Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in Bangladesh
This study reports an outbreak of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in a color broiler parent stock flock in Bangladesh, marking the first known instance of HSS associated with avian hepatitis E virus (aHEV) genotype 7 outside Europe and only the second report of HSS in South Asia. The affected...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Poultry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1164/4/2/16 |
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| author | Miguel Matos Ivana Bilic László Kőrösi Rakibul Hasan Dieter Liebhart Nicola Palmieri Michael Hess |
| author_facet | Miguel Matos Ivana Bilic László Kőrösi Rakibul Hasan Dieter Liebhart Nicola Palmieri Michael Hess |
| author_sort | Miguel Matos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study reports an outbreak of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in a color broiler parent stock flock in Bangladesh, marking the first known instance of HSS associated with avian hepatitis E virus (aHEV) genotype 7 outside Europe and only the second report of HSS in South Asia. The affected flock exhibited severe clinical signs, including a high cumulative mortality, reaching 31.6% in hens, and an abrupt decrease in egg production, dropping by over 20 percent. Histopathological analysis of liver and spleen samples revealed multifocal areas of necrosis, hemorrhages, and bacterial colonies. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of aHEV and immunohistochemistry showed signals within hepatic sinusoids and peri-ellipsoidal zones in the spleen. Complete genome sequencing of RNA from liver and bile samples on the Illumina platform established a pathogenic link to aHEV genotype 7. Despite aHEV’s known association with HSS, inconsistencies in disease manifestation suggest additional cofactors influencing pathogenesis, with secondary bacterial infections potentially contributing to clinical severity in this outbreak. Overall, this case expands the geographic distribution of aHEV genotype 7 and highlights the need for further epidemiological studies to investigate genotype–pathogenicity associations, especially in regions with limited prior data on HSS. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3035a907e3714f41a2e90adf9b5a08b9 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2674-1164 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Poultry |
| spelling | doaj-art-3035a907e3714f41a2e90adf9b5a08b92025-06-25T14:20:43ZengMDPI AGPoultry2674-11642025-04-01421610.3390/poultry4020016Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in BangladeshMiguel Matos0Ivana Bilic1László Kőrösi2Rakibul Hasan3Dieter Liebhart4Nicola Palmieri5Michael Hess6Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaClinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaAgriAL Bt., Béri Balogh Ádám u. 42, 2100 Gödöllo, HungaryPeoples Poultry & Hatchery Ltd., 3 Shahid Tajuddin Ahamed Sahroni, Moghbazar, Dahaka 1217, BangladeshClinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaClinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaClinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaThis study reports an outbreak of hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HSS) in a color broiler parent stock flock in Bangladesh, marking the first known instance of HSS associated with avian hepatitis E virus (aHEV) genotype 7 outside Europe and only the second report of HSS in South Asia. The affected flock exhibited severe clinical signs, including a high cumulative mortality, reaching 31.6% in hens, and an abrupt decrease in egg production, dropping by over 20 percent. Histopathological analysis of liver and spleen samples revealed multifocal areas of necrosis, hemorrhages, and bacterial colonies. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of aHEV and immunohistochemistry showed signals within hepatic sinusoids and peri-ellipsoidal zones in the spleen. Complete genome sequencing of RNA from liver and bile samples on the Illumina platform established a pathogenic link to aHEV genotype 7. Despite aHEV’s known association with HSS, inconsistencies in disease manifestation suggest additional cofactors influencing pathogenesis, with secondary bacterial infections potentially contributing to clinical severity in this outbreak. Overall, this case expands the geographic distribution of aHEV genotype 7 and highlights the need for further epidemiological studies to investigate genotype–pathogenicity associations, especially in regions with limited prior data on HSS.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1164/4/2/16avian hepatitis E virushepatitis-splenomegaly syndromegenotype 7chickenBangladeshmortality |
| spellingShingle | Miguel Matos Ivana Bilic László Kőrösi Rakibul Hasan Dieter Liebhart Nicola Palmieri Michael Hess Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in Bangladesh Poultry avian hepatitis E virus hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome genotype 7 chicken Bangladesh mortality |
| title | Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in Bangladesh |
| title_full | Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in Bangladesh |
| title_short | Identification of the Recently Described Avian Hepatitis E Genotype 7 in an Outbreak of Hepatitis-Splenomegaly Syndrome (HSS) with High Mortality and Severe Drop in Egg Production in a Parent Stock Flock in Bangladesh |
| title_sort | identification of the recently described avian hepatitis e genotype 7 in an outbreak of hepatitis splenomegaly syndrome hss with high mortality and severe drop in egg production in a parent stock flock in bangladesh |
| topic | avian hepatitis E virus hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome genotype 7 chicken Bangladesh mortality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1164/4/2/16 |
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