Global Prevalence of Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus: An Emerging Threat to Cats' Health?

Maya Shofa; Yasuyuki Kaneko; Kazuki Takahashi; Tamaki Okabayashi; Akatsuki Saito

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.938154

Global Prevalence of Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus: An Emerging Threat to Cats' Health?

Front Microbiol. 2022 Jun 24:13:938154. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.938154. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Maya Shofa^{1

2}, Yasuyuki Kaneko³, Kazuki Takahashi¹, Tamaki Okabayashi^{1

2

4}, Akatsuki Saito^{1

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
² Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
³ Faculty of Agriculture, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
⁴ Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.

Abstract

Hepatitis B is an infectious hepatocellular disease of global concern caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), which belongs to Hepadnaviridae. Recently, a novel HBV-like virus, domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH), was detected from an immunocompromised cat with a hepatic disease in Australia. Subsequent molecular investigation by independent research groups revealed that its prevalence rates were 6.5% in Australia, 10.8% in Italy, 12.4% in Thailand, 12.3% in Malaysia, 3.08% in the United Kingdom, and 0.78% in Japan. Although the correlation between DCH infection and hepatic diseases remains to be elucidated, understanding the diversity of circulating DCH will contribute to its prevention and control in domestic cats. Herein, we summarize the current epidemiological data of DCH in these countries.

Keywords: FIV; FeLV; domestic cat hepadnavirus; novel hepadnavirus; prevalence.

Publication types

Review