Subclinical avian hepatitis E virus infection in layer flocks in the United States

Priscilla F. Gerber; Darrell W. Trampel; Eric M. Willinghan; Padma Billam; Xiang-Jin Meng; Tanja Opriessnig

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.014

Subclinical avian hepatitis E virus infection in layer flocks in the United States

Priscilla F. Gerber, Darrell W. Trampel, Eric M. Willinghan, Padma Billam, Xiang-Jin Meng, Tanja Opriessnig^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine patterns of avian HEV infection in naturally infected chicken farms. A total of 310 serum samples and 62 pooled fecal samples were collected from 62 chicken flocks on seven commercial in-line egg farms in the Midwestern United States and tested for avian HEV circulation. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies by a fluorescent microbead immunoassay (FMIA) which was developed for this study. The FMIA was validated using archived samples of chickens with known exposure (n = 96) and compared to the results obtained with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the same capture antigen. There was an overall substantial agreement between the two assays (κ = 0.63) with earlier detection of positive chickens by the FMIA (P = 0.04). On the seven farms investigated, the overall prevalence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies in serum samples from commercial chickens was 44.8% (20-82% per farm). Fecal samples were tested for avian HEV RNA by a nested reverse-transcriptase PCR. The overall detection rate of avian HEV RNA in fecal samples was 62.9% (0-100% per farm). Sequencing analyses of partial helicase and capsid genes showed that different avian HEV genotype 2 strains were circulating within a farm. However, no correlation was found between avian HEV RNA detection and egg production, egg weight or mortality. In conclusion, avian HEV infection is widespread among clinically healthy laying hens in the United States.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	304-311
Journal	The Veterinary Journal
Volume	206
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.014
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2015
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected]

Research Keywords

Avian hepatitis E virus (avian HEV)
Chickens
Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay
RT-PCR
Subclinical infection

UN SDGs

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

Access Output

10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.014

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

Cite this

@article{0ba03be9756947ae97f86cd9226620ae,

title = "Subclinical avian hepatitis E virus infection in layer flocks in the United States",

abstract = "The objective of this study was to determine patterns of avian HEV infection in naturally infected chicken farms. A total of 310 serum samples and 62 pooled fecal samples were collected from 62 chicken flocks on seven commercial in-line egg farms in the Midwestern United States and tested for avian HEV circulation. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies by a fluorescent microbead immunoassay (FMIA) which was developed for this study. The FMIA was validated using archived samples of chickens with known exposure (n = 96) and compared to the results obtained with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the same capture antigen. There was an overall substantial agreement between the two assays (κ = 0.63) with earlier detection of positive chickens by the FMIA (P = 0.04). On the seven farms investigated, the overall prevalence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies in serum samples from commercial chickens was 44.8% (20-82% per farm). Fecal samples were tested for avian HEV RNA by a nested reverse-transcriptase PCR. The overall detection rate of avian HEV RNA in fecal samples was 62.9% (0-100% per farm). Sequencing analyses of partial helicase and capsid genes showed that different avian HEV genotype 2 strains were circulating within a farm. However, no correlation was found between avian HEV RNA detection and egg production, egg weight or mortality. In conclusion, avian HEV infection is widespread among clinically healthy laying hens in the United States.",

keywords = "Avian hepatitis E virus (avian HEV), Chickens, Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay, RT-PCR, Subclinical infection",

author = "Gerber, {Priscilla F.} and Trampel, {Darrell W.} and Willinghan, {Eric M.} and Padma Billam and Xiang-Jin Meng and Tanja Opriessnig",

note = "Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected]",

year = "2015",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.014",

language = "English",

volume = "206",

pages = "304--311",

journal = "The Veterinary Journal",

issn = "1090-0233",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Subclinical avian hepatitis E virus infection in layer flocks in the United States

AU - Gerber, Priscilla F.

AU - Trampel, Darrell W.

AU - Willinghan, Eric M.

AU - Billam, Padma

AU - Meng, Xiang-Jin

AU - Opriessnig, Tanja

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected]

PY - 2015/12/1

Y1 - 2015/12/1

N2 - The objective of this study was to determine patterns of avian HEV infection in naturally infected chicken farms. A total of 310 serum samples and 62 pooled fecal samples were collected from 62 chicken flocks on seven commercial in-line egg farms in the Midwestern United States and tested for avian HEV circulation. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies by a fluorescent microbead immunoassay (FMIA) which was developed for this study. The FMIA was validated using archived samples of chickens with known exposure (n = 96) and compared to the results obtained with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the same capture antigen. There was an overall substantial agreement between the two assays (κ = 0.63) with earlier detection of positive chickens by the FMIA (P = 0.04). On the seven farms investigated, the overall prevalence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies in serum samples from commercial chickens was 44.8% (20-82% per farm). Fecal samples were tested for avian HEV RNA by a nested reverse-transcriptase PCR. The overall detection rate of avian HEV RNA in fecal samples was 62.9% (0-100% per farm). Sequencing analyses of partial helicase and capsid genes showed that different avian HEV genotype 2 strains were circulating within a farm. However, no correlation was found between avian HEV RNA detection and egg production, egg weight or mortality. In conclusion, avian HEV infection is widespread among clinically healthy laying hens in the United States.

AB - The objective of this study was to determine patterns of avian HEV infection in naturally infected chicken farms. A total of 310 serum samples and 62 pooled fecal samples were collected from 62 chicken flocks on seven commercial in-line egg farms in the Midwestern United States and tested for avian HEV circulation. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies by a fluorescent microbead immunoassay (FMIA) which was developed for this study. The FMIA was validated using archived samples of chickens with known exposure (n = 96) and compared to the results obtained with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the same capture antigen. There was an overall substantial agreement between the two assays (κ = 0.63) with earlier detection of positive chickens by the FMIA (P = 0.04). On the seven farms investigated, the overall prevalence of anti-avian HEV IgY antibodies in serum samples from commercial chickens was 44.8% (20-82% per farm). Fecal samples were tested for avian HEV RNA by a nested reverse-transcriptase PCR. The overall detection rate of avian HEV RNA in fecal samples was 62.9% (0-100% per farm). Sequencing analyses of partial helicase and capsid genes showed that different avian HEV genotype 2 strains were circulating within a farm. However, no correlation was found between avian HEV RNA detection and egg production, egg weight or mortality. In conclusion, avian HEV infection is widespread among clinically healthy laying hens in the United States.

KW - Avian hepatitis E virus (avian HEV)

KW - Chickens

KW - Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay

KW - RT-PCR

KW - Subclinical infection

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84949267175&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84949267175&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.014

DO - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.014

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 26564555

SN - 1090-0233

VL - 206

SP - 304

EP - 311

JO - The Veterinary Journal

JF - The Veterinary Journal

IS - 3

ER -

Subclinical avian hepatitis E virus infection in layer flocks in the United States

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Research Keywords

UN SDGs

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Cite this