Incidence and Circulation of Hepatitis E Virus among Farmed Rabbits in Egypt

The rabbit HEV (rHEV) as been found in farmed, wild and pet rabbits as well as in human patients suggesting zoonotic transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HEV-infection in farmed rabbits from hyperendemic regions. Serum anti-HEV was tested by ELISA. We collected blood samples from 235 rabbits from different governorate in Egypt. HEV RNA was tested using RT-PCR with degenerative primers to ORF2 in serum and feces samples from 235 and 323 farmed rabbits respectively at different governorates in Egypt. All animals were 2-12 months of age. Out of the 235 rabbit serum samples, the total positive rate of anti-HEV IgG was 28/235 (11.9%). Anti-HEV IgG prevalence in rabbits was demonstrated in serum samples in different governorates 13.20, 13.6, 14.6, 24.2, 20.0% in Luxor, Assiut, Fayoum, Menoufia, and Alexandria respectively, and not detected in Sohag and Qena governorates. HEV RNA was detected in serum and fecal samples, only 2 serum samples were positive for HEV RNA 2/235 (0.8%) at Luxor and Menoufia governorates. Out of the 323 fecal samples, the total positive rate HEV RNA was 26/323 (8.0%). Prevalence of HEV RNA in fecal samples of rabbits varied in different studied governorates from 1.92 to 18.36%, in Qena and Menoufia governorates respectively. HEV prevalence peaked in different age groups at different farms, with majority of infections at age low 6 months. Rabbit HEV infection in Egypt was first documented in our study.