Hepeviral

Question 1

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Species affected

Answer 1

*HEV-3: Human, pig,
rabbit, deer, mongoose
—> Zoonotic!
*HEV-4: Human, pig —>
Zoonotic!
*HEV-5: Wild boar
*HEV-6: Wild boar

Question 2

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Occurrence

Answer 2

Worldwide

Question 3

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Spread

Answer 3

*Spread by infected faeces,
contaminated water and
infected animal meat and
products
*Spread to humans via raw
meat (pork) and contact
with animals and manure
*Zoonosis is sporadic —>
controlled raw meat
products

Question 4

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Pathogenesis

Answer 4

*Viraemia —> Asymptomatic
*Virus stays in meat —> if
slaughtered within 2-3 weeks of infection, it will be present in meat
• Pigs: usually catch disease at 12th week, slaughtered at 24th
week —> infected pork meat
is not so common
• Rabbits: usually catch disease at 9th week and are slaughtered at 11th week —> infected rabbit meat is common

Question 5

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Primary replication

Answer 5

Liver

Question 6

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Clinical signs

Answer 6

*Animals: usually no clinical signs, may be
associated with reproduction problems
*Humans: usually no clinical signs, may be
moderate (acute hepatitis) - similar to Hepatitis A , rarely fatal
• Icterus, abdominal pain, fever
• Death in older people and
immunocompromised and pregnant
(abortion and death of mother)
*Usually acute, self-limiting infection but
chronic form has also been observed —>
neurological disease

Question 7

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Pathology and histopathology

Answer 7

No gross lesion

Question 8

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Diagnosis

Answer 8

Detection of virus: RT-PCR
Virus isolation is difficult!
Detection of antibodies: ELISA

Question 9

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Treatment

Answer 9

*No effective treatment for
animals
*Supportive care for humans

Question 10

Hepatitis E / Big Liver
and Spleen Disease
Prevention and immunity

Answer 10

*General epidemiological rules:
• Strict hygiene of animals and
stables
• Personal and kitchen hygiene
*Avoid consumption of raw pork
Slaughter any animals who
have had the disease and are seropositive
*Trial vaccinations for humans are happening

Question 11

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome 
Species affected

Answer 11

Chickens

Question 12

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome 
Most susceptible

Answer 12

Chickens over 24

weeks of age

Question 13

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome 
Spread

Answer 13

Spread by faeces and

contaminated water

Question 14

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome 
Pathogenesis

Answer 14

PO infection

Question 15

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome 
Clinical signs

Answer 15

*Chronic drop of egg production of up to
20%
*Anaemia
*Premature moulting
*Mortality of up to 1% per week for 3-4 weeks

Question 16

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome 
Pathology and histopathology

Answer 16

*Enlarged liver, sometimes with subcapsularmhaemorrhage
*Enlarged spleen often with pale foci
*Rarely lung congestion, ovarian regression, yolk peritonitis, pale foci and haemorrhages in the
pancreas

Question 17

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome
Diagnosis

Answer 17

Detection of virus: RT-PCR,
qRT-PCR
Detection of antibodies: ELISA

Question 18

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome
Treatment

Answer 18

No effective treatment

Maybe supportive care

Question 19

Chicken Big Liver and
Spleen Disease /
Hepatitis and
Splenomegaly
Syndrome
Prevention and immunity

Answer 19

General epidemiological
measures and strict hygiene
especially when it comes to drinking water —> chlorination of drinking water