Detection and complete genome characterization of a genogroup X (GX) sapovirus (family Caliciviridae) from a golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Hungary.

In this study, a novel genotype of genogroup X (GX) sapovirus (family Caliciviridae) was detected in the small intestinal contents of a golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Hungary and characterised by viral metagenomics and next-generation sequencing techniques. The complete genome of the detected strain, GX/Dömsöd/DOCA-11/2020/HUN (PP105600), is 7,128 nt in length. The ORF1- and ORF2-encoded viral proteins (NSP, VP1, and VP2) have 98%, 95%, and 88% amino acid sequence identity to the corresponding proteins of genogroup GX sapoviruses from domestic pigs, but the nucleic acid sequence identity values for their genes are significantly lower (83%, 77%, and 68%). During an RT-PCR-based epidemiological investigation of additional jackal and swine samples, no other GX strains were detected, but a GXI sapovirus strain, GXI/Tótfalu/WBTF-10/2012/HUN (PP105601), was identified in a faecal sample from a wild boar (Sus scrofa). We report the detection of members of two likely underdiagnosed groups of sapoviruses (GX and GXI) in a golden jackal and, serendipitously, in a wild boar in Europe.

High seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in South Transdanubia, Hungary (2010-2022).

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an increasingly recognized etiological agent of acute, chronic and extrahepatic human infections with primarily zoonotic origin in Europe. Limited numbers of comprehensive population-based studies are available related to HEV seroepidemiology, especially from Central Europe.The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and trends of total and IgM antibodies against HEV in different age groups in the population of South Transdanubia, Hungary, within a thirteen years long period between the years 2010 and 2022.We retrospectively analysed the serological test results of HEV total and HEV IgM antibodies carried out by ELISA technique using Dia.Pro (Diagnostic Bioprobes, Italy) kit from serum samples collected from patients with or without hepatitis between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2022.The number of tested samples (∑6,996 for total antibody and ∑6,582 for IgM) increased during the study period. The average HEV total and the IgM antibody seropositivities were 33% (2,307/6,996 samples) and 9.6% (642/6,582 samples), respectively, in the study population. The HEV total antibody seropositivity varied in different age groups between 3.9% (age group 1-5 years) and 58.6% (86-90 years) and showed an increasing positivity by age. At the age groups >50 years, nearly half (43%) of the population had antibodies against HEV. The HEV IgM positivity had an increasing trend of up to 13.9% in the age group 81-85 years.High HEV total and IgM antibody seroprevalence were detected in South Transdanubia, Hungary, confirming that this region is highly endemic for HEV infections in Europe.

Unusual "Asian-origin" 2c to 2b point mutant canine parvovirus (Parvoviridae) and canine astrovirus (Astroviridae) co-infection detected in vaccinated dogs with an outbreak of severe haemorrhagic gastroenteritis with high mortality rate in Hungary.

In this study, the aetiological background of an outbreak of severe haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) in a colony of purebred Jack Russell Terriers vaccinated against CPV-2 in Hungary was investigated. Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2, Parvoviridae) and canine astrovirus (CaAstV, Astroviridae) co-infection was identified by viral metagenomics and next-generation sequencing (VM-NGS) methods from a rectal swab of an affected 7-week-old puppy. The complete coding sequence of CPV-2 strain FR1/CPV2-2021-HUN (ON733252) and the complete genome of CaAstV strain FR1/CaAstV-2021-HUN (ON733251) were determined by VM-NGS and PCR methods. Results of sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that CPV-2 strain FR1/CPV2-2021-HUN was different from the applied vaccine strains and previously identified strains from Hungary but showed high sequence identity (> 99.8%) and close phylogenetic relationship to recently described "Asian-origin" CPV-2c strains from Italy. But, based on the single amino acid difference on position 426 of VP2 (Glu/Asp) between the study strain and the closest relatives, FR1/CPV2-2021-HUN belonged to the 2b antigenic type rather than 2c. The CaAstV strain FR1/CaAstV-2021-HUN showed close relationship with a CaAstV strain identified previously from a diarrhoeic dog in Hungary. Both viruses were continuously detectable by PCR in additional enteric samples, and the CPV-2 could also be detected in several (n = 32) tissue samples from 9 affected deceased puppies. Further comparative studies are necessary to confirm the role of the point mutation causing the change in the antigenic type of this "Asian-origin" CPV-2 and/or the role of CaAstV co-infection in the development and/or severity of (haemorrhagic) gastroenteritis among dogs vaccinated against CPV-2.