Zhang Xue-Lian, Zhang Yu-Qian, Liu Chun-Hong, Ma Yan, Huang Shu-Jian, Shao Jian-Wei
School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China.
Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center of Guoluo Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China.
Poult Sci. 2025 Jan;104(1):104557. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104557. Epub 2024 Nov 22.
Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is recognized as the primary causative agent of big liver and spleen disease, hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome, and hepatic rupture hemorrhage syndrome, resulting in substantial economic losses within the global poultry industry. Since its discovery in 1991, diverse strains of avian HEV have been extensively identified worldwide. Epidemiological investigations have demonstrated the wide distribution and genetic diversity of avian HEV strains in China. In this study, avian HEV strains were identified in chickens exhibiting hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome in Guangdong province, China. Sequence analysis indicated that these strains shared the highest nucleotide sequence identities with genotype 3 strains, and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that they clustered with strains belonging to avian HEV genotype 3. Moreover, a statistically supported recombination event was detected within one of the avian HEV strain identified in this study. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the genetic diversity and evolution of avian HEV in chickens, providing new insights for disease prevention and control strategies.
禽戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）被认为是大肝脾病、肝炎-脾肿大综合征和肝破裂出血综合征的主要病原体，给全球家禽业造成了巨大经济损失。自1991年被发现以来，世界各地已广泛鉴定出多种禽HEV毒株。流行病学调查表明，中国禽HEV毒株分布广泛且具有遗传多样性。在本研究中，在中国广东省表现出肝炎-脾肿大综合征的鸡中鉴定出禽HEV毒株。序列分析表明，这些毒株与3型基因型毒株具有最高的核苷酸序列同一性，系统发育分析表明它们与属于禽HEV 3型基因型的毒株聚类。此外，在本研究鉴定的一株禽HEV毒株中检测到一个有统计学支持的重组事件。这些发现显著增强了我们对鸡中禽HEV遗传多样性和进化的理解，为疾病预防和控制策略提供了新的见解。
