%0 Journal Article %T Distribution and Propagation of Hepatitis E Virus in Experimentally Infected Swine %A Katsuro Hagiwara %A Yukie Iwabu %A Yuta Kanai %A Taku Miyasho %A Tomo Daidoji %A Mikihiro Yunoki %A Muneo Tsujikawa %A Yuuji Ohkubo %A Hiroshi YasueKazuyoshi Ikuta %J The Open Veterinary Science Journal %D 2007 %I Bentham Open %R 10.2174/1874318807001010001] %X HEV infections in human and pigs have been reported in many countries; however, the precise distribution and multiplication of this virus in the host remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined the distribution and multiplication of HEV genotype 3 in two piglets at the early phase of intravenous infection, and also examined the virus distribution in a naturally infected pig. We developed real-time RT-PCR to determine copy numbers of the HEV genome in the sera, feces and organs. HEV-RNA was detected in serum from a pig transiently for 7 days post-inoculation (dpi). The HEV copy numbers in the feces appearing 7 dpi were increased to 3.4x106 copies/g at 14 dpi. In contrast, the higher copy numbers of HEV were widely distributed in the tissue organs from naturally HEV-infected pig. The study showed that intravenously inoculated HEV was distributed in several restricted tissues, such as in the liver and intestine. %U http://www.benthamscience.com/open/tovsj/articles/V001/1TOVSJ.htm