Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North Sea
Abstract The discovery of several novel hepatovirus species in marine and terrestrial mammals has expanded the recognised members of the genus Hepatovirus and has provided better understanding on the evolutionary origins of human hepatovirus A (HAV). Using high throughput sequencing we detected a se...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | npj Viruses |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-024-00084-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841544918397353984 |
|---|---|
| author | Monica Mirolo Bianca Kühl Melvin Daniel Roji Ana Rubio-García Valéria Andrade Lima Christina Puff Byron Martina Andreas Beineke Peter Wohlsein Wolfgang Baumgärtner Martin Ludlow Albert Osterhaus |
| author_facet | Monica Mirolo Bianca Kühl Melvin Daniel Roji Ana Rubio-García Valéria Andrade Lima Christina Puff Byron Martina Andreas Beineke Peter Wohlsein Wolfgang Baumgärtner Martin Ludlow Albert Osterhaus |
| author_sort | Monica Mirolo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The discovery of several novel hepatovirus species in marine and terrestrial mammals has expanded the recognised members of the genus Hepatovirus and has provided better understanding on the evolutionary origins of human hepatovirus A (HAV). Using high throughput sequencing we detected a seal hepatovirus (SealHAV_NL/PV/21), in liver tissue of a deceased harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) originating from the Dutch North Sea coast. RT-PCR screening of liver samples of 88 harbor seals and 12 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the same region identified seal hepatovirus in nine juvenile harbor seals in which minor sequence variation was observed in the VP1 gene. Whole-genome sequence analysis showed that SealHAV_NL/PV/21 displayed 95.6% nucleotide indentity to New England seal hepatovirus but had a 5′-UTR which contained additional 51 bp. Phylogenetic analysis showed that seal hepatoviruses clustered in a monophyletic group separate from other hepatovirus species that have been identified in terrestrial mammals. Assessment of seal hepatovirus RNA loads in organs of all infected animals showed that the liver had the highest number of RNA copies with up to 107 RNA copies per mg of tissue. Seal hepatovirus RNA was readily detected by in situ hybridization in hepatocytes in the liver but was not associated with pathological lesions. Serological screening of 90 contemporary seal sera using a HAV-based ELISA showed the presence of hepatovirus antibodies in 14 harbor seals and one juvenile grey seal. These findings collectively show that seal hepatovirus is enzootic among seals of the North Sea, causing quiescent infections in young animals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-10973fe3326445198a6b80a72973851a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2948-1767 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-10973fe3326445198a6b80a72973851a2025-01-12T12:11:03ZengNature Portfolionpj Viruses2948-17672025-01-01311710.1038/s44298-024-00084-8Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North SeaMonica Mirolo0Bianca Kühl1Melvin Daniel Roji2Ana Rubio-García3Valéria Andrade Lima4Christina Puff5Byron Martina6Andreas Beineke7Peter Wohlsein8Wolfgang Baumgärtner9Martin Ludlow10Albert Osterhaus11Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationResearch Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationSealcentre PieterburenResearch Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationArtemis BioservicesDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationDepartment of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationResearch Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationResearch Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationAbstract The discovery of several novel hepatovirus species in marine and terrestrial mammals has expanded the recognised members of the genus Hepatovirus and has provided better understanding on the evolutionary origins of human hepatovirus A (HAV). Using high throughput sequencing we detected a seal hepatovirus (SealHAV_NL/PV/21), in liver tissue of a deceased harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) originating from the Dutch North Sea coast. RT-PCR screening of liver samples of 88 harbor seals and 12 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the same region identified seal hepatovirus in nine juvenile harbor seals in which minor sequence variation was observed in the VP1 gene. Whole-genome sequence analysis showed that SealHAV_NL/PV/21 displayed 95.6% nucleotide indentity to New England seal hepatovirus but had a 5′-UTR which contained additional 51 bp. Phylogenetic analysis showed that seal hepatoviruses clustered in a monophyletic group separate from other hepatovirus species that have been identified in terrestrial mammals. Assessment of seal hepatovirus RNA loads in organs of all infected animals showed that the liver had the highest number of RNA copies with up to 107 RNA copies per mg of tissue. Seal hepatovirus RNA was readily detected by in situ hybridization in hepatocytes in the liver but was not associated with pathological lesions. Serological screening of 90 contemporary seal sera using a HAV-based ELISA showed the presence of hepatovirus antibodies in 14 harbor seals and one juvenile grey seal. These findings collectively show that seal hepatovirus is enzootic among seals of the North Sea, causing quiescent infections in young animals.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-024-00084-8 |
| spellingShingle | Monica Mirolo Bianca Kühl Melvin Daniel Roji Ana Rubio-García Valéria Andrade Lima Christina Puff Byron Martina Andreas Beineke Peter Wohlsein Wolfgang Baumgärtner Martin Ludlow Albert Osterhaus Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North Sea npj Viruses |
| title | Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North Sea |
| title_full | Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North Sea |
| title_fullStr | Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North Sea |
| title_short | Hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the North Sea |
| title_sort | hepatovirus infections in juvenile seals from the north sea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-024-00084-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monicamirolo hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT biancakuhl hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT melvindanielroji hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT anarubiogarcia hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT valeriaandradelima hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT christinapuff hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT byronmartina hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT andreasbeineke hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT peterwohlsein hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT wolfgangbaumgartner hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT martinludlow hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea AT albertosterhaus hepatovirusinfectionsinjuvenilesealsfromthenorthsea |