scholarly journals Hepatitis E Virus Occurrence in Pigs Slaughtered in Italy

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Eleonora Chelli ◽  
Elisabetta Suffredini ◽  
Paola De Santis ◽  
Dario De Medici ◽  
Santina Di Bella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Sporadic Cases ◽  
Wild Boar Meat ◽  
Small Clusters ◽  
Frequent Exposure

In Europe, foodborne transmission has been clearly associated to sporadic cases and small clusters of hepatitis E in humans linked to the consumption of contaminated pig liver sausages, raw venison, or undercooked wild boar meat. In Europe, zoonotic HEV-genotype 3 strains are widespread in pig farms but little information is available on the prevalence of HEV positive pigs at slaughterhouse. In the present study, the prevalence of HEV-RNA positive pigs was assessed on 585 animals from 4 abattoirs located across Italy. Twenty-one pigs (3.6%) tested positive for HEV in either feces or liver by real-time RT-PCR. In these 21 pigs, eight diaphragm muscles resulted positive for HEV-RNA. Among animals collected in one abattoir, 4 out of 91 plasma tested positive for HEV-RNA. ELISA tests for the detection of total antibodies against HEV showed a high seroprevalence (76.8%), confirming the frequent exposure of pigs to the virus. The phylogenetic analyses conducted on sequences of both ORF1 and ORF2 fragments, shows the circulation of HEV-3c and of a novel unclassified subtype. This study provides information on HEV occurrence in pigs at the slaughterhouse, confirming that muscles are rarely contaminated by HEV-RNA compared to liver, which is the most frequently positive for HEV.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Molecular Approach for Characterization of Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 Variants

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Wang ◽  
Dominik Harms ◽  
C. Patrick Papp ◽  
Sandra Niendorf ◽  
Sonja Jacobsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Molecular Approach ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Virus Genotype ◽  
Pcr Targeting

ABSTRACT Autochthonous hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) infections in industrialized countries are more frequent than previously assumed. HEV-3 is zoonotic and the causal pathogen of chronic hepatitis E. According to the latest classification of the family Hepeviridae , 10 designated HEV-3 subtypes (HEV-3a to HEV-3j) and 7 unassigned HEV-3 subtypes are proposed. In order to identify and characterize the HEV-3 variants in circulation, we developed a molecular approach combining a sensitive HEV-specific real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the overlapping region of HEV ORF2 and ORF3 (the ORF2/3 region) and two newly designed consensus nested RT-PCRs targeting the HEV ORF1 and ORF2 genes, respectively. Since complete genome sequences are required for new HEV-3 subtype assignment, we implemented a straightforward approach for full-length HEV-3 genome amplification. Twenty-nine human serum samples and six human feces samples from chronic hepatitis E patients were selected for evaluation of the system. Viral loads ranged from 1 × 10 4 to 1.9 × 10 10 copies/ml of serum and from 1.8 × 10 4 to 1 × 10 12 copies/g of feces. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of partial ORF1 and ORF2 sequences showed that HEV strains had considerable genetic diversity and clustered into the HEV-3c (29/35), HEV-3e (2/35), HEV-3f (2/35), and unassigned HEV-3 (2/35) subtypes. Moreover, from these strains, three full-length HEV-3 genome sequences were generated and characterized. DE/15-0030 represents a typical HEV-3c strain (95.7% nucleotide identity to wbGER27), while DE/15-0031 and SW/16-0282 have <89.2% homology to known HEV-3 strains and are phylogenetically divergent, indicating novel HEV-3 subtypes. In summary, our approach will significantly facilitate the detection, quantification, and determination of HEV-3 strains and will thus help to improve molecular diagnostics and our knowledge of HEV diversity and evolution.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E virus infection in 6-month-old pigs in Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Hui Liao ◽  
Fang-Tzy Wu ◽  
Huimin Bai ◽  
Yen Hai Doan ◽  
Jyh-Yuan Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Entire Genome ◽  
Entire Genome Sequence ◽  
Detection Frequency ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
Acute Hepatitis E

Abstract Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute hepatitis E. Genotype 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) HEV have recently been identified in and isolated from swine as the main HEV genotypes worldwide. However, there is limited information on HEV infection status among pigs in Taiwan, especially pigs in the stage before transportation to the slaughterhouse. To determine the frequency of HEV infection among pigs in Taiwan, we detected and quantified HEV RNA contained in 295 fecal specimens collected from 6-month-old pigs bred in 30 pig farms located in 8 counties. We found that 25.1% (74/295) of the fecal specimens were positive for HEV RNA by a quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the copy number ranged from 2.3 × 103 to 2.08 × 107 copies/g. Amplification of a 338 bp sequence in ORF2 was achieved in 16 of 74 HEV RNA-positive samples, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Two HEV sequences appeared to belong to subtype 3a of G3 and the remaining 14 HEV sequences belonged to subtype 4b of G4 (G4b). The entire genome sequence of two G4b HEVs was obtained by next-generation sequence analyses, and the phylogenetic analyses indicated that unique G4b HEVs were circulating in pig farms in Taiwan. In the present study, we found that both G3 and G4 HEVs were circulating in Taiwanese pig farms and G4b was the predominant subtype. In addition, the relatively high detection frequency of HEV RNA in the 6-month-old pigs indicated that Taiwanese pigs just before transportation to the slaughterhouse are at risk of carrying HEVs, and thus thorough cooking or heating of pork meat or organs is needed before consumption in Taiwan and possibly in other countries as well.

scholarly journals Detection and characterization of infectious Hepatitis E virus from commercial pig livers sold in local grocery stores in the USA

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 912-917 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Feagins ◽  
T. Opriessnig ◽  
D. K. Guenette ◽  
P. G. Halbur ◽  
X.-J. Meng
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Infectious Hepatitis ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Pig Liver ◽  
Virus Shedding ◽  
The Usa

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen of which pigs are reservoirs. To determine the presence of HEV RNA in commercial pig livers sold in local grocery stores in the USA, 127 packages of commercial pig liver were purchased and tested by a universal RT-PCR assay capable of detecting all four known HEV genotypes. Among the 127 livers tested, 14 were positive for HEV RNA. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the 14 isolates all belonged to genotype 3. An animal study was subsequently conducted in pigs to determine whether the PCR-positive pig livers still contained infectious virus. The results showed that pigs inoculated with two of the three PCR-positive pig-liver homogenates became infected, as evidenced by the detection of faecal virus shedding, viraemia and seroconversion. The data demonstrated that commercial pig livers sold in grocery stores are contaminated by HEV and that the contaminating virus remains infectious, thus raising a public-health concern for food-borne HEV infection.

scholarly journals Sero-molecular epidemiology of hepatitis E virus in pigs and human contacts in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Yeboah ◽  
Augustina Angelina Sylverken ◽  
Michael Owusu ◽  
Philip El-Duah ◽  
Vitus Burimuah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Human Participants

Abstract Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is among the leading causes of viral hepatitis in most developing countries. Zoonotic acquisition of HEV genotype 3 from swine has come into focus more recently. Available studies on HEV in Ghana and other countries in the region do not provide enough information towards understanding the epidemiology of HEV in human and animal populations. Towards this end, we conducted a comparative cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HEV exposure, both in swine and humans working on pig farms in typical local settings. The presence of viral RNA in human and swine samples was also evaluated, along with classification of viral sequences from HEV-positive samples. Methods Structured questionnaires soliciting information on pigs reared, as well as socio-demographic information including age, sex and educational background of humans was collected. A total of 10 ml and 5 ml of whole blood was collected from pigs and human participants respectively. ELISA and real-time RT-PCR were performed on the sera for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus and viral RNA, respectively. Results Five hundred and forty-four (544) human participants including 264 swine contacts and 280 swine non-contacts were enrolled in the study. Although the proportion of HEV IgG antibodies was higher in contact groups (114; 54.3%) than non-contact groups (96; 45.7%), a multivariate analysis did not show any significant difference. No HEV RNA was detected in human samples. Similarly, 720 pigs were sampled from 18 farms located in five regions in Ghana. Twenty-three (23) of the pigs (3.2, 95%CI = 2.0–4.8) were positive for HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR testing. Sequences obtained from HEV-positive samples were found to share high sequence identities with each other and clustered with other genotype 3 viruses indicating the existence of circulating zoonotic genotype 3 viruses on farms. Although we did not find evidence of pig to human transmission of HEV genotype 3, the presence of this genotype in pigs shows the potential for possible zoonotic transmission in African farm settings and buttresses the importance of active surveillance for the infection among at risk populations.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Imported and Domestic Camels in Saudi Arabia – A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Molecular Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherif A. El-Kafrawy ◽  
Ahmed M. Hassan ◽  
Mai M. El-Daly ◽  
Mohammed Al-Hajri ◽  
Elmoubashar Farag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Molecular Study ◽  
Amino Acid Difference ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses

Abstract Camels gained attention since the discovery of MERS-CoV as intermediary hosts for potentially epidemic zoonotic viruses. DcHEV is a novel zoonotic pathogen associated with camel contact. This study aimed to genetically characterize DcHEV in domestic and imported camels in Saudi Arabia. DcHEV was detected by RT-PCR in serum samples, PCR-positive samples were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. DcHEV was detected in 1.77% of samples with higher positivity in domestic DCs. All positive imported dromedaries were from Sudan with age declining prevalence. Domestic DcHEV sequences clustered with sequences from Kenya, Somalia, and UAE while imported sequences clustered with one DcHEV isolate from UAE and both sequences clustered away from isolates reported from Pakistan. Full-genome sequences showed 24 amino acid difference with reference sequences. Our results confirm the detection of DcHEV in domestic and imported DCs. Further investigations are needed in human and camel populations to identify DcHEV potential zoonosis threat.

scholarly journals Endemic hepatitis E in two Nordic countries

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Norder ◽  
L Sundqvist ◽  
L Magnusson ◽  
S Østergaard Breum ◽  
M Löfdahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Genotype 1 ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Travel Abroad

Antibodies against hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) were found in 248 Swedish and Danish patients between 1993 and 2007. Most patients were symptomatic and tested for anti-HEV due to travel abroad. Among patients with known country of infection, most were infected in Asia, mainly on the Indian subcontinent. However, 29 patients were infected in Europe, nine of these had HEV IgM and/or HEV RNA in serum. In sera from 65 of 141 tested patients HEV RNA could be detected, and 63 strains could be typed by limited sequencing within ORF2. HEV RNA was found in sera from 71% of the patients with HEV IgM and IgG and in 18% of the patients with only detectable HEV IgG. It was also found up to three weeks after the onset of disease in 67% of the patients with known date of onset. Patients infected in Europe were infected by genotype 3, and were older than those infected by genotype 1 (mean age 55.3 vs 30 years, p<0.001). Since it is known that genotype 3 can infect domestic pigs, HEV strains from 18 piglets in 17 herds in Sweden and Denmark were sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses of the genotype 3 strains showed geographical clades and high similarity between strains from patients and pigs from the same area. There are thus autochthonous hepatitis E cases in Scandinavia, and there are probably many undiagnosed ones. Patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology should therefore be investigated for anti-HEV even if they have not been outside Europe, since infections acquired from pigs or other animals should be taken into consideration.

scholarly journals Rat Hepatitis E Virus: Presence in Humans in South-Western France?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Parraud ◽  
Sébastien Lhomme ◽  
Jean Marie Péron ◽  
Isabelle Da Silva ◽  
Suzanne Tavitian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Function ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Liver Function Tests ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Common Causes

Background: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of hepatitis worldwide, and South-Western France is a high HEV seroprevalence area. While most cases of HEV infection are associated with the species Orthohepevirus-A, several studies have reported a few cases of HEV infections due to Orthohepevirus-C (HEV-C) that usually infects rats. Most of these human cases have occurred in immunocompromised patients. We have screened for the presence of HEV-C in our region.Methods and Results: We tested 224 sera, mostly from immunocompromised patients, for HEV-C RNA using an in-house real time RT-PCR. Liver function tests gave elevated results in 63% of patients: mean ALT was 159 IU/L (normal &lt; 40 IU/L). Anti-HEV IgG (49%) and anti-HEV IgM (9.4%) were frequently present but none of the samples tested positive for HEV-C RNA.Conclusion: HEV-C does not circulate in the human population of South-Western France, despite the high seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of hepatitis E virus in feces and slurry from swine farms, Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 777-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Vasconcelos ◽  
M.C. Soliman ◽  
R. Staggemeier ◽  
L. Heinzelmann ◽  
L. Weidlich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Orf1 Gene ◽  
Swine Herds

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is highly disseminated among swine herds worldwide. HEV is also a threat to public health, since particularly genotypes 3 and 4 may cause acute hepatitis in human beings. No previous studies were done on the occurrence of HEV in environmental samples in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In the present study, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the presence of HEV in swine feces and in effluents from slurry lagoons in farms located in the municipality of Teutônia, inside the area of swine husbandry in the state. Pooled fecal samples from the floor of pig barns from 9 wean-to-finish farms and liquid manure samples were collected from the slurry lagoons from 8 of these farms. From the pooled fecal samples, 8/9 were positive for the HEV ORF1 gene by RT-PCR; all the slurry lagoon samples were positive for HEV RNA (100%). The identity of the HEV ORF1 amplicons was confirmed by sequencing belonging to HEV genotype 3, which was previously shown to be circulating in South America.

scholarly journals  The prevalence of hepatitis E virus in piglets on Czech pig production farms and phylogenetic analysis of recovered isolates

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kosinova ◽  
J. Bendova ◽  
P. Vasickova ◽  
R. Smitalova ◽  
J. Prodelalova
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Intestinal Content ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
One Step ◽  
Orf1 Gene

The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in domestic pigs and to investigate the genetic divergence of swine HEV in the Czech Republic. To this end, a one-step real time RT-PCR assay was introduced as a screening method while nested RT-PCR was used as an additional method to obtain specific sequences from the HEV genome and thus to perform sequence analysis. A total of 63 piglets originating from 14 farms were examined. Bile and intestinal contents were collected from each animal. At least one HEV RNA positive piglet was found in ten (71.4%) of the monitored farms. HEV RNA was most frequently detected in bile samples (34.9%) compared to intestinal content samples (22.2%). In nine piglets (14.3%), both biological samples were HEV RNA-positive. Based on these results sequence and phylogenetic analysis of one randomly selected HEV isolate originating from each HEV RNA-positive farm was performed. Analysis of 287&nbsp;bp PCR products of the ORF1 gene showed that all the studied HEV isolates could be classified into genotype 3 and subgenotypes 3f and 3g. The failure to find any 100% homology between our isolates and HEV isolates deposited in the GenBank confirms the significant variability within the HEV genome. &nbsp;

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