Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in zoo animal species in Korea

Song, Young-Jo; Kim, Bo-Sook; Park, Woo-Jung; Park, Byung-Joo; Lee, Seul-Kee; Shin, Jong-Il; Lee, Nak-Hyung; Lee, Joong-Bok; Park, Seung-Yong; Song, Chang-Seon; Seo, Kun-Ho; Choi, In-Soo

doi:2013.53.1.65

Korean J Vet Res > Volume 53(1); 2013 > Article

Brief Communication

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2013;53(1):65-68.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2013.53.1.065 Published online March 31, 2013.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in zoo animal species in Korea

Young-Jo Song¹, Bo-Sook Kim², Woo-Jung Park¹, Byung-Joo Park¹, Seul-Kee Lee¹, Jong-Il Shin¹, Nak-Hyung Lee¹, Joong-Bok Lee¹, Seung-Yong Park¹, Chang-Seon Song¹, Kun-Ho Seo³, In-Soo Choi⁴

¹Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University
²Seoul Zoo
³Department of Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University
⁴Veterinary Science Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University

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.

Key Words: hepatitis E virus, seroprevalence, zoo animal species