scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Dromedary Camel HEV in Domestic and Imported Camels from Saudi Arabia

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 553
Author(s):  
Sherif Aly El-Kafrawy ◽  
Ahmed Mohamed Hassan ◽  
Mai Mohamed El-Daly ◽  
Ishtiaq Qadri ◽  
Ahmed Majdi Tolah ◽  
...  

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) imposes a major health concern in areas with very poor sanitation in Africa and Asia. The pathogen is transmitted mainly through ingesting contaminated water or food, coming into contact with affected people, and blood transfusions. Very few reports including old reports are available on the prevalence of HEV in Saudi Arabia in humans and no reports exist on HEV prevalence in camels. Dromedary camel trade and farming are increasing in Saudi Arabia with importation occurring unidirectionally from Africa to Saudi Arabia. DcHEV transmission to humans has been reported in one case from the United Arab Emeritus (UAE). This instigated us to perform this investigation of the seroprevalence of HEV in imported and domestic camels in Saudi Arabia. Serum samples were collected from imported and domestic camels. DcHEV-Abs were detected in collected sera using ELISA. The prevalence of DcHEV in the collected samples was 23.1% with slightly lower prevalence in imported camels than domestic camels (22.4% vs. 25.4%, p value = 0.3). Gender was significantly associated with the prevalence of HEV in the collected camels (p value = 0.015) where males (31.6%) were more infected than females (13.4%). This study is the first study to investigate the prevalence of HEV in dromedary camels from Saudi Arabia. The high seroprevalence of DcHEV in dromedaries might indicate their role as a zoonotic reservoir for viral infection to humans. Future HEV seroprevalence studies in humans are needed to investigate the role of DcHEV in the Saudi human population.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Y Alhatlani ◽  
Waleed A Aljabr ◽  
Mohammed S Almarzouqi ◽  
Sami M Alhatlani ◽  
Rayan N Alzunaydi ◽  
...  

Aim: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmission through blood transfusion is a major public health issue worldwide. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HEV in blood donors in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Materials & methods: Serum samples (n = 1078) were collected from volunteer blood donors and tested for the presence of anti-HEV IgG and IgM by indirect ELISA. Results: The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG among the blood donors was 5.7% overall. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM seropositivity were significantly higher in non-Saudi donors than in Saudi donors (22.1 vs 3 and 7.8 vs 0.2% for anti-HEV IgG and IgM, respectively). Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HEV among blood donors in the Qassim region was lower than previous estimates for other regions of the country and neighboring countries.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Alhatlani ◽  
Waleed Aljabr ◽  
Mohammed Almarzouqi ◽  
Sami Alhatlani ◽  
Rayan Alzunaydi ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV), a major public health issue worldwide with the potential for transmission via blood transfusion, in blood donors in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Serum samples (n = 1,078) were collected from volunteer blood donors from January to April 2019 and tested for the presence of anti-HEV IgG and IgM by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results Overall, the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG and IgM among blood donors was 5.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Additionally, the seropositive rates of anti-HEV IgG and IgM were significantly higher in non-Saudi donors (22.1% and 7.8%) than in Saudi donors (3% and 0.2%). The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG increased with age; however, there was no correlation between gender and anti-HEV IgG and/or IgM. The seroprevalence of HEV among blood donors in the Qassim Region was lower than previous estimates for other regions of the country. Further studies covering a wider geographical area are needed to validate and expand the findings and to determine the importance of HEV screening in the region.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherif A. El-Kafrawy ◽  
Ahmed M. Hassan ◽  
Mai M. El-Daly ◽  
Mohammed Al-Hajri ◽  
Elmoubashar Farag ◽  
...  

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.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folakemi Abiodun Osundare ◽  
Patrycja Klink ◽  
Catharina Majer ◽  
Olusola Aanuoluwapo Akanbi ◽  
Bo Wang ◽  
...  

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major public health concern in low-income countries, yet incidence and prevalence estimates are often lacking. Serum (n = 653) and faecal (n = 150) samples were collected from apparently healthy individuals using convenience sampling technique in six communities (Ore, Oke-Osun, Osogbo, Ede, Esa-Odo, and Iperindo) from Osun State, Nigeria. Serum samples were analysed for total anti-HEV IgG/IgM and anti-HEV IgM using commercially available HEV ELISA kits. Total anti-HEV positive serum and all stool samples were analysed for HEV RNA by RT-PCR. Overall, 15.0% (n = 98/653) and 3.8% (n = 25/653) of the serum samples were positive for anti-HEV total and IgM antibodies, respectively. Total anti-HEV and IgM in Ore, Oke-Osun, Osogbo, Ede, Esa-Odo, and Iperindo was 21.0% (n = 13/62) and 3.2% (n = 2/62), 19.4% (n = 20/103) and 6.8% (n = 7/103), 11.4% (n = 12/105) and 2.9% (n = 3/105), 8.0% (n = 16/199) and 1.5% (n = 3/199), 22.0% (n = 22/100) and 10.0% (n = 10/100), and 17.9% (n = 15/84) and 0.0% (n = 0/84), respectively. All samples (stool and serum) were HEV RNA negative. Anti-HEV seroprevalence was associated with rural location, increasing age, alcohol consumption, and rearing of animals. This study demonstrated a high anti-HEV seroprevalence in Osun State, indicating the need to implement surveillance and asses the hepatitis E burden in Nigeria.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Rivero-Juarez ◽  
María A. Risalde ◽  
Christian Gortázar ◽  
Pedro Lopez-Lopez ◽  
Jose A. Barasona ◽  
...  

Little is known about the role of ticks in maintaining highly prevalent zoonotic viruses in wildlife, such as hepatitis E virus (HEV), which do not require ticks for transmission between animals and humans. In this cross-sectional study, adult female ticks were collected from Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) in autumn 2015 in Spain. HEV RNA in both ticks and wild boar was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Twenty-nine adult Hyalomma lusitanicum ticks were collected from 29 wild boars. HEV RNA was detected in a total of 10 tick (34.4%) and 11 wild boar serum samples (37.9%). In two cases, detectable HEV RNA was found in a wild boar but not in the tick collected from them. In contrast, one HEV-positive tick was collected from an HEV-negative wild boar. All viral sequences were consistent with genotype 3f. We describe for the first time the presence of HEV RNA in adult Hyalomma lusitanicum ticks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Suin ◽  
Sofieke E Klamer ◽  
Veronik Hutse ◽  
Magali Wautier ◽  
Marjorie Jacques ◽  
...  

Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging public health concern in high-income countries and can cause acute and chronic hepatitis. Reported numbers of indigenously acquired HEV infection have increased in the past decade in many European countries. Since 2010, the National Reference Centre (NRC) for Hepatitis Viruses has been testing samples of suspected hepatitis E cases in Belgium. Aim In this surveillance report, we present the epidemiological trends of symptomatic HEV infections in Belgium, from the distribution by age, sex and geography to the molecular characterisation of the viral strains. Method Serum samples of suspected cases sent to the NRC between 2010 and 2017 were analysed for the presence of HEV-specific IgM and RNA. Virus was sequenced for genotyping and phylogenetic analysis in all samples containing sufficient viral RNA. Results The NRC reported an increase in the number of samples from suspected cases (from 309 to 2,663 per year) and in the number of laboratory-confirmed hepatitis E cases (from 25 to 117 per year). Among 217 sequenced samples, 92.6% were genotype 3 (HEV-3), followed by 6.5% of genotype 1 and 0.9% of genotype 4. HEV-3 subtype viruses were mainly 3f, 3c and 3e. HEV-3f was the most common subtype until 2015, while HEV-3c became the most common subtype in 2016 and 2017. Conclusion The increasing trend of HEV diagnoses in Belgium may be largely explained by increased awareness and testing.


Author(s):  
Jean Bienvenue Ouoba ◽  
Anne Ouedraogo ◽  
Kuan Abdoulaye Traore ◽  
Bruno L. Ouoba ◽  
Hortense Rouamba ◽  
...  

Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the sero-epidemiological information and associated risk factors, of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) among dromedaries in Sub-sahelian region. Study Design: Cross sectional epidemiological survey. Place and Duration: The study was carried out in three countries of West Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger), over a two month period from February to March 2015. Methodology: A total of 133 serum samples collected from dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) were examined for the detection of anti-DcHEV total antibody by a mammals targeted ELISA kit (ID vet, France), using a multispecies conjugate. Results: Eleven of the 133 (8.33%; 95%CI [3.6 – 13.0]) dromedaries were positive for anti-DcHEV antibodies. Positive cases had a random geographic distribution (p˃0.05) and all seropositive dromedaries were in close contact with other domestic animals. Conclusion: This study highlight the circulation of HEV in West African mammals and specifically in dromedaries. This is the first study reporting HEV circulation in dromedaries in West Africa. Further studies is needed to identify the HEV genotype involved in the dromedary camel infection, and evaluation of potential transmission to dromedary’s care keepers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Alhatlani ◽  
Waleed Aljabr ◽  
Mohammed Almarzouqi ◽  
Sami Alhatlani ◽  
Rayan Alzunaydi ◽  
...  

Abstract ObjectivesTo evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV), a major public health issue worldwide with the potential for transmission via blood transfusion, in blood donors in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Serum samples (n = 1,078) were collected from volunteer blood donors from January to April 2019 and tested for the presence of anti-HEV IgG and IgM by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.ResultsOverall, the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG among blood donors was 5.7%. Additionally, the seropositive rates of anti-HEV IgG and IgM were significantly higher in non-Saudi donors (22.1% and 35.3%) than in Saudi donors (3% and 7.4%). The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG increased with age; however, there was no correlation between gender and anti-HEV IgG and/or IgM. The seroprevalence of HEV among blood donors in the Qassim Region was lower than previous estimates for other regions of the country. Further studies covering a wider geographical area are needed to validate and expand the findings and to determine the importance of HEV screening in the region.


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