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Milojević L, Velebit B, Janković V, Mitrović R, Betić N, Simunović S, Dimitrijević M. Prevalence, Genetic Diversity, and Quantification of the RNA Genome of the Hepatitis E Virus in Slaughtered Pigs in Serbia. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:586. [PMID: 38396554 PMCID: PMC10886375 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040586] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study conducted in Serbia was to detect HEV in pig liver samples from slaughterhouses, retail outlets, and environmental swabs over the course of a year. All positive HEV samples were measured and expressed as HEV gene copy numbers per gram of sample, and a representative number of samples were sequenced using the Sanger approach. A total of 45 HEV-positive samples were re-amplified using nested RT-PCR employing CODEHOP primers targeting ORF2 (493 nucleotides). The average prevalence of the HEV genotype 3 in all pig liver samples from the slaughterhouses was 29%, while HEV prevalence was 44% in liver samples from animals younger than 3 months. HEV RNA was found in thirteen out of sixty (22%) environmental swab samples that were taken from different surfaces along the slaughter line. Our findings confirmed seasonal patterns in HEV prevalence, with two picks (summer and winter periods) during the one-year examination. Among HEV-positive samples, the average viral particles for all positive liver samples was 4.41 ± 1.69 log10 genome copies per gram. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the majority of HEV strains (43/45) from Serbia were grouped in the HEV-3a subtype, while two strains were classified into the HEV-3c subtype, and one strain could not be classified into any of the HEV-3 subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lazar Milojević
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.V.); (V.J.); (R.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Branko Velebit
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.V.); (V.J.); (R.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Vesna Janković
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.V.); (V.J.); (R.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Radmila Mitrović
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.V.); (V.J.); (R.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Nikola Betić
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.V.); (V.J.); (R.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Sara Simunović
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.V.); (V.J.); (R.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Mirjana Dimitrijević
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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2
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Turlewicz-Podbielska H, Augustyniak A, Wojciechowski J, Pomorska-Mól M. Hepatitis E Virus in Livestock-Update on Its Epidemiology and Risk of Infection to Humans. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3239. [PMID: 37893962 PMCID: PMC10603682 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a public health problem worldwide and an important food pathogen known for its zoonotic potential. Increasing numbers of infection cases with human HEV are caused by the zoonotic transmission of genotypes 3 and 4, mainly by consuming contaminated, undercooked or raw porcine meat. Pigs are the main reservoir of HEV. However, it should be noted that other animal species, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and rabbits, may also be a source of infection for humans. Due to the detection of HEV RNA in the milk and tissues of cattle, the consumption of infected uncooked milk and meat or offal from these species also poses a potential risk of zoonotic HEV infections. Poultry infected by avian HEV may also develop symptomatic disease, although avian HEV is not considered a zoonotic pathogen. HEV infection has a worldwide distribution with different prevalence rates depending on the affected animal species, sampling region, or breeding system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Turlewicz-Podbielska
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 35, 60-637 Poznan, Poland; (H.T.-P.); (A.A.)
| | - Agata Augustyniak
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 35, 60-637 Poznan, Poland; (H.T.-P.); (A.A.)
| | | | - Małgorzata Pomorska-Mól
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 35, 60-637 Poznan, Poland; (H.T.-P.); (A.A.)
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3
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Monini M, Di Bartolo I, De Sabato L, Ianiro G, Agostinelli F, Ostanello F. Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Heavy Pigs in Slaughterhouses of Northern Italy: Investigation of Seroprevalence, Viraemia, and Faecal Shedding. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2942. [PMID: 37760342 PMCID: PMC10525452 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emerging threat in Europe, owing to the increased number of human cases and the widespread presence of the virus in pigs at farms. Most cases in industrialized countries are caused by the zoonotic HEV-3 genotype. The main transmission route of HEV-3 in Europe is foodborne, through consumption of raw or undercooked liver pork and wild boar meat. Pigs become susceptible to HEV infection after the loss of maternal immunity, and the majority of adult pigs test positive for IgG anti-HEV antibodies. Nonetheless, HEV-infected pigs in terms of liver, faeces, and rarely blood are identified at slaughterhouses. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HEV-positive batches of Italian heavy pigs at slaughterhouses, assessing the presence of animals still shedding HEV upon their arrival at the slaughterhouse by sampling faeces collected from the floor of the trucks used for their transport. The occurrence of viraemic animals and the seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies were also assessed. The results obtained indicated the presence of anti-HEV IgM (1.9%), and a high seroprevalence of anti-HEV total antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgA; 89.2%, n = 260). HEV RNA was not detected in either plasma or faecal samples. Nevertheless, seropositive animals were identified in all eight batches investigated, confirming the widespread exposure of pigs to HEV at both individual and farm levels. Future studies are needed to assess the factors associated with the risk of HEV presence on farms, with the aim to prevent virus introduction and spread within farms, thereby eliminating the risk at slaughterhouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Monini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.D.S.); (G.I.); (F.A.)
| | - Ilaria Di Bartolo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.D.S.); (G.I.); (F.A.)
| | - Luca De Sabato
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.D.S.); (G.I.); (F.A.)
| | - Giovanni Ianiro
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.D.S.); (G.I.); (F.A.)
| | - Francesca Agostinelli
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.D.S.); (G.I.); (F.A.)
| | - Fabio Ostanello
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy;
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4
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Ánosi N, Kenyeres B, Szentgyörgyi V, Mátyus M, Orosz L, Bosnyákovits T, Bányai K, Burián K, Lengyel G. Seroprevalence of emerging hepatitis E virus in patients with acute hepatitis between 2004 and 2018 in Csongrád County, Hungary. Cent Eur J Public Health 2023; 31:166-170. [PMID: 37934479 DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7406] [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: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has recently become endemic in Europe, however, it is often a remnant neglected by clinicians as the causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis and is often misdiagnosed as a drug-induced liver injury. The infection rate in European pig farms is estimated to be around 15-20%, therefore, the primary source of HEV infections might be poorly prepared pork meat. As HEV infections may occur more often in clinical practice than previously thought, the present paper aims to analyse the seroprevalence of HEV in patients with acute hepatitis over a period of 14 years in Csongrád County, Hungary. METHODS The sera of 4,270 hepatitis patients collected between 2004-2018 were tested for cumulative anti-HEV IgG/IgM. Furthermore, 170 IgM positive sera were tested for the presence of viral RNA by RT-qPCR. RESULTS Between 2012-2018, the cumulative seroprevalence has increased 9.18 times, and between 2013-2018, IgM prevalence has increased 12.49 times. Viral RNA was detectable in 12.35% of IgM positive sera. CONCLUSION The present paper presents data showing that the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus has increased markedly over the course of the last decade in Hungary and in other European countries as well. The exact reason behind this phenomenon is yet to be determined. To assess the dynamics and the reason for this increase in prevalence, pan-European, multicentre studies should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel Ánosi
- Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bence Kenyeres
- Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Mária Mátyus
- Military Medical Centre of Hungarian Defence Forces, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Orosz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tünde Bosnyákovits
- Public Health and Food Chain Safety Service of Government Office for Csongrad County, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Burián
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - György Lengyel
- Infection Control Department, Clinical Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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5
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Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Alvarez Ordoñez A, Bolton D, Bover‐Cid S, Chemaly M, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Nonno R, Peixe L, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Fernandez Escamez P, Gonzales‐Barron U, Roberts H, Ru G, Simmons M, Cruz RB, Lourenço Martins J, Messens W, Ortiz‐Pelaez A, Simon AC, De Cesare A. Assessment on the efficacy of methods 2 to 5 and method 7 set out in Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 to inactivate relevant pathogens when producing processed animal protein of porcine origin intended to feed poultry and aquaculture animals. EFSA J 2023; 21:e08093. [PMID: 37416785 PMCID: PMC10320699 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
An assessment was conducted on the level of inactivation of relevant pathogens that could be present in processed animal protein of porcine origin intended to feed poultry and aquaculture animals when methods 2 to 5 and method 7, as detailed in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, are applied. Five approved scenarios were selected for method 7. Salmonella Senftenberg, Enterococcus faecalis, spores of Clostridium perfringens and parvoviruses were shortlisted as target indicators. Inactivation parameters for these indicators were extracted from extensive literature search and a recent EFSA scientific opinion. An adapted Bigelow model was fitted to retrieved data to estimate the probability that methods 2 to 5, in coincidental and consecutive modes, and the five scenarios of method 7 are able to achieve a 5 log10 and a 3 log10 reduction of bacterial indicators and parvoviruses, respectively. Spores of C. perfringens were the indicator with the lowest probability of achieving the target reduction by methods 2 to 5, in coincidental and consecutive mode, and by the five considered scenarios of method 7. An expert knowledge elicitation was conducted to estimate the certainty of achieving a 5 log10 reduction of spores of C. perfringens considering the results of the model and additional evidence. A 5 log10 reduction of C. perfringens spores was judged: 99-100% certain for methods 2 and 3 in coincidental mode; 98-100% certain for method 7 scenario 3; 80-99% certain for method 5 in coincidental mode; 66-100% certain for method 4 in coincidental mode and for method 7 scenarios 4 and 5; 25-75% certain for method 7 scenario 2; and 0-5% certain for method 7 scenario 1. Higher certainty is expected for methods 2 to 5 in consecutive mode compared to coincidental mode.
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6
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Ianiro G, Pavoni E, Aprea G, Romantini R, Alborali GL, D'Angelantonio D, Garofolo G, Scattolini S, De Sabato L, Magistrali CF, Burow E, Ostanello F, Smith RP, Di Bartolo I. Cross-sectional study of hepatitis E virus (HEV) circulation in Italian pig farms. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1136225. [PMID: 37143498 PMCID: PMC10151646 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1136225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Foodborne transmission is considered the main way of spreading zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Europe. In recent years, the human cases of hepatitis E in subjects without history of travel in endemic areas have raised, suggesting that domestic HEV transmission is increasing. Pork products with or without liver, are often indicated as the source of many human foodborne HEV cases as well as small outbreaks. Pigs are recognized as the main reservoir of the zoonotic HEV-3 genotype, the most frequently detected in human cases in the EU. In the absence of a harmonized surveillance of HEV circulation, data on prevalence are heterogeneous but confirm a widespread circulation of HEV-3 in pig herds across EU. HEV-3 can pass through the food chain from farm to fork when infected animals are slaughtered. In Italy, several studies reported the circulation of HEV-3 in pig farms, but results are heterogeneous due to different methodologies applied. In the present study, we performed a survey over 51 pig herds belonging to three main types of farms: breeding, fattening and farrow-to-finish. HEV-RNA was analyzed by broad range Real-time RT-PCR on 20 samples for each farm, obtained by pooling together feces from 10 individuals. Overall, HEV RNA was confirmed on 150 fecal pooled samples out of 1,032 (14.5%). At least one positive pooled sample was detected from 18 farms out of 51 tested (35.3%). By lowering the number of infected pigs at primary production, the risk of HEV-3 entering into the food chain can be reduced. Hence, information on HEV circulation in herds is highly relevant for choosing preventive measures and deserves development of a monitoring program and further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ianiro
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Pavoni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Brescia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Enrico Pavoni
| | - Giuseppe Aprea
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Romina Romantini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Loris Alborali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela D'Angelantonio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giuliano Garofolo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Silvia Scattolini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Luca De Sabato
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Elke Burow
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabio Ostanello
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - Richard Piers Smith
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ilaria Di Bartolo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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7
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Golinar Oven I, Nemec Svete A, Hajdinjak M, Plut J, Štukelj M. Haematological profiles of pigs of different age in relation to the presence or absence of porcine reproductive and respiratory virus, porcine circovirus type 2 and hepatitis E virus. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2022.2107954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Irena Golinar Oven
- Klinika za prežvekovalce in prašiče, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Nemec Svete
- Klinika za male živali, Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Melita Hajdinjak
- Laboratorij za uporabno matematiko in statistiko, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jan Plut
- Klinika za prežvekovalce in prašiče, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marina Štukelj
- Klinika za prežvekovalce in prašiče, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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8
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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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9
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Boxman ILA, Verhoef L, Dop PY, Vennema H, Dirks RAM, Opsteegh M. High prevalence of acute hepatitis E virus infection in pigs in Dutch slaughterhouses. Int J Food Microbiol 2022; 379:109830. [PMID: 35908493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E is caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), one of the causes of acute viral hepatitis. Domestic pigs are considered as the main reservoir of HEV-3. The recently reported high prevalence of HEV in liver- and meat products on the Dutch market warranted a cross-sectional prevalence study on HEV infection among 5-6 months old pigs slaughtered in the Netherlands (n = 250). For this, liver, caecum content and blood samples were analyzed for the presence of genomic HEV RNA by RT-PCR. In addition, a serological test was performed to detect HEV IgG. Background information was retrieved on the corresponding farms to evaluate potential risk factors for HEV at pig slaughter age. HEV IgG was detected in sera from 167 pigs (67.6 %). HEV RNA was detected in 64 (25.6 %) caecum content samples, in 40 (16.1 %) serum samples and in 25 (11.0 %) liver samples. The average level of viral contamination in positive samples was log10 4.6 genome copies (gc)/g (range 3.0-8.2) in caecum content, log10 3.3 gc/ml (range 2.4-5.9) in serum and log10 3.2 gc/0.1 g (range 1.7-6.2) in liver samples. Sequence analyses revealed HEV-3c only. Ten times an identical strain was detected in two or three samples obtained from the same pig. Each animal in this study however appeared to be infected with a unique strain. The presence of sows and gilts and welfare rating at the farm of origin had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the distribution over the four groups representing different stages of HEV infection based on IgG or RNA in caecum and/or serum. The observed proportion of tested pigs with viremia (16 %) was higher than in other reported studies and was interestingly often observed in combination with a high number of HEV genome copies in liver and caecum content as detected by RT-qPCR. Data provided will be useful for risk assessment for food safety of pork products, will provide baseline data for future monitoring of HEV infections in pigs and new thoughts for mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg L A Boxman
- WFSR, Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University and Research, Mailbox 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Linda Verhoef
- NVWA, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Petra Y Dop
- NVWA, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Harry Vennema
- RIVM, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - René A M Dirks
- WFSR, Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University and Research, Mailbox 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Opsteegh
- RIVM, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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10
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Chambaro HM, Sasaki M, Muleya W, Kajihara M, Shawa M, Mwape KE, Harima H, Qiu Y, Hall WW, Fandamu P, Squarre D, Simulundu E, Sawa H, Orba Y. Hepatitis E virus infection in pigs: a first report from Zambia. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:2169-2172. [PMID: 34736356 PMCID: PMC8635572 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.2002669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
While evidence suggests presence of HEV infection in humans in Zambia, currently, there is no information on its occurrence in domestic pigs. Here, we investigated the presence of HEV antibodies and genome in domestic pigs in Zambia. Sera (n = 484) from domestic pigs were screened for antibodies against HEV by ELISA while genome detection in fecal (n = 25) and liver (n = 100) samples from slaughter pigs was conducted using nested RT–PCR assay. Overall, seroprevalence was 47.7% (231/484) while zoonotic genotype 3 HEV RNA was detected in 16.0% (20/125) of slaughtered pigs. This is the first report to highlight occurrence of HEV infection in domestic pigs in Zambia. This finding suggests possible contamination of the pork supply chain. Moreover, there is a potential risk of zoonotic transmission of HEV to abattoir workers, pig farmers and handlers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herman M Chambaro
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan.,Virology Laboratory, Central Veterinary Research Institute, Lusaka, Zambia.,Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Michihito Sasaki
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Walter Muleya
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Masahiro Kajihara
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Misheck Shawa
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kabemba E Mwape
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Hayato Harima
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yongjin Qiu
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | - William W Hall
- National Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Global Virus Network, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Paul Fandamu
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - David Squarre
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan.,Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia.,Department of Conservation Science, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Edgar Simulundu
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.,Macha Research Trust, Choma, Zambia
| | - Hirofumi Sawa
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan.,Global Virus Network, Baltimore, MD, USA.,International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.,One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yasuko Orba
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan.,International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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11
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Hepatitis E Virus Occurrence in Pigs Slaughtered in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020277. [PMID: 33499160 PMCID: PMC7911034 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatitis E is now recognized as an emerging zoonotic disease in Europe caused by an RNA virus (HEV) and foodborne is the main route of transmission. Human cases have been linked to the consumption of contaminated pig liver sausages, raw venison, or undercooked wild boar meat. The zoonotic genotype HEV-3 is widespread in pigs at farm level but little information is available on the occurrence of HEV-positive pigs at the slaughterhouse. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HEV-positive pigs during slaughtering, to understand which biological samples (feces and organs) were more frequently HEV positive. Our results showed that pigs positive for HEV can be slaughtered and that the percentage of positive animals depends on the age of animals. The other main result is the presence of the virus in the plasma of animals, which may contribute to the contamination of meat (muscle). Nevertheless, muscles are rarely contaminated by HEV-RNA compared to liver, which is the organ of replication. Abstract 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.
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12
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Surveillance Study of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Domestic and Wild Ruminants in Northwestern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122351. [PMID: 33317114 PMCID: PMC7764585 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis in humans and represents an emerging public health concern worldwide. In developed countries, zoonotic transmission of HEV genotypes 3 and 4 is caused by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected swine or wild boars, the main reservoirs of HEV. However, in the last few years, molecular and serological evidence seem to indicate that several other animal species may act as HEV host, including domestic and wild ruminants. In this study, serum and fecal specimens from sheep, goats, red deer, roe deer, chamois, and Alpine ibex collected in two northwestern Italian regions (Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta) were screened molecularly and serologically. With the exception of chamois, HEV antibodies were found both in the domestic and wild ruminant species investigated with the highest rates in sheep and goats. These findings demonstrate that wild also domestic ruminants may be implicated in the viral cycle transmission. Abstract In industrialized countries, increasing autochthonous infections of hepatitis E virus (HEV) are caused by zoonotic transmission of genotypes (Gts) 3 and 4, mainly through consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked pork meat. Although swine and wild boar are recognized as the main reservoir for Gt3 and Gt4, accumulating evidence indicates that other animal species, including domestic and wild ruminants, may harbor HEV. Herein, we screened molecularly and serologically serum and fecal samples from two domestic and four wild ruminant species collected in Valle d’Aosta and Piemonte regions (northwestern Italy. HEV antibodies were found in sheep (21.6%), goats (11.4%), red deer (2.6%), roe deer (3.1%), and in Alpine ibex (6.3%). Molecular screening was performed using different primer sets targeting highly conserved regions of hepeviruses and HEV RNA, although at low viral loads, was detected in four fecal specimens (3.0%, 4/134) collected from two HEV seropositive sheep herds. Taken together, the data obtained document the circulation of HEV in the geographical area assessed both in wild and domestic ruminants, but with the highest seroprevalence in sheep and goats. Consistently with results from other studies conducted in southern Italy, circulation of HEV among small domestic ruminants seems to occur more frequently than expected.
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13
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García N, Hernández M, Gutierrez-Boada M, Valero A, Navarro A, Muñoz-Chimeno M, Fernández-Manzano A, Escobar FM, Martínez I, Bárcena C, González S, Avellón A, Eiros JM, Fongaro G, Domínguez L, Goyache J, Rodríguez-Lázaro D. Occurrence of Hepatitis E Virus in Pigs and Pork Cuts and Organs at the Time of Slaughter, Spain, 2017. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2990. [PMID: 32047480 PMCID: PMC6997137 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic hepatitis E, mainly caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype (gt) 3, is a foodborne disease that has emerged in Europe in recent decades. The main animal reservoir for genotype 3 is domestic pigs. Pig liver and liver derivates are considered the major risk products, and studies focused on the presence of HEV in pig muscles are scarce. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of HEV in different organs and tissues of 45 apparently healthy pigs from nine Spanish slaughterhouses (50% national production) that could enter into the food supply chain. Anti-HEV antibodies were evaluated in serum by an ELISA test. Ten samples from each animal were analyzed for the presence of HEV RNA by reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The overall seroprevalence obtained was 73.3% (33/45). From the 450 samples analyzed, a total of 26 RT-qPCR positive samples were identified in the liver (7/45), feces (6/45), kidney (5/45), heart (4/45), serum (3/45), and diaphragm (1/45). This is the first report on detection of HEV RNA in kidney and heart samples of naturally infected pigs. HEV RNA detection was negative for rib, bacon, lean ham, and loin samples. These findings indicate that pig meat could be considered as a low risk material for foodborne HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea García
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Hernández
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Maialen Gutierrez-Boada
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Antonio Valero
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alejandro Navarro
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Milagros Muñoz-Chimeno
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Hepatitis Víricas, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Franco Matías Escobar
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Irene Martínez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Bárcena
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio González
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Avellón
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Hepatitis Víricas, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M. Eiros
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Gislaine Fongaro
- Laboratory of Applied Virology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Lucas Domínguez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Goyache
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Rodríguez-Lázaro
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
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14
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El-Duah P, Dei D, Binger T, Sylverken A, Wollny R, Tasiame W, Oppong S, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Emikpe B, Folitse R, Drexler JF, Phillips R, Drosten C, Corman VM. Detection and genomic characterization of hepatitis E virus genotype 3 from pigs in Ghana, Africa. ONE HEALTH OUTLOOK 2020; 2:10. [PMID: 33829131 PMCID: PMC7993477 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-020-00018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of human hepatitis worldwide. Zoonotic genotypes of the virus have been found in diverse animal species with pigs playing a major role. Putative risk of zoonotic infection from livestock particularly swine in Sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana is poorly understood due to scarcity of available data, especially HEV sequence information. METHODS Serum samples were collected from cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Samples were subjected to nested RT-PCR screening and quantification of HEV RNA-positive samples using real-time RT-PCR and the World Health Organization International Standard for HEV. Testing of all pig samples for antibodies was done by ELISA. Sanger sequencing and genotyping was performed and one representative complete genome was generated to facilitate genome-wide comparison to other available African HEV sequences by phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS A total of 420 samples were available from cattle (n = 105), goats (n = 124), pigs (n = 89) and sheep (n = 102). HEV Viral RNA was detected only in pig samples (10.1%). The antibody detection rate in pigs was 77.5%, with positive samples from all sampling sites. Average viral load was 1 × 105 (range 1.02 × 103 to 3.17 × 105) International Units per mL of serum with no statistically significant differences between age groups (≤ 6 month, > 6 months) by a T-test comparison of means (t = 1.4272, df = 7, p = 0.1966). Sequences obtained in this study form a monophyletic group within HEV genotype 3. Sequences from Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Madagascar were found to share a most recent common ancestor; however this was not the case for other African HEV sequences. CONCLUSION HEV genotype 3 is highly endemic in pigs in Ghana and likely poses a zoonotic risk to people exposed to pigs. HEV genotype 3 in Ghana shares a common origin with other virus strains from Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip El-Duah
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Dickson Dei
- Ghana Veterinary Service, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Tabea Binger
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Robert Wollny
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - William Tasiame
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Emikpe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raphael Folitse
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Christian Drosten
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Max Corman
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Berlin, Germany
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15
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Milojević L, Velebit B, Teodorović V, Kirbiš A, Petrović T, Karabasil N, Dimitrijević M. Screening and Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis E Virus in Slaughter Pigs in Serbia. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2019; 11:410-419. [PMID: 31243738 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-019-09393-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic virus that can cause acute hepatitis in humans. Besides the fecal-oral route, transmission can occur by consumption of undercooked pig liver. Genotype 3 is the most frequent genotype found in Europe. Studies on HEV in slaughter-age pigs have not been conducted in Serbia so far. Pork meat production and consumption in Serbia is on average, higher than in the rest of Europe. With the aim to identify the circulating HEV genotypes, pig livers and swab samples from three pig slaughterhouses located in three different sub-regions of Serbia were collected. A nested RT-PCR was used to amplify the hypervariable HEV ORF-1 region (334 bp). The amplicons yielded in this study were sequenced, and a molecular phylogeny analysis based on the maximum likelihood method, including HEV sequences reported in several other countries, was performed. The average prevalence of HEV genotype 3 in 3-month-old pigs was 34%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the majority of HEV amplification fragments from Serbia were grouped in four clades within sub-genotype 3a and were also genetically related to German, Italian, Slovenian, and American HEV sequences. Sub-genotypes 3b and 3j were also found in a single pig each. This study provides the first analysis of the genetic diversity and circulation dynamics of HEV in pigs at slaughterhouses in Serbia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lazar Milojević
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, 11040, Serbia
| | - Branko Velebit
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, 11040, Serbia.
| | - Vlado Teodorović
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
| | - Andrej Kirbiš
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tamaš Petrović
- Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad", Rumenački put 20, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia
| | - Neđeljko Karabasil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Dimitrijević
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
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16
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Mrzljak A, Dinjar-Kujundzic P, Jemersic L, Prpic J, Barbic L, Savic V, Stevanovic V, Vilibic-Cavlek T. Epidemiology of hepatitis E in South-East Europe in the "One Health" concept. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:3168-3182. [PMID: 31333309 PMCID: PMC6626717 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i25.3168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The significance of hepatitis E virus (HEV) as an important public health problem is rising. Until a decade ago, cases of HEV infection in Eur-ope were mainly confined to returning travelers, but nowadays, hepatitis E represents an emerging zoonotic infection in many European countries. The aim of this manuscript is to perform a systematic review of the published literature on hepatitis E distribution in humans, animals and environmental samples ("One Health" concept) in the South-Eastern European countries. Comparison of the available data showed that the anti-HEV seroprevalence in the South-Eastern Europe varies greatly, depending on the population studied, geographical area and methods used. The IgG seroprevalence rates in different population groups were found to be 1.1%-24.5% in Croatia, up to 20.9% in Bulgaria, 5.9-%17.1% in Romania, 15% in Serbia, up to 9.7% in Greece and 2%-9.7% in Albania. Among possible risk factors, older age was the most significant predictor for HEV seropositivity in most studies. Higher seroprevalence rates were found in animals. HEV IgG antibodies in domestic pigs were detected in 20%-54.5%, 29.2%-50%, 38.94%-50% and 31.1%-91.7% in Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia, respectively. In wild boars seroprevalence rates were up to 10.3%, 30.3% and 31.1% in Romania, Slovenia and Croatia, respectively. A high HEV RNA prevalence in wild boars in some countries (Croatia and Romania) indicated that wild boars may have a key role in the HEV epidemiology. There are very few data on HEV prevalence in environmental samples. HEV RNA was detected in 3.3% and 16.7% surface waters in Slovenia and Serbia, respectively. There is no evidence of HEV RNA in sewage systems in this region. The available data on genetic characterization show that human, animal and environmental HEV strains mainly belong to the genotype 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mrzljak
- Department of Medicine, Merkur University Hospital; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Lorena Jemersic
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb 10000, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jelena Prpic
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb 10000, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ljubo Barbic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Savic
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb 10000, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Stevanovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
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17
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Kantala T, Maunula L. Hepatitis E virus: zoonotic and foodborne transmission in developed countries. Future Virol 2018. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2018-0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV), together with hepatitis A virus, transmits via the fecal–oral route. The number of domestic hepatitis E cases among Europeans has grown alarmingly during the past 5 years. Surveillance studies suggest that the number of foodborne HEV infections is increasing most rapidly. Zoonotic HEV genotype HEV-3 is prevalent among pigs and wild boars in Europe and many developed countries, whereas zoonotic genotype HEV-4 is more common in pigs in some Asian countries. This review presents the most recent data about possible foodborne transmission of HEV via pigs and other production animals and about the presence of HEV in high-risk foods, such as ready-to-eat meat products. Possible solutions about how to tackle this problem are discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuija Kantala
- Department of Food Hygiene & Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leena Maunula
- Department of Food Hygiene & Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
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