*****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]