MDPIActa Medica Okayama1999-49159122017Characterization of a Novel Bat Adenovirus Isolated from Straw-Colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum).371ENHirohitoOgawaDepartment of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesMasahiroKajihara Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido UniversityNaganoriNao Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido UniversityAsakoShigeno Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido UniversityDaisukeFujikuraDivision of Infection and Immunity, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido UniversityBernard M.HangfombeDepartment of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of ZambiaAaron S.MweeneDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of ZambiaAlishekeMutemwa Provincial Veterinary Office, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Fisheries and LivestockDavidSquarreDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Tourism and ArtsMasaoYamadaDepartment of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesHideakiHigashiDivision of Infection and Immunity, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido UniversityHirofumiSawa Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido UniversityAyatoTakadaGlobal Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University Bats are important reservoirs for emerging zoonotic viruses. For extensive surveys of potential pathogens in straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) in Zambia, a total of 107 spleen samples of E. helvum in 2006 were inoculated onto Vero E6 cells. The cell culture inoculated with one of the samples (ZFB06-106) exhibited remarkable cytopathic changes. Based on the ultrastructural property in negative staining and cross-reactivity in immunofluorescence assays, the virus was suspected to be an adenovirus, and tentatively named E. helvum adenovirus 06-106 (EhAdV 06-106). Analysis of the full-length genome of 30,134 bp, determined by next-generation sequencing, showed the presence of 28 open reading frames. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that EhAdV 06-106 represented a novel bat adenovirus species in the genus Mastadenovirus. The virus shared similar characteristics of low G + C contents with recently isolated members of species Bat mastadenoviruses E, F and G, from which EhAdV 06-106 diverged by more than 15% based on the distance matrix analysis of DNA polymerase amino acid sequences. According to the taxonomic criteria, we propose the tentative new species name "Bat mastadenovirus H". Because EhAdV 06-106 exhibited a wide in vitro cell tropism, the virus might have a potential risk as an emerging virus through cross-species transmission.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.The Japanese Society of Veterinary ScienceActa Medica Okayama0916-72508182019Risk assessment for hepatitis E virus infection from domestic pigs introduced into an experimental animal facility in a medical school11911196ENHirohitoOgawaDepartment of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesHarukoHirayamaDepartment of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama UniversitySatsukiTanakaDepartment of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesNorioYataDepartment of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama UniversityHikaruNambaDepartment of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesNobukoYamashitaDepartment of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesKenzoYonemitsuLaboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi UniversityKenMaedaLaboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi UniversityKatsumiMominokiDepartment of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama UniversityMasaoYamadaDepartment of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is known to cause zoonotic infections from pigs, wild boars and deer. Domestic pigs have been used as an experimental animal model in medical research and training; however, the risks of HEV infection from pigs during animal experiments are largely unknown. Here, we retrospectively investigated the seroprevalence and detection rates of viral RNA in 73 domestic pigs (average 34.5 kg) introduced into an animal experimental facility in a medical school during 2012-2016. We detected anti-HEV immunoglobulin G antibodies in 24 of 73 plasma samples (32.9%), though none of the samples were positive for viral RNA. Plasma samples of 18 pigs were sequentially monitored and were classified into four patterns: sustained positive (5 pigs), sustained negative (5 pigs), conversion to positive (6 pigs) and conversion to negative (2 pigs). HEV genomes were detected in 2 of 4 liver samples from pigs that were transported from the same farm during 2016-2017. Two viral sequences of the overlapping open reading frame (ORF) 2/3 region (97 bp) were identical and phylogenetically fell into genotype 3. A 459-bp length of the ORF2 region of an amplified fragment from a pig transported in 2017 was clustered with the wbJYG1 isolate (subgenotype 3b) with 91.5% (420/459 bp) nucleotide identity. Based on our results, we suggest that domestic pigs introduced into animal facilities carry a potential risk of HEV infection to researchers, trainees and facility staff. Continuous surveillance and precautions are important to prevent HEV infection in animal facilities.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.