Avaliação molecular da circulação de hepadnavírus em gatos domésticos do Triângulo Mineiro

Abstract

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the main causes of liver diseases in humans, including chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH), a recently described hepadnavirus belonging to the same viral family as HBV, was identified in a feline in 2018 and subsequently reported in various other countries. In Brazil, the occurrence of the virus has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective was to assess the occurrence of hepadnavirus in domestic cats in the Triângulo Mineiro region. A total of 334 DNA samples extracted from whole blood were used, subjected to Nested-PCR Pan-Hepadnaviridae, and real-time PCR for proviral DNA of feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV (3,0%; 10/334)] and feline leukemia virus [FeLV (27,2%; 91/334)]. Epidemiological information such as age, sex, and data on serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT (43,4%; 23/53)] activity was obtained from the cats' records. Despite the sample population presenting potential risk factors for domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) infection, such as FeLV infection and increased serum ALT enzyme activity, the presence of this virus was not observed in the studied region.