ABSTRACT
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can infect not only human but also several animals. This study has been conducted to evaluate the comprehensive anti-HEV seroprevalence in zoo animals in Korea. Anti-HEV antibodies were identified in 14 of 64 zoo animal species. HEV antibodies were detected for the first time in Eurasian Lynx, Setland Pony, Fallow Deer, Ezo Sika, Formosa Deer, East Wapitis, Barasingha, Corriedale, American Bison, Guanacos, Reticulated Giraffe, and Saanen. These results indicate that the several zoo animal species were exposed to HEV.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Animals, Zoo , Antibodies , Bison , Camelids, New World , Deer , Hepatitis , Hepatitis E , Hepatitis E virus , Korea , Lynx , Seroepidemiologic Studies , TaiwanABSTRACT
Polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP) havebeen detected in several cervid species. In order toconfirm the genetic variations, this study examined theDNA sequences of the PRNP obtained from 33 captivesika deer (Cervus nippon laiouanus) in Korea. A total ofthree single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at codons100, 136 and 226 in the PRNP of the sika deer wereidentified. The polymorphic site located at codon 100 hasnot been reported. The SNPs detected at codons 100 and226 induced amino acid substitutions. The SNP at codon136 was a silent mutation that does not induce any aminoacid change. The genotype and allele frequencies weredetermined for each of the SNPs.