Dynamics of domestic cat hepatitis B virus infection in juvenile cats

F. Pellegrini; M. Burgio; V. Cicirelli; G. Diakoudi; G. Elia; A. Salvaggiulo; N. Filipponio; F. Di Profio; V. Sarchese; J.P. Cavasin; V. Dahm; N. Decaro; M. Camero; G. Lanave; J.A. Beatty; B. Di Martino; V. Martella

doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956

Dynamics of domestic cat hepatitis B virus infection in juvenile cats

F. Pellegrini
, M. Burgio
, V. Cicirelli
, G. Diakoudi
, G. Elia
, A. Salvaggiulo
, N. Filipponio
, F. Di Profio
, V. Sarchese
, J.P. Cavasin
, V. Dahm
, N. Decaro
, M. Camero
, G. Lanave
, J.A. Beatty
, B. Di Martino
, V. Martella^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Domestic cat hepatitis B virus (DCHBV) is a homologue of human hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study investigated the dynamics of DCHBV infection in a cohort of 70 female cats, aged from 6 months to 10 years. The prevalence of DCHBV viremia was 7.1% (5/70), exclusively in juvenile cats, while antibodies for either the core or surface antigens, or both, were detected in 27.1% (19/70) cats. Most seropositive cats (16/19, 84.2%) had IgM for the core protein, a marker of early acute infection. A follow-up of four viremic cats over one year revealed persistent, high-titre viremia in serum (up to 1.39  × 10¹⁰ DNA copies/mL) and consistent viral shedding from mucosal surfaces, at the oral, nasal, ocular, rectal, and vaginal level. DCHBV DNA was detected in the ovarian tissue of one cat, but not in the amniotic fluid or the placenta. Most viremic animals (4/5) were initially seronegative, and seroconversion to the protective antigen, the surface protein, was delayed or absent during follow-up. Despite high viral loads, indicative of high virus replication rates in the liver, ALT, a marker of hepatocellular injury, remained within normal ranges. These findings suggest that juvenile, viremic cats can act as silent spreaders through horizontal and potentially sexual and vertical routes, underscoring the importance of screening juvenile animals to control DCHBV transmission. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

Original language	English
Article number	110956
Number of pages	9
Journal	Veterinary Microbiology
Volume	316
Online published	3 Mar 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956
Publication status	Published - May 2026

Funding

This research was supported by EU funding within the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (Rome, Italy), Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases (project no. PE00000007, INF-ACT) and by the grant PRIN 2022 “Investigating Hepatotropic Viruses in carnivores and humans in a One Health perspective” (HVOH) prot. 2022EPP2TT- MUR. The study was also supported by the National Laboratory for Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health, and Food Chain Safety, RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00001.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

Domestic cat hepatitis B virus
Hepadnavirus
Infection
Antibodies

Access Output

10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

Cite this

Pellegrini, F., Burgio, M., Cicirelli, V., Diakoudi, G., Elia, G., Salvaggiulo, A., Filipponio, N., Di Profio, F., Sarchese, V., Cavasin, J. P., Dahm, V., Decaro, N., Camero, M., Lanave, G., Beatty, J. A., Di Martino, B., & Martella, V. (2026). Dynamics of domestic cat hepatitis B virus infection in juvenile cats. Veterinary Microbiology, 316, Article 110956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956

@article{1624d66ad64d49d9aa300e3df6c67a09,

title = "Dynamics of domestic cat hepatitis B virus infection in juvenile cats",

abstract = "Domestic cat hepatitis B virus (DCHBV) is a homologue of human hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study investigated the dynamics of DCHBV infection in a cohort of 70 female cats, aged from 6 months to 10 years. The prevalence of DCHBV viremia was 7.1\% (5/70), exclusively in juvenile cats, while antibodies for either the core or surface antigens, or both, were detected in 27.1\% (19/70) cats. Most seropositive cats (16/19, 84.2\%) had IgM for the core protein, a marker of early acute infection. A follow-up of four viremic cats over one year revealed persistent, high-titre viremia in serum (up to 1.39  × 1010 DNA copies/mL) and consistent viral shedding from mucosal surfaces, at the oral, nasal, ocular, rectal, and vaginal level. DCHBV DNA was detected in the ovarian tissue of one cat, but not in the amniotic fluid or the placenta. Most viremic animals (4/5) were initially seronegative, and seroconversion to the protective antigen, the surface protein, was delayed or absent during follow-up. Despite high viral loads, indicative of high virus replication rates in the liver, ALT, a marker of hepatocellular injury, remained within normal ranges. These findings suggest that juvenile, viremic cats can act as silent spreaders through horizontal and potentially sexual and vertical routes, underscoring the importance of screening juvenile animals to control DCHBV transmission. {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier B.V.",

keywords = "Domestic cat hepatitis B virus, Hepadnavirus, Infection, Antibodies",

author = "F. Pellegrini and M. Burgio and V. Cicirelli and G. Diakoudi and G. Elia and A. Salvaggiulo and N. Filipponio and \{Di Profio\}, F. and V. Sarchese and J.P. Cavasin and V. Dahm and N. Decaro and M. Camero and G. Lanave and J.A. Beatty and \{Di Martino\}, B. and V. Martella",

year = "2026",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956",

language = "English",

volume = "316",

journal = "Veterinary Microbiology",

issn = "0378-1135",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Pellegrini, F, Burgio, M, Cicirelli, V, Diakoudi, G, Elia, G, Salvaggiulo, A, Filipponio, N, Di Profio, F, Sarchese, V, Cavasin, JP, Dahm, V, Decaro, N, Camero, M, Lanave, G, Beatty, JA, Di Martino, B & Martella, V 2026, 'Dynamics of domestic cat hepatitis B virus infection in juvenile cats', Veterinary Microbiology, vol. 316, 110956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dynamics of domestic cat hepatitis B virus infection in juvenile cats

AU - Pellegrini, F.

AU - Burgio, M.

AU - Cicirelli, V.

AU - Diakoudi, G.

AU - Elia, G.

AU - Salvaggiulo, A.

AU - Filipponio, N.

AU - Di Profio, F.

AU - Sarchese, V.

AU - Cavasin, J.P.

AU - Dahm, V.

AU - Decaro, N.

AU - Camero, M.

AU - Lanave, G.

AU - Beatty, J.A.

AU - Di Martino, B.

AU - Martella, V.

PY - 2026/5

Y1 - 2026/5

N2 - Domestic cat hepatitis B virus (DCHBV) is a homologue of human hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study investigated the dynamics of DCHBV infection in a cohort of 70 female cats, aged from 6 months to 10 years. The prevalence of DCHBV viremia was 7.1% (5/70), exclusively in juvenile cats, while antibodies for either the core or surface antigens, or both, were detected in 27.1% (19/70) cats. Most seropositive cats (16/19, 84.2%) had IgM for the core protein, a marker of early acute infection. A follow-up of four viremic cats over one year revealed persistent, high-titre viremia in serum (up to 1.39  × 1010 DNA copies/mL) and consistent viral shedding from mucosal surfaces, at the oral, nasal, ocular, rectal, and vaginal level. DCHBV DNA was detected in the ovarian tissue of one cat, but not in the amniotic fluid or the placenta. Most viremic animals (4/5) were initially seronegative, and seroconversion to the protective antigen, the surface protein, was delayed or absent during follow-up. Despite high viral loads, indicative of high virus replication rates in the liver, ALT, a marker of hepatocellular injury, remained within normal ranges. These findings suggest that juvenile, viremic cats can act as silent spreaders through horizontal and potentially sexual and vertical routes, underscoring the importance of screening juvenile animals to control DCHBV transmission. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

AB - Domestic cat hepatitis B virus (DCHBV) is a homologue of human hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study investigated the dynamics of DCHBV infection in a cohort of 70 female cats, aged from 6 months to 10 years. The prevalence of DCHBV viremia was 7.1% (5/70), exclusively in juvenile cats, while antibodies for either the core or surface antigens, or both, were detected in 27.1% (19/70) cats. Most seropositive cats (16/19, 84.2%) had IgM for the core protein, a marker of early acute infection. A follow-up of four viremic cats over one year revealed persistent, high-titre viremia in serum (up to 1.39  × 1010 DNA copies/mL) and consistent viral shedding from mucosal surfaces, at the oral, nasal, ocular, rectal, and vaginal level. DCHBV DNA was detected in the ovarian tissue of one cat, but not in the amniotic fluid or the placenta. Most viremic animals (4/5) were initially seronegative, and seroconversion to the protective antigen, the surface protein, was delayed or absent during follow-up. Despite high viral loads, indicative of high virus replication rates in the liver, ALT, a marker of hepatocellular injury, remained within normal ranges. These findings suggest that juvenile, viremic cats can act as silent spreaders through horizontal and potentially sexual and vertical routes, underscoring the importance of screening juvenile animals to control DCHBV transmission. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

KW - Domestic cat hepatitis B virus

KW - Hepadnavirus

KW - Infection

KW - Antibodies

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001710677400001

U2 - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956

DO - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2026.110956

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0378-1135

VL - 316

JO - Veterinary Microbiology

JF - Veterinary Microbiology

M1 - 110956

ER -

Dynamics of domestic cat hepatitis B virus infection in juvenile cats

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Cite this