pets represent a substantial human/rabbit interface to allow for potential zoonotic infections to occur.

AB - We report the first detection of hepatitis E virus in rabbits in Australia. While conducting metatranscriptomic sequencing of liver samples collected from domestic rabbits that had died, we detected hepatitis E virus in three samples. Two viral genome sequences were obtained, which shared 96% nucleotide identity and clustered with hepatitis E strains isolated from rabbits and humans in Europe. This raises a potential public health risk in Australia, as the abundance of wild rabbits and the increasing popularity of domestic rabbits as pets represent a substantial human/rabbit interface to allow for potential zoonotic infections to occur.

KW - HEV

KW - human wildlife interface

KW - metatranscriptomics

KW - rabbits

KW - virus discovery

KW - zoonoses

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85105368646

U2 - 10.1111/avj.13073

DO - 10.1111/avj.13073

M3 - Comment/debate

SN - 0005-0423

VL - 99

SP - 356

EP - 358

JO - Australian Veterinary Journal

JF - Australian Veterinary Journal

IS - 8

ER -

First description of hepatitis E virus in Australian rabbits

Abstract

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