Published online Jan 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i3.862
Peer-review started: May 27, 2014
First decision: June 27, 2014
Revised: July 22, 2014
Accepted: September 5, 2014
Article in press: September 5, 2014
Published online: January 21, 2015
Processing time: 238 Days and 5.6 Hours
AIM: To investigate whether Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils are readily susceptible to infection by human hepatitis E virus (HEV).
METHODS: Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils were infected with a clinical HEV strain isolated from an acute hepatitis E patient, and virus pathogenesis was assessed in this host. Non-infected gerbils served as the control group. Feces samples from gerbils were collected weekly for reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction. Serum anti-HEV IgG and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. At sacrifice, each animal’s liver, spleen and kidney were collected for histopathologic examination.
RESULTS: HEV-infected gerbils showed fatigue, with histopathological changes observed in the liver, spleen and kidney. HEV RNA was detected in fecal samples taken at day 7 after inoculation and the detectable levels lasted out to day 42 after inoculation. Interestingly, ALT levels were only moderately increased in the HEV-infected animals compared with the non-infected control group.
CONCLUSION: Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils are susceptible to human HEV.
Core tip: Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils were infected with human hepatitis E virus (HEV). Feces samples from gerbils were collected weekly for reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction. Serum anti-HEV IgG and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) detection was carried out by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. At sacrifice, liver, spleen and kidney were collected from infected animals and non-infected controls for histopathologic examination. Detectable HEV RNA in fecal samples appeared at post-inoculation day 7 and persisted through day 42. Interestingly, ALT levels were only moderately increased in infected animals compared with control animals. These findings indicate that Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils are susceptible to human HEV.