Serological Evidence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus ) in Norway

• Published in: Pathogens
• Main Authors: Christine Hanssen Rinaldo, Ingebjørg Helena Nymo, Javier Sánchez Romano, Eva Marie Breines, Francisco Javier Ancin Murguzur, Morten Tryland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021
• Subjects: hepatitis E virus; Hepeviridae; Rangifer; serology; zoonosis; Medicine; R; Norway; Rangifer tarandus; Tundra
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10121542; https://doaj.org/article/01f58076723d4ebf9bb8ca05cb1a1956

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of viral hepatitis in humans. In developing countries, HEV-infections seem to be mainly associated with pigs, but other animal species may be involved in viral transmission. Recently, anti-HEV antibodies were detected in Norwegian wild reindeer. Here, we investigated anti-HEV seroprevalence in Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer, animals in closer contact with humans than their wild counterparts. Blood samples (n = 516) were obtained from eight reindeer herds during the period 2013–2017 and analysed with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay designed for detecting anti-HEV antibodies in livestock. Antibodies were found in all herds and for all sampling seasons. The overall seroprevalence was 15.7% (81/516), with adults showing a slightly higher seroprevalence (18.0%, 46/256) than calves (13.5%, 35/260, p = 0.11). The seroprevalence was not influenced by gender or latitude, and there was no temporal trend ( p > 0.15). A positive association between the presence of anti-HEV antibodies and antibodies against alphaherpesvirus and pestivirus, detected in a previous screening, was found ( p < 0.05). We conclude that Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer are exposed to HEV or an antigenically similar virus. Whether the virus is affecting reindeer health or infects humans and poses a threat for human health remains unknown and warrants further investigations.