Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

First National Prevalence in Italian Horse Population and Phylogenesis Highlights a Fourth Sub-type Candidate of Equine Hepacivirus

Roberto Nardini
* ORCID logo ,
Giulia Pacchiarotti
ORCID logo ,
Valentina Svicher
,
Romina Salpini
,
Maria Concetta Bellocchi
ORCID logo ,
Raffaella Conti
ORCID logo ,
Marcello Giovanni Sala
,
Davide La Rocca
,
Luca Carioti
,
Antonella Cersini
,
Giuseppe Manna
,
Equine Hepatic Viruses Consortium
,
Maria Teresa Scicluna
Version 1 : Received: 19 March 2024 / Approved: 20 March 2024 / Online: 21 March 2024 (12:20:46 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Nardini, R.; Pacchiarotti, G.; Svicher, V.; Salpini, R.; Bellocchi, M.C.; Conti, R.; Sala, M.G.; La Rocca, D.; Carioti, L.; Cersini, A.; Manna, G.; the Equine Hepatic Viruses Consortium; Scicluna, M.T. First National Prevalence in Italian Horse Population and Phylogenesis Highlight a Fourth Sub-Type Candidate of Equine Hepacivirus. Viruses 2024, 16, 616. Nardini, R.; Pacchiarotti, G.; Svicher, V.; Salpini, R.; Bellocchi, M.C.; Conti, R.; Sala, M.G.; La Rocca, D.; Carioti, L.; Cersini, A.; Manna, G.; the Equine Hepatic Viruses Consortium; Scicluna, M.T. First National Prevalence in Italian Horse Population and Phylogenesis Highlight a Fourth Sub-Type Candidate of Equine Hepacivirus. Viruses 2024, 16, 616.

Abstract

Equine hepacivirus (EqHV, Flaviviridae, Hepacivirus) is a small, enveloped, RNA virus generally causing sub-clinical hepatitis with occasional fatalities. EqHV is reported in equids worldwide, but for Italy data are limited. To address this, a survey study was set up to estimate prevalence at national level and among different production categories (equestrian, competition, work and meat and reproduction) and national macro-regions (North, Central, South and Islands). Data obtained testing 1801 horse serum samples by Real-Time RT PCR were compared within the categories and regions. The NS3 fragment of the PCR-positive samples was sequenced by Sanger protocol for phylogenetic and mutational analysis. The tertiary structure of the NS3 protein was also assessed. The estimated national prevalence was 4.27% [1.97-6.59, 95%CI] and no statistical differences were detected among production categories and macro-regions. The phylogenesis confirmed the distribution in Italy of the three known EqHV subtypes, suggesting also a possible fourth sub-type that however requires further confirmation. Mutational profiles that could also affect the NS3 binding affinity to the viral RNA were detected. The present paper demonstrates that EqHV should be included in diagnostic protocols when investigating causes of hepatitis and in quality control protocols for blood derived products, due to its parental transmission.

Keywords

equine hepacivirus; horses; biomolecular prevalence; Italy; phylogenesis

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Virology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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