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Ferrara G, Pagnini U, Improda E, Ciarcia R, Parisi A, Fiorito F, Della Valle G, Iovane G, Montagnaro S. Detection of anti-HEV antibodies but no molecular positivity in dogs in the Campania region, southern Italy. One Health 2024; 18:100724. [PMID: 38623500 PMCID: PMC11017036 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Paslahepevirus balayani genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3 and 4) have zoonotic potential and can be transmitted to humans and animals through the consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked meat. Although it has been demonstrated that dogs are susceptible to the infection and produce specific antibodies, the epidemiological role of this species is not yet well defined. This study aimed to evaluate the circulation of HEV at the serological and molecular level in the dog population of the Campania region, southern Italy. A total of 231 dogs were sampled, divided according to several variables (sex, age, origin, lifestyle, location, size, and breed), and tested for the presence of HEV antibodies using a commercial multi-species ELISA. A total of 197 blood samples and 170 stool samples were tested with two specific PCRs in order to detect viral RNA. A total of 19 out samples of 231 were seropositive, obtaining an exposure (8.2%) similar to that observed in other European countries. The univariate and multivariate analysis revealed a wide exposure to stray dogs and animals from the province of Salerno. All samples tested with molecular methods were negative. Defining the role of domestic carnivores continues to be a "one health" challenge, although it appears that they do not eliminate the virus and therefore do not pose a danger to humans. In the absence of other evidence, it is advisable to continue to carry out surveillance also for domestic animals, which, due to ethological characteristics or their position in the food chain, could be predisposed to being exposed to HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Ferrara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - U. Pagnini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - E. Improda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - R. Ciarcia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - A. Parisi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - F. Fiorito
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - G. Della Valle
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - G. Iovane
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - S. Montagnaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
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López-López P, Risalde MA, Casares-Jiménez M, Caballero-Gómez J, Martín-Gómez A, Martínez-Blasco J, Agulló-Ros I, Frías M, García-Bocanegra I, Gómez-Villamandos JC, Rivero A, Rivero-Juárez A. Prevalence of Paslahepevirus balayani in commercial swine food products from Spain. One Health 2024; 18:100690. [PMID: 39010960 PMCID: PMC11247292 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Paslahepevirus balayani (formerly known as hepatitis E virus) is an emerging cause of foodborne disease in Europe, transmitted mainly by the consumption of raw or undercooked pork. Since little is known about the presence of the virus in several pork products that are eaten uncooked, our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of Paslahepevirus balayani in groups of commercial pork products intended for human consumption subjected to different processing techniques. A total of 1265 samples of pork products from Spain were divided into four groups and tested for the presence of Paslahepevirus balayani RNA: unprocessed pig and wild boar meat frozen at -20 °C (n = 389), dry-cured pork products (n = 391), dry-cured and salted pork products (n = 219), and boiled products (n = 266) (none of these products contained pork liver). Five samples were positive for Paslahepevirus balayani RNA (overall prevalence: 0.4%; 95% CI: 0.17% - 0.92%). All positive samples were from unprocessed meat stored at -20 °C, with a prevalence in this group of 1.3% (95% CI: 0.42-3.44); two samples came from pigs (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.13-3.81) and three from wild boar (1.5%; 95% CI: 0.31-4.28). None of the pork samples in the other groups was positive. In conclusion, Paslahepevirus balayani was found in unprocessed swine products form Spain, but not in processed products intended to be consumed undercooked, demonstrating that transmission of this zoonotic virus by eating these pork products should be more seriously considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro López-López
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María A. Risalde
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, Grupo de Investigación GISAZ, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - María Casares-Jiménez
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Javier Caballero-Gómez
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación GISAZ, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Andrés Martín-Gómez
- Departamento de Innovación, Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP), Pozoblanco, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Javier Martínez-Blasco
- Departamento de Innovación, Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP), Pozoblanco, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Irene Agulló-Ros
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, Grupo de Investigación GISAZ, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Mario Frías
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación GISAZ, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - José C. Gómez-Villamandos
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, Grupo de Investigación GISAZ, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Antonio Rivero
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Rivero-Juárez
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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3
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Lorusso P, Pandiscia A, Manfredi A, Tantillo GM, Terio V. Evaluation of hepatitis E virus RNA persistence in experimentally contaminated cured pork liver sausages. Ital J Food Saf 2024; 13:12286. [PMID: 38846049 PMCID: PMC11154169 DOI: 10.4081/ijfs.2024.12286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E is a disease sustained by RNA viruses, which have four different genotypes, all of which are responsible for acute forms of hepatitis. Genotypes 1 and 2 infect only humans, causing epidemics mainly transmitted by contaminated water, while geno-types 3 and 4 are zoonotic, and the infection is linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked meat or meat products. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 3 and 4 have been detected in domestic Suidae, considered the asymptomatic reservoir of HEV, and in wild animals such as wild boar and deer. Despite scientific studies that have highlighted the presence of HEV in cured meat products, such as pork liver sausages, the viral persistence in the different production steps of curing has not been evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the persistence of HEV genotype 3 during the different curing and storage times of experimentally contaminated pork liver sausages using biomolecular methods. The sausages tested positive at all curing and storage times. This study confirms the potential risk attributed to pork liver sausages in HEV transmission. However, to guarantee an efficient risk assessment, future studies will be performed to correlate the presence of HEV RNA with infectious viral particles.
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Altissimi C, Primavilla S, Roila R, Gavaudan S, Morandi B, Di Lullo S, Coppini M, Baldinelli C, Cai D, Branciari R, Valiani A, Paulsen P, Ranucci D. Salmonella in Wild Boar Meat: Prevalence and Risk Assessment in Central Italy (Umbria and Marche Region). Foods 2024; 13:1156. [PMID: 38672829 PMCID: PMC11049437 DOI: 10.3390/foods13081156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A survey was conducted from 2018 to 2023 to assess the presence of Salmonella in 280 hunted wild boar (carcasses after evisceration and skinning, N = 226; liver, N = 258; and fecal samples, N = 174). The overall prevalence was 2.86% (confidence interval 95%, 1.45-5.45%) with five positive samples detected in carcasses, three in the liver, and one in a fecal sample. This prevalence was in line with those found in nearby areas denoting a low number of positive samples. Positive animals were over 24 months of age and weighed, before skinning, 59.00 ± 9.11 Kg and no difference was detected in microbial loads between samples positive and negative for Salmonella (aerobic colony count of 4.59 and 4.66 log CFU/400 cm2, and Enterobacteriaceae count of 2.89 and 2.73 log CFU/400 cm2 (mean values) in positive and negative subjects, respectively). Salmonella Stanleyville was the most frequently isolated serotype. A semiquantitative risk assessment was conducted for the first time in game meat considering two products, meat cuts intended for cooking and fermented dry sausages. Only proper cooking can reduce the risk of ingestion of Salmonella to the minimum for consumers, whereas ready-to-eat dry sausages constitute risk products in terms of foodborne Salmonellosis (risk score of 64 out of 100).
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Altissimi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (C.A.); (M.C.); (R.B.); (D.R.)
| | - Sara Primavilla
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (S.P.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (S.D.L.); (A.V.)
| | - Rossana Roila
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (C.A.); (M.C.); (R.B.); (D.R.)
| | - Stefano Gavaudan
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (S.P.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (S.D.L.); (A.V.)
| | - Benedetto Morandi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (S.P.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (S.D.L.); (A.V.)
| | - Stefania Di Lullo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (S.P.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (S.D.L.); (A.V.)
| | - Marta Coppini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (C.A.); (M.C.); (R.B.); (D.R.)
| | - Chiara Baldinelli
- USLUmbria1—Igiene degli Alimenti di Origine Animale, Distretto Alto Chiascio, 06024 Gubbio, Italy;
| | - Dongjie Cai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Raffaella Branciari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (C.A.); (M.C.); (R.B.); (D.R.)
| | - Andrea Valiani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (S.P.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (S.D.L.); (A.V.)
| | - Peter Paulsen
- Unit of Food Hygiene and Technology, Centre for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - David Ranucci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (C.A.); (M.C.); (R.B.); (D.R.)
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5
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Nazari-Vanani R, Negahdary M. Recent advances in electrochemical aptasensors and genosensors for the detection of pathogens. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117850. [PMID: 38081349 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, pathogenic microorganisms have caused significant mortality rates and antibiotic resistance and triggered exorbitant healthcare costs. These pathogens often have high transmission rates within human populations. Rapid diagnosis is crucial in controlling and reducing the spread of pathogenic infections. The diagnostic methods currently used against individuals infected with these pathogens include relying on outward symptoms, immunological-based and, some biomolecular ones, which mainly have limitations such as diagnostic errors, time-consuming processes, and high-cost platforms. Electrochemical aptasensors and genosensors have emerged as promising diagnostic tools for rapid, accurate, and cost-effective pathogen detection. These bio-electrochemical platforms have been optimized for diagnostic purposes by incorporating advanced materials (mainly nanomaterials), biomolecular technologies, and innovative designs. This review classifies electrochemical aptasensors and genosensors developed between 2021 and 2023 based on their use of different nanomaterials, such as gold-based, carbon-based, and others that employed other innovative assemblies without the use of nanomaterials. Inspecting the diagnostic features of various sensing platforms against pathogenic analytes can identify research gaps and open new avenues for exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razieh Nazari-Vanani
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Negahdary
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
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La Bella G, Basanisi MG, Nobili G, Coppola R, Damato AM, Donatiello A, Occhiochiuso G, Romano AC, Toce M, Palazzo L, Pellegrini F, Fanelli A, Di Martino B, Suffredini E, Lanave G, Martella V, La Salandra G. Evidence of Circulation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Wild Boar in South-East Italy. Viruses 2023; 15:2021. [PMID: 37896798 PMCID: PMC10611066 DOI: 10.3390/v15102021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans worldwide. The food-borne transmission of HEV appears to be a major route in Europe through the consumption of pork and wild boar meat. HEV epidemiology in wild boars has been investigated mainly in Northern and Central Italian regions, whilst information from Southern Italy is limited. We investigated the occurrence of HEV in wild boar in the Apulia and Basilicata regions (Southern Italy). Thirteen (10.4%) out of one hundred and twenty-five wild boar samples tested positive for HEV using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR. HEV prevalence was 12% in Apulia and 9.3% in Basilicata. Seven samples were genotyped, and different subtypes (c, f, m) of genotype 3 were identified. The complete genome of a 3m strain was determined, and the virus showed the highest nucleotide identity to a human HEV strain identified in France in 2017. These findings demonstrate the substantial circulation of HEV in the wild boar population in Italian Southern regions. Gathering information on the HEV strains circulating in different geographical areas is useful for tracking the origin of HEV outbreaks and assessing the epidemiological role of wild boar as a potential virus reservoir for domestic pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco La Bella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Basanisi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Gaia Nobili
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Rosa Coppola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Annita Maria Damato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Adelia Donatiello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Gilda Occhiochiuso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | | | - Mariateresa Toce
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Lucia Palazzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Francesco Pellegrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Bari, Italy
| | - Angela Fanelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Bari, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianvito Lanave
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanna La Salandra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy
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7
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Nemes K, Persson S, Simonsson M. Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus as Food- and Waterborne Pathogens-Transmission Routes and Methods for Detection in Food. Viruses 2023; 15:1725. [PMID: 37632066 PMCID: PMC10457876 DOI: 10.3390/v15081725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Foodborne viruses are an important threat to food safety and public health. Globally, there are approximately 5 million cases of acute viral hepatitis due to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) every year. HAV is responsible for numerous food-related viral outbreaks worldwide, while HEV is an emerging pathogen with a global health burden. The reported HEV cases in Europe have increased tenfold in the last 20 years due to its zoonotic transmission through the consumption of infected meat or meat products. HEV is considered the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide currently. This review focuses on the latest findings on the foodborne transmission routes of HAV and HEV and the methods for their detection in different food matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Nemes
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Foodborne Viruses, Swedish Food Agency, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 56 A, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.P.); (M.S.)
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8
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Patrizio L, Elisabetta B, Annamaria P, Giancarlo B, Roberta P, Alessio M, Valentina T. Epidemiological and genetic evaluation of HEV in swine slaughtered in Sicily region (Italy). Int J Food Microbiol 2023; 388:110068. [PMID: 36623337 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.110068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the etiological agent of acute viral hepatitis, a disease transmitted by the oral-faecal route. In Europe, zoonotic transmission of HEV-3 genotype is associated with the consumption of raw or slightly cooked meat of pigs and wild boars that are considered the main reservoirs. This work aims to assess the occurrence of swines' HEV RNA liver samples and rectal swabs slaughtered in Sicily using biomolecular methods. HEV-RNA was detected in 17.5 % (21/120) liver samples analyzed and in 3.7 % (3/81) rectal swabs examined. All positive samples were predicted as genotype 3 and subtype 3c (75 %). These data suggest a potential HEV transmission to humans through close contact with pig breeders, veterinarians, slaughterhouse personnel, and pork meat product consumption. Moreover, there are few scientific data evaluating the HEV spread around pigs and humans in Sicily. Therefore, further studies are necessary to correlate humans with swine serotypes and to assess the HEV presence and persistence in food and the risk during the slaughtering process. These surveys allow to clarify the role of the swine species as a potential source of infection for other domestic or wild animals and humans and to establish possible control measures throughout the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorusso Patrizio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Bari, Provincial Road to Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Bonerba Elisabetta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Bari, Provincial Road to Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Pandiscia Annamaria
- Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Bari, Provincial Road to Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
| | - Bozzo Giancarlo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Bari, Provincial Road to Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Piredda Roberta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Bari, Provincial Road to Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Manfredi Alessio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Bari, Provincial Road to Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Terio Valentina
- Department of Veterinary Medicine- University of Bari, Provincial Road to Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
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9
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Hansen S, Menandro ML, Franzo G, Krabben L, Marino SF, Kaufer B, Denner J. Presence of porcine cytomegalovirus, a porcine roseolovirus, in wild boars in Italy and Germany. Arch Virol 2023; 168:55. [PMID: 36609605 PMCID: PMC9825524 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05690-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), a porcine roseolovirus (PRV) that is closely related to human herpesviruses 6 and 7, is commonly found in commercial pigs. PCMV/PRV is important in xenotransplantation, because in preclinical trials in which pig organs were transplanted into non-human primates, transmission of PCMV/PRV was shown to be associated with significantly reduced survival of the xenotransplants. PCMV/PRV was also transmitted in the first transplantation of a pig heart into a human patient worldwide and apparently contributed to the death of the patient. The prevalence of PCMV/PRV in wild boars is largely unknown. In this study, we screened wild boars from several areas of northern Italy and Germany to test for the presence of PCMV/PRV using PCR-based and Western blot assays. By Western blot analysis, 54% and 82% of Italian and German wild boars, respectively, were found to be PCMV/PRV positive, while 36% and 60%, respectively, tested positive by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These data indicate that the virus is common in German and Italian wild boars and that the Western blot assay detected a PCMV/PRV infection more often than did real-time PCR. The data also indicate that pigs raised for xenotransplantation should be protected from contact with materials from wild boars and commercial pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Hansen
- Institute of Virology, Free University Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Luisa Menandro
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Ludwig Krabben
- Institute of Virology, Free University Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephen F Marino
- Parasites in Foodstuffs, Department of Biological Safety, Unit Diagnostics, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt Kaufer
- Institute of Virology, Free University Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Denner
- Institute of Virology, Free University Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
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10
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Battistini R, Serracca L, Razzuoli E, Listorti V, Guardone L, Dellepiane M, Pussini N, Brunelli F, Peletto S, Beltramo C, Ercolini C, Masotti C. Hepatitis E Virus (HEV): Identification of Subtypes 3b and 3m in Wild Boar Population in Liguria Region, Italy. Pathogens 2022; 11:1236. [PMID: 36364986 PMCID: PMC9694157 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The wild boar is an important natural reservoir for the zoonotic transmission of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) around the world. In particular, HEV genotypes 3 and 4 are an emerging problem in industrialized countries, as the number of wild boars has increased, and their territory is ever closer to farms and populated areas. This study describes the HEV prevalence and geographic circulation among wild boar populations in the Ligurian region (Italy) during the period 2019-2022. Liver samples from 849 wild boars were analyzed for HEV RNA using real-time RT-PCR; positive samples were then subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Overall, 6.7% of the wild boars were positive for HEV RNA; however, in the last two years, the percentage of positive animals almost doubled. Phylogenetic analysis showed that wild boar HEV sequences belonged to genotype 3 and clustered within subtypes 3a and 3c, and, for the first time in Italy, subtypes 3b and 3m were identified. Interestingly, 13 sequences could not be assigned to a recognized subtype. Furthermore, the results showed different circulations of identified subtypes across the territory. These findings increase the knowledge of HEV-3 heterogeneity in Italy and describe the role of wild boars in maintaining an active viral circulation in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Battistini
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Laura Serracca
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Razzuoli
- Department of Genoa, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Piazza Borgo Pila 39/24, 16129 Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Listorti
- Department of Genoa, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Piazza Borgo Pila 39/24, 16129 Genoa, Italy
| | - Lisa Guardone
- Department of Genoa, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Piazza Borgo Pila 39/24, 16129 Genoa, Italy
| | - Monica Dellepiane
- Department of Savona, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Martiri 6, 17056 Savona, Italy
| | - Nicola Pussini
- Department of Imperia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Nizza 4, 18100 Imperia, Italy
| | - Francesco Brunelli
- Department of Imperia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Nizza 4, 18100 Imperia, Italy
| | - Simone Peletto
- Department of Turin, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Beltramo
- Department of Turin, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
| | - Carlo Ercolini
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Chiara Masotti
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
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11
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Detection of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Pigs and in the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Population of Chieti Province, Abruzzo Region, Italy. Appl Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/applmicrobiol2040062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen, causing infectious hepatitis in man. Pigs and wild boars are the natural asymptomatic reservoirs, while the disease in humans could be either asymptomatic or evolve in hepatitis. In Europe, an increasing number of human infections from HEV have been reported over the last few years. The main route of transmission is through contaminated food, by direct or indirect consumption of raw or undercooked pork and wild boar meat and meat products. Up to now, HEV prevalence in Italian northern regions has been extensively determined in wild boars and pigs, while less data have been collected from the southern ones. There is a need to report more data about HEV prevalence from wild boars and pigs in southern Italy in consideration of the potential risk posed by some specific traditional food products manufactured in these areas and produced from pig and wild boar livers (e.g., sausages and salami). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the circulation of the Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pigs and in the wild boar population of the province of Chieti, Abruzzo Region, Central Italy. Moreover, potential HEV seroprevalence in hunters from that area was also assessed. The overall prevalence of HEV RNA in wild boars was 9.5% (CI 5.4–16.2%), but no HEV RNA was detected in samples from pigs.
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