Uncovering neglected subtypes and zoonotic transmission of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) circulation in humans and swine has been extensively studied in South America over the last two decades. Nevertheless, only 2.1% of reported HEV strains are available as complete genome sequences. Therefore, many clinical, epidemiological, and evolutionary aspects of circulating HEV in the continent still need to be clarified. Here, we conducted a retrospective evolutionary analysis of one human case and six swine HEV strains previously reported in northeastern, southern, and southeastern Brazil. We obtained two complete and four nearly complete genomic sequences. Evolutionary analysis comparing the whole genomic and capsid gene sequences revealed high genetic variability. This included the circulation of at least one unrecognized unique South American subtype. Our

SUBMITTER: Dos Santos DRL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10152778 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature