Figures & data
Table 1. Hepatitis E virus strains used in the study.
Figure 1. Phylogenetic analysis of the strains used to infect rabbits. (A) Phylogenetic analysis of the eight strains based on a partial nucleotide sequence about 350 bp of the ORF2 region. (B) Phylogenetic analysis of nearly complete sequences of five strains (HEV-3ra, hHEV-4d, sHEV-4d, sHEV-4h and HEV8). The complete or nearly complete sequences of the above five virus strains used in the study were obtained. Sixty-six ICTV proposed reference strains were used and the GenBank accession numbers of all reference sequences are shown in the figure. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by the neighbour-joining method. Numbers indicate nodes where bootstrap support was >80% out of 1000 replicates. Bar: nucleotide sequence distances; Dots: strains used to infect rabbits in the study. GenBank numbers: hHEV-3b, MF996356; hHEV-4a, KP325707; hHEV-4d, MT993748; hHEV-4h, KP325697; sHEV-4d, MT993749; sHEV-4h, MT993750; HEV-3ra, JX109834; HEV8, MH410174.
![Figure 1. Phylogenetic analysis of the strains used to infect rabbits. (A) Phylogenetic analysis of the eight strains based on a partial nucleotide sequence about 350 bp of the ORF2 region. (B) Phylogenetic analysis of nearly complete sequences of five strains (HEV-3ra, hHEV-4d, sHEV-4d, sHEV-4h and HEV8). The complete or nearly complete sequences of the above five virus strains used in the study were obtained. Sixty-six ICTV proposed reference strains were used and the GenBank accession numbers of all reference sequences are shown in the figure. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by the neighbour-joining method. Numbers indicate nodes where bootstrap support was >80% out of 1000 replicates. Bar: nucleotide sequence distances; Dots: strains used to infect rabbits in the study. GenBank numbers: hHEV-3b, MF996356; hHEV-4a, KP325707; hHEV-4d, MT993748; hHEV-4h, KP325697; sHEV-4d, MT993749; sHEV-4h, MT993750; HEV-3ra, JX109834; HEV8, MH410174.](/cms/asset/6e80267a-fd54-401c-a0eb-98c010709af6/temi_a_1858178_f0001_oc.jpg)
Table 2. Infectivity of different HEV genotypes/subtypes in rabbits.
Figure 2. Duration of fecal virus shedding and fecal viral load in Group B, C and F. (A–D) Duration of fecal virus shedding determined by RT-nPCR results among group B, C and F. (E) Fecal viral load quantified by RT-qPCR results among group B, C and F. Limit of detection showed in dotted line.
![Figure 2. Duration of fecal virus shedding and fecal viral load in Group B, C and F. (A–D) Duration of fecal virus shedding determined by RT-nPCR results among group B, C and F. (E) Fecal viral load quantified by RT-qPCR results among group B, C and F. Limit of detection showed in dotted line.](/cms/asset/a8ee107f-886d-4de9-bd28-cbd275b2f082/temi_a_1858178_f0002_oc.jpg)
Figure 3. Immunofluorescence staining of HEV ORF2 in liver tissues. Positive signals of ORF2 were observed in liver section in successfully infected group B, C and F. No obvious positive signals were observed in group A, D, E and Control group I. Original magnification, ×20; HEV ORF2 antigen was stained with HEV ORF2-specific antibody in green; nuclei were stained with DAPI in blue.
![Figure 3. Immunofluorescence staining of HEV ORF2 in liver tissues. Positive signals of ORF2 were observed in liver section in successfully infected group B, C and F. No obvious positive signals were observed in group A, D, E and Control group I. Original magnification, ×20; HEV ORF2 antigen was stained with HEV ORF2-specific antibody in green; nuclei were stained with DAPI in blue.](/cms/asset/c6908686-e339-4623-819b-c7b4cae443cd/temi_a_1858178_f0003_oc.jpg)
Figure 4. Kinetics of fecal antigen, serum antigen, anti-HEV antibodies and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. (A) Kinetics of fecal antigen in successfully infected rabbits of group B, C and F. (B) Kinetics of serum antigen in successfully infected rabbits of group B, C and F. (C) Dynamic anti-HEV antibody positivity in group A–I. S/CO, signal/cut-off, S/CO = 1 showed in dotted line, S/CO > 1 was positive (D) Dynamic ALT changes in group A–I.
![Figure 4. Kinetics of fecal antigen, serum antigen, anti-HEV antibodies and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. (A) Kinetics of fecal antigen in successfully infected rabbits of group B, C and F. (B) Kinetics of serum antigen in successfully infected rabbits of group B, C and F. (C) Dynamic anti-HEV antibody positivity in group A–I. S/CO, signal/cut-off, S/CO = 1 showed in dotted line, S/CO > 1 was positive (D) Dynamic ALT changes in group A–I.](/cms/asset/4acf0aa5-8952-448d-a2dc-ca9e60177b8f/temi_a_1858178_f0004_oc.jpg)
Figure 5. Histopathology of liver tissues. Disordered structure of liver tissues and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in liver sections of infected rabbits in group B, C and F. Mild cholestasis was also observed in group B. No obvious pathological changes were seen in group A, D, E and negative group I. Arrows indicate infiltration of inflammatory cells and cholestasis. Original magnification, ×10.
![Figure 5. Histopathology of liver tissues. Disordered structure of liver tissues and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in liver sections of infected rabbits in group B, C and F. Mild cholestasis was also observed in group B. No obvious pathological changes were seen in group A, D, E and negative group I. Arrows indicate infiltration of inflammatory cells and cholestasis. Original magnification, ×10.](/cms/asset/d87ee0f6-17a5-4ae9-98fb-53f57873d29f/temi_a_1858178_f0005_oc.jpg)