biostudies-literatureLanave GMinistero della Salute10668https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6650429biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)Hepadnaviruses infect several animal species. The prototype species, human hepatitis B virus (HBV), increases the risk of liver diseases and may cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently a novel hepadnavirus, similar to HBV, has been identified through transcriptomics studies in a domestic cat with large cell lymphoma in Australia. Herewith, a collection of 390 feline serum samples was screened for hepadnavirus. Overall, the virus was identified in 10.8% of the sera with a significantly higher prevalence (17.8%) in the sera of animals with a clinical suspect of infectious disease. Upon genome sequencing, the virus was closely related (97.0% nt identity) to the prototype Australian feline virus Sydney 2016. The mean and median values of hepadnavirus in the feline sera were 1.3 Scientific reportsIdentification of hepadnavirus in the sera of cats.PMC6650429B45E17000060005 - IZS AM 06/17RCCatucci LLanave GBeatty JDiakoudi GDecaro NBuonavoglia CGhergo PCamero MMartella VBarrs VStasi FCapozza PCatella CfalseIdentification of hepadnavirus in the sera of cats.Hepadnaviruses infect several animal species. The prototype species, human hepatitis B virus (HBV), increases the risk of liver diseases and may cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently a novel hepadnavirus, similar to HBV, has been identified through transcriptomics studies in a domestic cat with large cell lymphoma in Australia. Herewith, a collection of 390 feline serum samples was screened for hepadnavirus. Overall, the virus was identified in 10.8% of the sera with a significantly higher prevalence (17.8%) in the sera of animals with a clinical suspect of infectious disease. Upon genome sequencing, the virus was closely related (97.0% nt identity) to the prototype Australian feline virus Sydney 2016. The mean and median values of hepadnavirus in the feline sera were 1.3 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Jul2025-05-31T23:55:49.383Z2020-05-21T15:52:55ZS-EPMC66504293133784710.1038/s41598-019-47175-8