Impact of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection on hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and transmission under experimental conditions

Hepatitis E virus is a zoonotic pathogen for which pigs have been identified as the main reservoir in industrialised countries. HEV infection dynamics in pig herds and pigs are influenced by several factors, including herd practices and possibly co-infection with immunomodulating viruses. This study therefore investigates the impact of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) on HEV infection and transmission through experimental HEV/PCV2 co-infection of specific-pathogen-free pigs. No statistical difference between HEV-only and HEV/PCV2-infected animals was found for either the infectious period or the quantity of HEV shed in faeces. The HEV latency period was shorter for HEV/PCV2 co-infected pigs than for HEV-only infected pigs (11.6 versus 12.3 days). Its direct transmission rate was three times higher in cases of HEV/PCV2 co-infection than in cases of HEV-only infection (0.12 versus 0.04). On the other hand, the HEV transmission rate through environmental accumulation was lower in cases of HEV/PCV2 co-infection (4.3.10(-6) versus 1.5.10(-5) g/RNA copies/day for HEV-only infected pigs). The time prior to HEV seroconversion was 1.9 times longer in HEV/PCV2 co-infected pigs (49.4 versus 25.6 days for HEV-only infected pigs). In conclusion, our study shows that PCV2 affects HEV infection and transmission in pigs under experimental conditions.