Uncovering neglected subtypes and zoonotic transmission of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Brazil

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dos Santos, Debora Regina Lopes ; Duraes-Carvalho, Ricardo ; Gardinali, Noemi Rovaris ; Machado, Lais Ceschini ; de Paula, Vanessa Salete ; Wallau, Gabriel da Luz ; de Oliveira, Jaqueline Mendes ; Pena, Lindomar Jose ; Pinto, Marcelo Alves ; Gil, Laura Helena Vega Gonzalez ; de Oliveira-Filho, Edmilson Ferreira

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VIROLOGY JOURNAL; v. 20, n. 1, p. 7-pg., 2023-05-02.

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) circulation in humans and swine has been extensively studied in South America over the last two decades. Nevertheless, only 2.1% of reported HEV strains are available as complete genome sequences. Therefore, many clinical, epidemiological, and evolutionary aspects of circulating HEV in the continent still need to be clarified. Here, we conducted a retrospective evolutionary analysis of one human case and six swine HEV strains previously reported in northeastern, southern, and southeastern Brazil. We obtained two complete and four nearly complete genomic sequences. Evolutionary analysis comparing the whole genomic and capsid gene sequences revealed high genetic variability. This included the circulation of at least one unrecognized unique South American subtype. Our results corroborate that sequencing the whole capsid gene could be used as an alternative for HEV subtype assignment in the absence of complete genomic sequences. Moreover, our results substantiate the evidence for zoonotic transmission by comparing a larger genomic fragment recovered from the sample of the autochthonous human hepatitis E case. Further studies should continuously investigate HEV genetic diversity and zoonotic transmission of HEV in South America. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/01255-9 - Bats: epidemiological surveillance, high-resolution phylodynamics, search and design of peptides of biotechnological interest in emergent and reemerging viruses
• Grantee: Ricardo Durães de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/03684-4 - Bats: epidemiological surveillance, high-resolution phylodynamics, search and design of peptides of biotechnological interest in emergent and reemerging viruses
• Grantee: Ricardo Durães de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers