The first case of genotype 4 hepatitis E related to wild boar in South Korea

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a waterborne and foodborne pathogen largely spread around the world. HEV is responsible for acute hepatitis in humans and it is also diffused in domestic and wild animals. In particular, domestic pigs represent the main reservoir of the infection and particular attention should be paid to the consumption of raw and undercooked meat as a possible zoonotic vehicle of the pathogen. Several studies have reported the presence of HEV in wild boar circulating in European countries with similar prevalence rates. In this study, we evaluated the occurrence of HEV in wild boar hunted in specific areas of Tuscany. Sampling was performed by collecting liver samples and also by swabbing the carcasses at the slaughterhouses following hunting activities. Our data indicated that 8/67 (12%) of liver samples and 4/67 (6%) of swabs were positive for HEV RNA. The presence of HEV genome on swabs indicates the possible cross-contamination of carcass surfaces during slaughtering procedures. Altogether, our data indicated that it is essential to promote health education programmes for hunters and consumers to limit the diffusion of the pathogen to humans.

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Avoidance of Healthcare Utilization in South Korea during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084363 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4363

Author(s):

Minjung Lee ◽

Myoungsoon You

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

South Korea ◽

Healthcare Utilization ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽

Related Factors ◽

First Case ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Health Related

Avoidance of healthcare utilization among the general population during pandemic outbreaks has been observed and it can lead to a negative impact on population health. The object of this study is to examine the influence of socio-demographic and health-related factors on the avoidance of healthcare utilization during the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020. Data were collected through an online survey four weeks after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed the first case in South Korea; 1000 subjects were included in the analysis. The logit model for regression was used to analyze the associations between sociodemographic and health-related factors regarding the avoidance of healthcare utilization. Among the participants, 73.2% avoided healthcare utilization, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of healthcare avoidance between groups with (72.0%) and without (74.9%) an underlying disease. Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, income level, and residential area) were related to healthcare avoidance. Among the investigated influencing factors, residential areas highly affected by COVID-19 (i.e., Daegu/Gyeoungbuk region) had the most significant effect on healthcare avoidance. This study found a high prevalence of healthcare avoidance among the general population who under-utilized healthcare resources during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the results reveal that not all societal groups share the burden of healthcare avoidance equally, with it disproportionately affecting those with certain sociodemographic characteristics. This study can inform healthcare under-utilization patterns during emerging infectious disease outbreaks and provide information to public health emergency management for implementing strategies necessary to improve the preparedness of the healthcare system.

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Modelling the Spatial Distribution of ASF-Positive Wild Boar Carcasses in South Korea Using 2019–2020 National Surveillance Data

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11051208 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1208

Author(s):

Jun-Sik Lim ◽

Timothée Vergne ◽

Son-Il Pak ◽

Eutteum Kim

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Risk Factor ◽

South Korea ◽

Wild Boar ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

Significant Risk ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Credible Interval ◽

Imperfect Detection ◽

Wild Boars

In September 2019, African swine fever (ASF) was reported in South Korea for the first time. Since then, more than 651 ASF cases in wild boars and 14 farm outbreaks have been notified in the country. Despite the efforts to eradicate ASF among wild boar populations, the number of reported ASF-positive wild boar carcasses have increased recently. The purpose of this study was to characterize the spatial distribution of ASF-positive wild boar carcasses to identify the risk factors associated with the presence and number of ASF-positive wild boar carcasses in the affected areas. Because surveillance efforts have substantially increased in early 2020, we divided the study into two periods (2 October 2019 to 19 January 2020, and 19 January to 28 April 2020) based on the number of reported cases and aggregated the number of reported ASF-positive carcasses into a regular grid of hexagons of 3-km diameter. To account for imperfect detection of positive carcasses, we adjusted spatial zero-inflated Poisson regression models to the number of ASF-positive wild boar carcasses per hexagon. During the first study period, proximity to North Korea was identified as the major risk factor for the presence of African swine fever virus. In addition, there were more positive carcasses reported in affected hexagons with high habitat suitability for wild boars, low heat load index (HLI), and high human density. During the second study period, proximity to an ASF-positive carcass reported during the first period was the only significant risk factor for the presence of ASF-positive carcasses. Additionally, low HLI and elevation were associated with an increased number of ASF-positive carcasses reported in the affected hexagons. Although the proportion of ASF-affected hexagons increased from 0.06 (95% credible interval (CrI): 0.05–0.07) to 0.09 (95% CrI: 0.08–0.10), the probability of reporting at least one positive carcass in ASF-affected hexagons increased from 0.49 (95% CrI: 0.41–0.57) to 0.73 (95% CrI: 0.66–0.81) between the two study periods. These results can be used to further advance risk-based surveillance strategies in the Republic of Korea.

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Complete Genome Sequence of the Genotype 4 Hepatitis E Virus Strain Prevalent in Swine in Jiangsu Province, China, Reveals a Close Relationship with That from the Human Population in This Area

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01060-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 86 (15) ◽

pp. 8334-8335 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

H. Wang ◽

Y. He ◽

Q. Shen ◽

X. Wang ◽

S. Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genome Sequence ◽

Virus Strain ◽

Complete Genome Sequence ◽

Complete Genome ◽

Human Population ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Jiangsu Province ◽

Genotype 4 ◽

Close Relationship

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DETECTION AND PHYLOGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF HEPATITIS E VIRUS GENOTYPE 3 IN A CAPTIVE WILD BOAR IN THAILAND

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine ◽

10.1638/2011-0217r1.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 640-644 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Anuwat Wiratsudakul ◽

Ladawan Sariya ◽

Phirom Prompiram ◽

Siriporn Tantawet ◽

Duangkhamol Suraruangchai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Genotype 3 ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

Phylogenetic Characterization

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in a Domesticated Korean Wild Boar (Sus scrofa coreanus)

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-16-468 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 80 (6) ◽

pp. 1009-1014 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Min-Goo Seo ◽

In-Ohk Ouh ◽

Munki Kim ◽

Jienny Lee ◽

Young-Hoan Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽

Wild Boar ◽

Sus Scrofa ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Rpob Gene ◽

Tuberculosis Infection ◽

Primate Species ◽

Monitoring And Control ◽

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection ◽

First Case

ABSTRACTTuberculosis, a chronic progressive disease, has been reported in bovine, swine, and primate species. Here, we report the first case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a Korean wild boar (Sus scrofa coreanus). The owners this domesticated boar brought it to the Gyeongbuk Veterinary Service Laboratory in Korea after it was found dead and severely emaciated. Demarcated yellowish white nodules were found around the larynx and retropharyngeal lymph node during necropsy. The lungs had diffuse fibrinous pleuritis, severe congestion, and scattered nodules. More nodules were found in the spleen. Tuberculosis is characterized by massive macrophage infiltration and central caseous necrosis; both characteristics were found in the lungs. Histopathologic examination revealed that the alveolar lumen had marked fibrosis and exudates. Examination of the fluid revealed extensive macrophage permeation. To confirm a Mycobacterium infection, PCR was performed using two primer sets specific to the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium was detected in the lungs and spleen. To identify the species of Mycobacterium, immunohistochemical evaluation was performed using antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. The results revealed immunoreactivity against M. tuberculosis but not against M. bovis. The consumption of undercooked or raw meat from game animals may expose humans and other animals to sylvatic infection. Consequently, Koreans who ingest wild boar may be at risk of a tuberculosis infection. To reduce the risk of foodborne infection and maintain public health, continuous monitoring and control strategies are required.

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