*****This may especially be a useful heads up for shelters and their
vets, but also useful for others if a ferret develops liver
illness.*****
HEV (which is a specific form of hepatitis called Hepatitis e that
is caused by a specific virus) in ferrets in the Netherlands:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22840220
BEGIN ABSTRACT
Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Aug;18(8):1369-70. doi: 10.3201/eid1808.111659.
Novel hepatitis e virus in ferrets, the Netherlands.
Raj VS, Smits SL, Pas SD, Provacia LB, Moorman-Roest H, Osterhaus AD,
Haagmans BL.
Abstract
TO THE EDITOR: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a member of the family
Hepeviridae and the genus Hepevirus, is transmitted by the fecal-oral
route and causes liver inflammation, which leads to mortality rates of
<=20% in pregnant woman (1,2). Human hepatitis E is a major disease
not only in developing countries but also in industrialized countries,
and identification of animal strains of HEV in pigs and deer and its
zoonotic potential has raised considerable public health concerns
(1,3). Recent reports suggest that other animals such as rats,
mongooses, chickens, rabbits, and trout also may harbor HEVs (1-5). The
genomes of these viruses are [approxmately] 6.6 kb-7.2 kb and encode
3 open reading frames (ORFs) flanked by a capped 5' end and a poly
A tail at the 3' end (1,3). We used random PCR amplification and
high-throughput sequencing technology to investigate HEVsequences in
ferrets (Mustela putorius) from the Netherlands.
END ABSTRACT
With more being learned about HEV, Hepatitis e which is a specific
emerging viral liver disease, I will also carry this to the FML but
people there should also read the previous two posts in the FHL link
given if they have not yet read those posts and links.
I got curious about two questions that might impact ferret health in
relation to this:
1. Can the infection risk be changed with different food choices or
different preparation? (Note in above abstract rats, rabbits, chickens,
trouts, mongooses.)
2. What other animals have been found to be able to have this? I know
already that it has been found in humans, in dogs, and in cats as well
as in ferrets now, so I wanted to see what other animals have had it,
carried it, even transmitted it. (Again, also note in abstract above
chicken, trout, rat, rabbit, mongoose.)
IMPORTANT: Note that pork liver is a known transmission food and
undercooked pork is also mentioned as a source in studies, and note
that sufficient cooking DOES inactivate this serious virus. 71'C is
160'F: "Results show that heating the food to an internal temperature
of 71C for 20 min is necessary to completely inactivate HEV.
Raw seafood, oysters in one study, is mentioned as a possible way to
contract HEV in a study.
Note, too, that perhaps it can be gotten from raw rabbit, raw rat, etc.:
"The identification and characterization of a number of animal strains
of HEV from pigs, chickens, rabbits, rats, mongoose, deer, and possibly
cattle and sheep have significantly broadened the host range and
diversity of HEV."
and
"Pigs are a recognized reservoir for HEV, and pig handlers are at
increased risk of zoonotic HEV infection. Sporadic cases of hepatitis E
have been definitively linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked
animal meats such as pig livers, sausages, and deer meats. In addition,
since large amounts of viruses excreted in feces, animal manure land
application and runoffs can contaminate irrigation and drinking water
with concomitant contamination of produce or shellfish. HEV RNA of
swine origin has been detected in swine manure, sewage water and
oysters, and consumption of contaminated shellfish has also been
implicated in sporadic cases of hepatitis E."
BEGIN QUOTES ABOUT FOOD PREP AND CHOICES TO AFFECT RATES OF HEV
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012 Aug;78(15):5153-9. Epub 2012 May 18.
Thermal inactivation of infectious hepatitis e virus in experimentally
contaminated food.
Barnaud E, Rogee S, Garry P, Rose N, Pavio N.
Source
UMR 1161 Virology, Anses, Laboratoire de Sante Animale,
Maisons-Alfort, France.
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection of zoonotic origin is an emerging
concern in industrialized countries. In the past few years, several
cases of zoonotic hepatitis E have been identified and the consumption
of food products derived from pork liver have been associated with
clusters of human cases. More specifically, raw or undercooked pork
products have been incriminated. Few data on the effect of heating on
HEV inactivation in food products are available. In the present study,
the various times and temperatures that are used during industrial
processing of pork products were applied to experimentally contaminated
food preparations. After treatment, the presence of residual infectious
virus particles was investigated using real-time reverse
transcription-PCR and an in vivo experimental model in pigs. Results
show that heating the food to an internal temperature of 71C for 20
min is necessary to completely inactivate HEV. These results are very
important for determining processing methods to ensure food safety in
regard to food-borne hepatitis E.
PMID: 22610436 [PubMed - in process]
J Gen Virol. 2011 Jul;92(Pt 7):1617-26. Epub 2011 Apr 6.
Hepatitis E virus in Italy: molecular analysis of travel-related and
autochthonous cases.
La Rosa G, Muscillo M, Vennarucci VS, Garbuglia AR, La Scala P,
Capobianchi MR.
Source
Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Department of Environment and Primary
Prevention, Rome, Italy.
Partial Abstract
Human hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emerging pathogen in
industrialized countries...Risk factors identified in this group
included exposure to raw seafood, pork liver sausages and wild boar.
Results from the present study confirm that human HEV infection in
Italy is caused by different genotypes, depending on whether the
infection is travel-related or autochthonous.
J Infect Dis. 2010 Sep 15;202(6):825-34.
Pig liver sausage as a source of hepatitis E virus transmission to
humans.
Colson P, Borentain P, Queyriaux B, Kaba M, Moal V, Gallian P, Heyries
L, Raoult D, Gerolami R.
Source
Pole des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique,
Federation de Bacteriologie-Hygiene-Virologie, Centre
Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France.
Partial Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The source and route of autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV)
infections are not clearly established in industrialized countries
despite evidence that it is a zoonosis in pigs. We investigated the
role of figatellu, a traditional pig liver sausage widely eaten in
France and commonly consumed raw, as a source of HEV infection...
Acute or recent HEV infection, defined by detection of anti-HEV
immunoglobulin M antibodies and/or HEV RNA, was observed in 7 of 13
individuals who ate raw figatellu and 0 of 5 individuals who did not
eat raw figatellu...
Our findings strongly support the hypothesis of HEV infection through
ingestion of raw figatellu.
END QUOTES
BEGIN QUOTES WITH TYPES OF ANIMALS OR FOODS WITH HEV
Arch Virol. 2012 Jul 31. [Epub ahead of print]
Detection and molecular characterization of hepatitis E virus in
clinical, environmental and putative animal sources.
Ishida S, Yoshizumi S, Ikeda T, Miyoshi M, Goto A, Matsubayashi K,
Ikeda H.
Source
Department of Infectious Diseases, Hokkaido Institute of Public Health,
North 19, West 12, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819, Japan
Partial Abstract
Four swine livers (1 %) were positive for HEV RNA; two strains belonged
to genotype 3 and the other two strains were genotype 4. Genotype 3
HEV was detected in a sewage sample and a seawater sample.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Aug;18(8):1372-4. doi: 10.3201/eid1808.111902.
Zoonotic Pathogens among White-Tailed Deer, Northern Mexico, 2004-2009.
Medrano C, Boadella M, Barrios H, Cantú A, GarcÃa Z, de la Fuente J,
Gortazar C.
Partial Abstract
White-tailed deer are suitable reservoir hosts for Mycobacterium
bovis...Another major zoonosis, sometimes linked to raw deer meat
consumption, is hepatitis E, which is caused by genotypes of hepatitis
E virus (HEV) (6). HEV is increasingly prevalent in red deer (Cervus
elaphus) (7), but its prevalence in white-tailed deer is unknown.
Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2012 Jul 1. [Epub ahead of print]
Epidemiology of Henipavirus Disease in Humans.
Luby SP, Gurley ES.
Source
Department of Medicine, Stanford University, The Jerry Yang and Akiko
Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building 473 Via Ortega, Room 185, MC
4020, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
Partial Abstract
Recognized human infections have all resulted from a HeV infected horse
that was unusually efficient in transmitting the virus
Gut Liver. 2011 Dec;5(4):427-31. Epub 2011 Nov 21.
Current status of hepatitis e virus infection in Korea.
Jeong SH.
Source
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang
Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam,
Korea.
Partial Abstract
case of genotype 4 HEV hepatitis that developed after ingestion of
the raw bile juice of a wild bear... HEV [strains] are currently
circulating in the Korean community and may be related to zoonotic
transmission and food-borne infection
Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Nov;17(11):2018-25.
Close similarity between sequences of hepatitis E virus recovered from
humans and swine, France, 2008-2009.
Bouquet J, Tesse S, Lunazzi A, Eloit M, Rose N, Nicand E, Pavio N.
Source
Anses, Laboratoire de Sante Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Partial Abstract
These results indicate that consumption of some pork products, such
as raw liver, is a major source of exposure for autochthonous HEV
infection.
Med Microbiol Immunol. 2012 May;201(2):171-5. Epub 2011 Oct 18.
Hepatitis E: are psychiatric patients on special risk?
Reinheimer C, Allwinn R, Berger A.
Source
Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Paul
Ehrlich-Strasse 40, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Partial Abstract
Reservoirs forHEV are surface water, wild boar meat, and raw or
undercooked pork meat.
Virus Res. 2011 Oct;161(1):23-30. Epub 2011 Feb 21.
From barnyard to food table: the omnipresence of hepatitis E virus and
risk for zoonotic infection and food safety.
Meng XJ.
Source
Center for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of
Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0913, USA
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important but extremely understudied
pathogen. The mechanisms ofHEV replication and pathogenesis are poorly
understood, and a vaccine against HEV is not yet available. HEV is
classified in the family Hepeviridae consisting of at least four
recognized major genotypes. Genotypes 1 and 2 HEV are restricted to
humans and associated with epidemics in developing countries, whereas
genotypes 3 and 4 HEV are zoonotic and responsible for sporadic cases
worldwide. The identification and characterization of a number of
animal strains of HEV from pigs, chickens, rabbits, rats, mongoose,
deer, and possibly cattle and sheep have significantly broadened the
host range and diversity of HEV. The demonstrated ability of
cross-species infection by some animal strains of HEV raises public
health concerns for zoonotic HEV infection. Pigs are a recognized
reservoir for HEV, and pig handlers are at increased risk of zoonotic
HEV infection. Sporadic cases of hepatitis E have been definitively
linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked animal meats such as
pig livers, sausages, and deer meats. In addition, since large amounts
of viruses excreted in feces, animal manure land application and
runoffs can contaminate irrigation and drinking water with concomitant
contamination of produce or shellfish. HEV RNA of swine origin has been
detected in swine manure, sewage water and oysters, and consumption of
contaminated shellfish has also been implicated in sporadic cases of
hepatitis E. Therefore, the animal strains ofHEV pose not only a
zoonotic risk but also food and environmental safety concerns.
Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21316404 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC3126906
[Available on 2012/10/1]
END QUOTES
Use PubMed to get the abstracts of something along the line of 40+ HEV
studies, and in some cases to link to articles.
If a ferret who is fed raw or was fed raw then gets liver disease DO
let the vet know about the recent Netherlands study and about the
transmission and source studies on Hepatitis e (HEV). Different food
choices have different positive and negative aspects which may affect
some ferrets in some homes.
*****Shelters also need to keep this in mind and try to learn about
previous diets.*****
Sukie (not a vet) Ferrets make the world a game.
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump
off the cliff." (2010, Steve Crandall)
A nation is as free as the least within it.
[Posted in FML 7513]
|
