Silverman A L, Qu L H, Blow J, Zitron I M, Gordon S C, Walker E D
Department of Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073, USA.
Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Jul;96(7):2194-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03955.x.
Historical clinical studies suggest the potential for insect-borne transmission of human hepatitis viruses. Studies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence in insects were performed before the advent of molecular techniques, and studies to assess possible insect-borne transmission of hepatitis viruses have not yet been performed. The aim of this study was to determine, using molecular techniques, whether HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) persist in and are excreted in the feces of the bedbug Cimex lectularius L. and kissing bug Rodnius prolixus after an infectious meal.
Blood-feeding insects from the insect order Hemiptera (Cimex lectularius L. and Rhodnius prolixus) were fed on blood from infected patients with high titers of HBV, HCV, and control uninfected patients. Insects and insect excrement were collected at weekly intervals and tested for HBV DNA and HCV RNA using the polymerase chain reaction.
HBV DNA was detected in bedbugs and excrement up to 6 wk after feeding on an infectious meal. HBV DNA was also detected in most kissing bugs and excrement up to 2 wk after feeding. HCV RNA was not detected in bedbugs at any time after feeding.
We did not detect HCV RNA in bedbugs after feeding on an infectious meal. Our data provide molecular evidence to suggest that HBV may persist in Hemiptera. Additional studies are ongoing to determine whether this viral persistence is capable of infection.
历史临床研究提示人类肝炎病毒存在虫媒传播的可能性。在分子技术出现之前，曾开展过关于乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）在昆虫体内持续存在情况的研究，但尚未开展评估肝炎病毒可能的虫媒传播的研究。本研究的目的是运用分子技术确定臭虫温带臭虫和锥蝽在吸食感染性血液后，HBV和丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）是否在其体内持续存在并经粪便排出。
用感染了高滴度HBV、HCV的患者以及未感染的对照患者的血液喂养半翅目昆虫（温带臭虫和锥蝽）。每周收集昆虫及其粪便，采用聚合酶链反应检测HBV DNA和HCV RNA。
吸食感染性血液后长达6周，在臭虫及其粪便中检测到HBV DNA。在大多数锥蝽及其粪便中，吸食感染性血液后长达2周也检测到HBV DNA。吸食感染性血液后的任何时间，在臭虫中均未检测到HCV RNA。
吸食感染性血液后，在臭虫中未检测到HCV RNA。我们的数据提供了分子证据，提示HBV可能在半翅目昆虫体内持续存在。正在开展进一步研究以确定这种病毒的持续存在是否具有感染性。
