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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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2
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Chang Y, de Jong MCM. A novel method to jointly estimate transmission rate and decay rate parameters in environmental transmission models. Epidemics 2023; 42:100672. [PMID: 36738639 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2023.100672] [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: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In environmental transmission, pathogens transfer from one individual to another via the environment. It is a common transmission mechanism in a wide range of host-pathogen systems. Incorporating environmental transmission in dynamic transmission models is crucial for gauging the effect of interventions, as extrapolating model results to new situations is only valid when the mechanisms are modelled correctly. The challenge in environmental transmission models lies in not jointly identifiable parameters for pathogen shedding, decay, and transmission dynamics. To solve this unidentifiability issue, we present a stochastic environmental transmission model with a novel scaling method for shedding rate parameter and a novel estimation method that distinguishes transmission rate and decay rate parameters. The core of our scaling and estimation method is calculating exposure and relating exposure to infection risks. By scaling shedding rate parameter, we standardize exposure to pathogens contributed by one infectious individual present during one time interval to one. The standardized exposure leads to a standard definition of transmission rate parameter applicable to scenarios with different decay rate parameters. Hence, we unify direct transmission (large decay rate) and environmental transmission in a continuous manner. More importantly, our exposure-based estimation method can correctly estimate back the transmission rate and the decay rate parameters, while the commonly used trajectory-based method failed. The reason is that exposure-based method gives the correct weight to infection data from previous observation periods. The correct estimation from exposure-based method will lead to more reliable predictions of intervention impact. Using the effect of disinfection as an example, we show how incorrectly estimated parameters may lead to incorrect conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions. This illustrates the importance of correct estimation of transmission rate and decay rate parameters for extrapolating environmental transmission models and predicting intervention effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Chang
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, the Netherlands.
| | - Mart C M de Jong
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, the Netherlands
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3
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Si F, Widén F, Dong S, Li Z. Hepatitis E as a Zoonosis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1417:49-58. [PMID: 37223858 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-1304-6_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E viruses in the family of Hepeviridae have been classified into 2 genus, 5 species, and 13 genotypes, involving different animal hosts of different habitats. Among all these genotypes, four (genotypes 3, 4, 7, and C1) of them are confirmed zoonotic causing sporadic human diseases, two (genotypes 5 and 8) were likely zoonotic showing experimental animal infections, and the other seven were not zoonotic or unconfirmed. These zoonotic HEV carrying hosts include pig, boar, deer, rabbit, camel, and rat. Taxonomically, all the zoonotic HEVs belong to the genus Orthohepevirus, which include genotypes 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 HEV in the species A and genotype C1 HEV in the species C. In the chapter, information of zoonotic HEV such as swine HEV (genotype 3 and 4), wild boar HEV (genotypes 3-6), rabbit HEV (genotype 3), camel HEV (genotype 7 and 8), and rat HEV (HEV-C1) was provided in detail. At the same time, their prevalence characteristics, transmission route, phylogenetic relationship, and detection technology were discussed. Other animal hosts of HEVs were introduced briefly in the chapter. All these information help peer researchers have basic understanding of zoonotic HEV and adopt reasonable strategy of surveillance and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fusheng Si
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Frederik Widén
- The National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shijuan Dong
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhen Li
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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Mikhailov MI, Karlsen AA, Potemkin IA, Isaeva OV, Kichatova VS, Malinnikova EY, Asadi Mobarkhan FA, Mullin EV, Lopatukhina MA, Manuylov VA, Mazunina EP, Bykonia EN, Kleymenov DA, Popova LI, Gushchin VA, Tkachuk AP, Polyakov AD, Eladly AM, Solonin SA, Gordeychuk IV, Kyuregyan KK. Geographic and Temporal Variability of Hepatitis E Virus Circulation in the Russian Federation. Viruses 2022; 15:37. [PMID: 36680077 PMCID: PMC9865877 DOI: 10.3390/v15010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The factors influencing hepatitis E virus (HEV) circulation remain largely unexplored. We investigated HEV seroprevalence in humans and the prevalence of infection in farm pigs and rabbits in different regions of the Russian Federation, as well as the genetic diversity and population dynamics of the HEV. The anti-HEV IgG antibody detection rates in the general population increase significantly with age, from 1.5% in children and adolescents under 20 years old to 4.8% in adults aged between 20 and 59 years old to 16.7% in people aged 60 years and older. HEV seroprevalence varies between regions, with the highest rate observed in Belgorod Region (16.4% compared with the national average of 4.6%), which also has the country's highest pig population. When compared with the archival data, both increases and declines in HEV seroprevalence have been observed within the last 10 years, depending on the study region. Virus shedding has been detected in 19 out of the 21 pig farms surveyed. On one farm, the circulation of the same viral strain for five years was documented. All the human and animal strains belonged to the HEV-3 genotype, with its clade 2 sequences being predominant in pigs. The sequences are from patients, pigs, and sewage from pig farms clustered together, suggesting a zoonotic infection in humans and possible environmental contamination. The HEV-3 population size that was predicted using SkyGrid reconstruction demonstrated exponential growth in the 1970s-1990s, with a subsequent decline followed by a short rise around the year 2010, the pattern being similar to the dynamics of the pig population in the country. The HEV-3 reproduction number (Re) that was predicted using birth-death skyline analysis has fluctuated around 1 over the past 20 years in Russia but is 10 times higher in Belgorod Region. In conclusion, the HEV-3 circulation varies both geographically and temporally, even within a single country. The possible factors contributing to this variability are largely related to the circulation of the virus among farm pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail I. Mikhailov
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Viral Hepatitis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
- Medical Faculty, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Anastasia A. Karlsen
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Scientific and Educational Resource Center for High-Performance Methods of Genomic Analysis, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya A. Potemkin
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Viral Hepatitis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V. Isaeva
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Viral Hepatitis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vera S. Kichatova
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Viral Hepatitis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Yu. Malinnikova
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Viral Hepatitis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
| | - Fedor A. Asadi Mobarkhan
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Viral Hepatitis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugeniy V. Mullin
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A. Lopatukhina
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor A. Manuylov
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena P. Mazunina
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeniia N. Bykonia
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis A. Kleymenov
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Liubov I. Popova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A. Gushchin
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem P. Tkachuk
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey D. Polyakov
- Skolkovo Territorial Department of Rospotrebnadzor in Moscow, 143026 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ahmed Mohammed Eladly
- Scientific and Educational Resource Center for High-Performance Methods of Genomic Analysis, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Botany & Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Sergey A. Solonin
- N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine of the Moscow Health Department, 129090 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya V. Gordeychuk
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Karen K. Kyuregyan
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, 105064 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Viral Hepatitis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
- Scientific and Educational Resource Center for High-Performance Methods of Genomic Analysis, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia
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Characterization of a Near Full-Length Hepatitis E Virus Genome of Subtype 3c Generated from Naturally Infected South African Backyard Pigs. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11091030. [PMID: 36145462 PMCID: PMC9506134 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11091030] [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] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Eight genotypes of the hepatitis E virus (Orthohepevirus A; HEV) designated HEV-1 to HEV-8 have been reported from various mammalian hosts. Notably, domestic pigs and wild boars are the natural reservoirs of HEV-3 and HEV-4 genotypes with zoonotic propensity. Since HEV infection in domestic pigs is usually subclinical, it may remain undetected, facilitating zoonotic spillover of HEV to the exposed human populations. A previous study from our group in 2021, using deep sequencing of a pooled saliva sample, generated various swine enteric virus genomes, including a near full-length swine HEV genome (7040 nt; 97.7% genome coverage) from five-month-old grower pigs at a backyard pig farm in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In the present study, we describe the further characterization, including genotyping and subtyping of the swine HEV isolate using phylogenetics and ‘HEVnet Typing Tool’. Our analyses confirmed that the South African swine HEV genome characterized in this study belonged to HEV genotype 3 subtype 3c (HEV-3c). While HEV-3c infections in domestic pigs have been previously reported from Brazil, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, they only generated partial genome sequences of open reading frame 1 (ORF1) and/or ORF2. To our knowledge, this is the first near full-length swine HEV-3c genome generated from naturally infected domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) in South Africa. However, due to the gap in the information on the HEV-3c genome sequences in various geographical locations worldwide, including South Africa, the epidemiology of the South African swine HEV genome characterized in this study remains inconclusive. Molecular and genomic surveillance of HEV in domestic pig populations in South Africa would be useful to determine their prevalence, circulating subtypes, and zoonosis risk.
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Repeated cross-sectional sampling of pigs at slaughter indicates varying age of hepatitis E virus infection within and between pig farms. Vet Res 2022; 53:50. [PMID: 35799280 PMCID: PMC9264715 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01068-3] [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] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans can become infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) by consumption of undercooked pork. To reduce the burden of HEV in humans, mitigation on pig farms is needed. HEV is found on most pig farms globally, yet within-farm seroprevalence estimates vary considerably. Understanding of the underlying variation in infection dynamics within and between farms currently lacks. Therefore, we investigated HEV infection dynamics by sampling 1711 batches of slaughter pigs from 208 Dutch farms over an 8-month period. Four farm types, conventional, organic, and two types with strict focus on biosecurity, were included. Sera were tested individually with an anti-HEV antibody ELISA and pooled per batch with PCR. All farms delivered seropositive pigs to slaughter, yet batches (resembling farm compartments) had varying results. By combining PCR and ELISA results, infection moment and extent per batch could be classified as low transmission, early, intermediate or late. Cluster analysis of batch infection moments per farm resulted in four clusters with distinct infection patterns. Cluster 1 farms delivered almost exclusively PCR negative, ELISA positive batches to slaughter (PCR−ELISA+), indicating relatively early age of HEV infection. Cluster 2 and 3 farms delivered 0.3 and 0.7 of batches with intermediate infection moment (PCR+ELISA+) respectively and only few batches with early infection. Cluster 4 farms delivered low transmission (PCR−ELISA−) and late infection (PCR+ELISA−) batches, demonstrating that those farms can prevent or delay HEV transmission to farm compartments. Farm type partly coincided with cluster assignment, indicating that biosecurity and management are related to age of HEV infection.
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Withenshaw SM, Grierson SS, Smith RP. Study of Animal Mixing and the Dynamics of Hepatitis E Virus Infection on a Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farm. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030272. [PMID: 35158596 PMCID: PMC8833537 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, swine are a livestock reservoir for Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3). Consumption of food containing HEV-3 can cause zoonotic human infection, though risk is reduced by heat treatment. Implementing controls that limit infection in slaughter pigs may further reduce foodborne transmission risk but knowledge of infection dynamics on commercial farms is limited. This study addressed this knowledge gap and in particular investigated the influence of group mixing. Faeces were collected from grower (n = 212) and fattener (n = 262) pigs on a farrow-to-finish farm on four occasions. HEV RNA was detected on all occasions, and prevalence was higher in growers (85.8%) than fatteners (26.0%; p < 0.001). HEV-positive samples were also collected from the wider farm environment (n = 67; 64.7% prevalence), indicating potential sources for HEV re-circulation within the herd. Timing of infection in a cohort was also investigated. HEV was absent from all piglet faeces (n = 98) and first detected at weaner stage (25.7% prevalence), but only in groups weaned earlier or comprising pigs from many different litters. Farrowing sow faeces (n = 75) were HEV-negative but antibodies were detected in blood from two sows. Results suggest that multiple factors influence HEV infection dynamics on pig farms, and potential foci for further study into practical control solutions are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Withenshaw
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge KT15 3NB, UK;
- Correspondence:
| | - Sylvia S. Grierson
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge KT15 3NB, UK;
| | - Richard P. Smith
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge KT15 3NB, UK;
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Tialla D, Cissé A, Ouédraogo GA, Hübschen JM, Tarnagda Z, Snoeck CJ. Prevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies in cattle in Burkina Faso associated with swine mixed farming. J Vet Sci 2022; 23:e33. [PMID: 35332710 PMCID: PMC9149500 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.21235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endemic circulation of human-specific hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 1 and 2 may occult the importance of sporadic zoonotic HEV transmissions in Africa. Increasing numbers of studies reporting anti-HEV antibodies in cattle and the discovery of infectious HEV in cow milk has raised public health concern, but cattle exposure has seldom been investigated in Africa. Objectives This study aimed at investigating the role of cows in the epidemiology of HEV in Burkina Faso and farmers habits in terms of dairy product consumption as a prerequisite to estimate the risk of transmission to humans. Methods Sera from 475 cattle and 192 pigs were screened for the presence of anti-HEV antibodies while HEV RNA in swine stools was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data on mixed farming, dairy product consumption and selling habits were gathered through questionnaires. Results The overall seroprevalence in cattle was 5.1% and herd seroprevalence reached 32.4% (11/34). Herd seropositivity was not associated with husbandry practice or presence of rabbits on the farms. However, herd seropositivity was associated with on-site presence of pigs, 80.7% of which had anti-HEV antibodies. The majority of farmers reported to preferentially consume raw milk based dairy products. Conclusions Concomitant presence of pigs on cattle farms constitutes a risk factor for HEV exposure of cattle. However, the risk of HEV infections associated with raw cow dairy product consumption is currently considered as low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieudonné Tialla
- Unit of Epidemic-Prone Diseases, Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses (UMEMEZ), National Influenza Reference Laboratory (LNR-G), Department of Biomedical and Public Health, Health Science Research Institute (IRSS), National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7192, Burkina Faso
- Department Animal Health, National School of Animal Husbandry and Health (ENESA), Ouagadougou, Secteur 28, Burkina Faso
| | - Assana Cissé
- Unit of Epidemic-Prone Diseases, Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses (UMEMEZ), National Influenza Reference Laboratory (LNR-G), Department of Biomedical and Public Health, Health Science Research Institute (IRSS), National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7192, Burkina Faso
| | - Georges Anicet Ouédraogo
- Laboratory of Research and Teaching in Health and Animal Biotechnology (LARESBA), University Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso, 01 BP 109, Burkina Faso
| | - Judith M. Hübschen
- Clinical and Applied Virology Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4354, Luxembourg
| | - Zékiba Tarnagda
- Unit of Epidemic-Prone Diseases, Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses (UMEMEZ), National Influenza Reference Laboratory (LNR-G), Department of Biomedical and Public Health, Health Science Research Institute (IRSS), National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research (CNRST), Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7192, Burkina Faso
| | - Chantal J. Snoeck
- Clinical and Applied Virology Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4354, Luxembourg
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Ianiro G, Chelli E, De Sabato L, Monini M, Ostanello F, Di Bartolo I. Long-term surveillance for hepatitis E virus in an Italian two-site farrow-to-finish swine farm. Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 68:474-482. [PMID: 33934531 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In humans, hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for an acute enterically transmitted hepatitis, which can become chronic in immune-compromised patients. Genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3 and HEV-4) are zoonotic, and domestic pigs and wild boar are the main reservoirs. The occurrence of autochthonous cases in Europe, which have been increasing over the last 10 years, has been associated with food-borne zoonotic transmission of HEV-3, mainly linked to consumption of undercooked or raw pork products (sausages containing liver) and wild boar meat. Zoonotic HEV-3 strains are widespread on pig farms, but little information is available on the dynamic of HEV-3 infection within farms, among pigs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of the infection among pigs of different ages along the production chain by the zoonotic HEVs, and to evaluate how long the virus may persist in the farm environment. The presence of HEV-RNA was investigated by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in 281 test faecal pools over 19 months (2017-2019) on a two-site farrow-to-finish farm (about 1,000 sows), in Northern Italy. A total of 67/281 test faecal pools (23.8%) resulted positive for the presence of HEV-RNA (site 1: 59/221, 26.7%; site 2: 8/60, 13.3%). Nucleotide sequencing revealed a unique HEV-3 viral variant circulating during 19 months of surveillance. The same HEV-3 strain was detected in the same farm on 2012, indicating the persistence of the same virus over 7 years, and highlighting the role of the environment as a continuous source of infection on pig farms. The results confirmed the circulation of the zoonotic genotype HEV-3 in pigs before slaughtering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ianiro
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Chelli
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca De Sabato
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Monini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Ostanello
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Bartolo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Meester M, Tobias TJ, Bouwknegt M, Kusters NE, Stegeman JA, van der Poel WHM. Infection dynamics and persistence of hepatitis E virus on pig farms - a review. Porcine Health Manag 2021; 7:16. [PMID: 33546777 PMCID: PMC7863251 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-021-00189-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 and 4 is a zoonosis that causes hepatitis in humans. Humans can become infected by consumption of pork or contact with pigs. Pigs are the main reservoir of the virus worldwide and the virus is present on most pig farms. Main body Though HEV is present on most farms, the proportion of infected pigs at slaughter and thus the level of exposure to consumers differs between farms and countries. Understanding the cause of that difference is necessary to install effective measures to lower HEV in pigs at slaughter. Here, HEV studies are reviewed that include infection dynamics of HEV in pigs and on farms, risk factors for HEV farm prevalence, and that describe mechanisms and sources that could generate persistence on farms. Most pigs become infected after maternal immunity has waned, at the end of the nursing or beginning of the fattening phase. Risk factors increasing the likelihood of a high farm prevalence or proportion of actively infected slaughter pigs comprise of factors such as farm demographics, internal and external biosecurity and immunomodulating coinfections. On-farm persistence of HEV is plausible, because of a high transmission rate and a constant influx of susceptible pigs. Environmental sources of HEV that enhance persistence are contaminated manure storages, water and fomites. Conclusion As HEV is persistently present on most pig farms, current risk mitigation should focus on lowering transmission within farms, especially between farm compartments. Yet, one should be aware of the paradox of increasing the proportion of actively infected pigs at slaughter by reducing transmission insufficiently. Vaccination of pigs may aid HEV control in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Meester
- Farm Animal Health unit, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - T J Tobias
- Farm Animal Health unit, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - N E Kusters
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - J A Stegeman
- Farm Animal Health unit, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Clinical Characteristics of Acute Hepatitis E and Their Correlation with HEV Genotype 3 Subtypes in Italy. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9100832. [PMID: 33050666 PMCID: PMC7650787 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9100832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Genotype 3 (GT3) is responsible for most European autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections. This study analyzed circulating genotypes and GT3 subtypes in the Lazio region, Italy, between 2011 and 2019, as well as their pathogenic characteristics. Of the 64 evaluable HEV GT3 patient-derived sequences, identified subtypes included GT3f (n = 36), GT3e (n = 15), GT3c (n = 9), GT3a (n = 1) and three unsubtyped GT3 sequences. GT3c strains were similar to Dutch sequences (96.8–98.1% identity), GT3e strains showed high similarity (96.8%) with a United Kingdom sequence, while the most related sequences to GT3f Italian strains were isolated in France, Belgium and Japan. One sequence was closely related to another Italian strain isolated in raw sewage in 2016. The liver functioning test median values for 56 evaluable GT3 patients were: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 461 (range 52–4835 U/L); aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 659 (range 64–6588 U/L); and total bilirubin, 3.49 (range 0.4–33 mg/dL). The median HEV RNA viral load for 26 evaluable GT3 patients was 42,240 IU/mL (range 5680–895,490 IU/mL). Of the 37 GT3 patients with available clinical information, no correlation was observed between HEV clinical manifestations and GT3 subtype. HEV symptoms were comparable among GT3c/e/f patients across most analyzed categories except for epigastric pain, which occurred more frequently in patients with HEV GT3e (75%) than in patients with GT3c (50%) or GT3f (19%) (p = 0.01). Additionally, patients with HEV GT3c exhibited significantly higher median international normalized ratio (INR) than patients with GT3e and GT3f (p = 0.033). The severity of GT3 acute hepatitis E was not linked to HEV RNA viral load or to the GT3 subtype.
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12
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Takova K, Koynarski T, Minkov I, Ivanova Z, Toneva V, Zahmanova G. Increasing Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence in Domestic Pigs and Wild Boar in Bulgaria. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091521. [PMID: 32872096 PMCID: PMC7552291 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a lesser-known hepatitis virus, but its worldwide spread is undisputed and has increased in recent years. The zoonotic spread of HEV, mainly due to genotype (gt) 3, emerged in developed countries in the past decade. In addition, transmission via contaminated meat from pigs and boars was also established. Detailed analysis of viral dynamics and distribution is needed in order to identify associated risk factors. The aim of the current study is to present new and additional data on the HEV distribution among pigs, and for the first-time, also among the wild boar population in Bulgaria. Abstract (1) Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a causative agent of acute viral hepatitis, predominantly transmitted by the fecal–oral route. In developed countries, HEV is considered to be an emerging pathogen since the number of autochthonous cases is rising. Hepatitis E is a viral disease with a proven zoonotic potential for some of its genotypes. The main viral reservoirs are domestic pigs and wild boar. Consumption of undercooked meat, as well as occupational exposure, are key factors for the spread of HEV. In order to evaluate the risks of future viral evolution, a detailed examination of the ecology and distribution of the virus is needed. The aim of the present study is to investigate the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG Ab in domestic pigs and wild boar in Bulgaria; (2) Methods: In this study, during the period of three years between 2017 and 2019, 433 serum samples from 19 different pig farms and 1 slaughterhouse were collected and analyzed. In addition, 32 samples from wild boar were also collected and analyzed during the 2018–2019 hunting season. All samples were analyzed by commercial indirect ELISA; (3) Results: Overall, HEV seroprevalence was 60% (95% CI 42.7–77.1) in domestic pigs and 12.5% (4/32) in wild boar. The observed seroprevalence of the slaughter-aged pigs was 73.65% (95% Cl 58.7–87.3). Prevalence in domestic pigs was significantly higher in the samples collected during 2019 (98% (95% Cl 96.1–99.9)) compared to those collected during 2017 (45.33% (95% CI 2.7–87.3)) and 2018 (38.46% (95% CI 29.1–49.7.); (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that domesticated pigs and wild boar might be the reason for the increased HEV transmission across Bulgaria. The genotypic characterization of HEV found in pigs, wild boar and humans will give a more accurate view of the zoonotic transmission of this virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Takova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.); (V.T.)
| | - Tsvetoslav Koynarski
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria;
| | - Ivan Minkov
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (I.M.); (Z.I.)
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Zdravka Ivanova
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (I.M.); (Z.I.)
| | - Valentina Toneva
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.); (V.T.)
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (I.M.); (Z.I.)
| | - Gergana Zahmanova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (K.T.); (V.T.)
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +359-32-261529
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13
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Andraud M, Rose N. Modelling infectious viral diseases in swine populations: a state of the art. Porcine Health Manag 2020; 6:22. [PMID: 32843990 PMCID: PMC7439688 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-020-00160-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mathematical modelling is nowadays a pivotal tool for infectious diseases studies, completing regular biological investigations. The rapid growth of computer technology allowed for development of computational tools to address biological issues that could not be unravelled in the past. The global understanding of viral disease dynamics requires to account for all interactions at all levels, from within-host to between-herd, to have all the keys for development of control measures. A literature review was performed to disentangle modelling frameworks according to their major objectives and methodologies. One hundred and seventeen articles published between 1994 and 2020 were found to meet our inclusion criteria, which were defined to target papers representative of studies dealing with models of viral infection dynamics in pigs. A first descriptive analysis, using bibliometric indexes, permitted to identify keywords strongly related to the study scopes. Modelling studies were focused on particular infectious agents, with a shared objective: to better understand the viral dynamics for appropriate control measure adaptation. In a second step, selected papers were analysed to disentangle the modelling structures according to the objectives of the studies. The system representation was highly dependent on the nature of the pathogens. Enzootic viruses, such as swine influenza or porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, were generally investigated at the herd scale to analyse the impact of husbandry practices and prophylactic measures on infection dynamics. Epizootic agents (classical swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever viruses) were mostly studied using spatio-temporal simulation tools, to investigate the efficiency of surveillance and control protocols, which are predetermined for regulated diseases. A huge effort was made on model parameterization through the development of specific studies and methodologies insuring the robustness of parameter values to feed simulation tools. Integrative modelling frameworks, from within-host to spatio-temporal models, is clearly on the way. This would allow to capture the complexity of individual biological variabilities and to assess their consequences on the whole system at the population level. This would offer the opportunity to test and evaluate in silico the efficiency of possible control measures targeting specific epidemiological units, from hosts to herds, either individually or through their contact networks. Such decision support tools represent a strength for stakeholders to help mitigating infectious diseases dynamics and limiting economic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Andraud
- Anses, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare research unit, F22440 Ploufragan, France
| | - N. Rose
- Anses, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare research unit, F22440 Ploufragan, France
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14
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Salines M, Andraud M, Rose N, Widgren S. A between-herd data-driven stochastic model to explore the spatio-temporal spread of hepatitis E virus in the French pig production network. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230257. [PMID: 32658910 PMCID: PMC7357762 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus is a zoonotic pathogen for which pigs are recognized as the major reservoir in industrialised countries. A multiscale model was developed to assess the HEV transmission and persistence pattern in the pig production sector through an integrative approach taking into account within-farm dynamics and animal movements based on actual data. Within-farm dynamics included both demographic and epidemiological processes. Direct contact and environmental transmission routes were considered along with the possible co-infection with immunomodulating viruses (IMVs) known to modify HEV infection dynamics. Movements were limited to 3,017 herds forming the largest community on the swine commercial network in France and data from the national pig movement database were used to build the contact matrix. Between-herd transmission was modelled by coupling within-herd and network dynamics using the SimInf package. Different introduction scenarios were tested as well as a decrease in the prevalence of IMV-infected farms. After introduction of a single infected gilt, the model showed that the transmission pathway as well as the prevalence of HEV-infected pigs at slaughter age were affected by the type of the index farm, the health status of the population and the type of the infected farms. These outcomes could help design HEV control strategies at a territorial scale based on the assessment of the farms' and network's risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Salines
- ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Research Unit, France
| | - Mathieu Andraud
- ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Research Unit, France
| | - Nicolas Rose
- ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Research Unit, France
| | - Stefan Widgren
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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15
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Istrate A, Rădulescu AL. A comparison of hepatitis E and A in a teaching hospital in Northwestern Romania. Acute hepatitis E - a mild disease? Med Pharm Rep 2020; 93:30-38. [PMID: 32133444 PMCID: PMC7051815 DOI: 10.15386/mpr-1487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aims The incidence of locally acquired hepatitis E has increased in recent years across Europe. There are only few data on hepatitis E in Romania. The purpose of our research was to describe and compare hepatitis E and hepatitis A in adult patients. Methods We included all consecutive adult patients with hepatitis E and hepatitis A admitted to the Teaching Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania between January 2017 and August 2019. Results Hepatitis E incidence increased in 2018–2019 compared to 2017. The average age in hepatitis E (n=48) patients was 50.6 versus 39.1 years in hepatitis A (n=152, not including 262 minors) and two-thirds of the patients in both groups were men. Compared to hepatitis A, patients with hepatitis E presented significantly less modified AST and ALT, bilirubin, prothrombin index and INR levels. We found more comorbidities in hepatitis E patients adjusted for age and gender. Severe forms were found in 5 (3.3%) hepatitis A patients, compared to 12 (25%) of hepatitis E patients, of which 3 died. Ribavirin treatment was considered in 9 patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis E, immunosuppression, cancers or neurological manifestations, showing good results. Conclusions We observed an increased number of hepatitis E cases. Although laboratory results were less modified compared to hepatitis A, we found a higher number of severe hepatitis E cases. Ribavirin treatment seems to be beneficial in patients with preexisting conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Istrate
- Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Epidemiology, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Amanda Lelia Rădulescu
- Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Epidemiology, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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16
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Quantification and genetic diversity of Hepatitis E virus in wild boar (Sus scrofa) hunted for domestic consumption in Central Italy. Food Microbiol 2019; 82:194-201. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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17
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Salines M, Rose N, Andraud M. Tackling hepatitis E virus spread and persistence on farrow-to-finish pig farms: Insights from a stochastic individual-based multi-pathogen model. Epidemics 2019; 30:100369. [PMID: 31526684 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2019.100369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic agent of which domestic pigs have been recognised as the main reservoir in industrialised countries. The great variability in HEV infection dynamics described on different pig farms may be related to the influence of other pathogens, and in particular viruses affecting pigs' immune response. The objective of this study was to develop a multi-pathogen modelling approach to understand the conditions under which HEV spreads and persists on a farrow-to-finish pig farm taking into account the fact that pigs may be co-infected with an intercurrent pathogen. A stochastic individual-based model was therefore designed that combines a population dynamics model, which enables us to take different batch rearing systems into account, with a multi-pathogen model representing at the same time the dynamics of both HEV and the intercurrent pathogen. Based on experimental and field data, the epidemiological parameters of the HEV model varied according to the pig's immunomodulating virus status. HEV spread and persistence was found to be very difficult to control on a farm with a 20-batch rearing system. Housing sows in smaller groups and eradicating immunomodulating pathogens would dramatically reduce the prevalence of HEV-positive livers at slaughter, which would drop from 3.3% to 1% and 0.2% respectively (p-value < 0.01). It would also decrease the probability of HEV on-farm persistence from 0.6 to 0 and 0.34 respectively (p-value < 0.01) on farms with a 7 batch rearing system. A number of farming practices, such as limiting cross-fostering, reducing the size of weaning pens and vaccinating pigs against immunomodulating viruses, were also shown to be pivotal factors for decreasing HEV spread and persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Salines
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare research unit, Ploufragan, France; Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France.
| | - Nicolas Rose
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare research unit, Ploufragan, France; Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France.
| | - Mathieu Andraud
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology, Health and Welfare research unit, Ploufragan, France; Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France.
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18
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Capai L, Maestrini O, Casabianca F, Villechenaud N, Masse S, Bosseur F, Lamballerie X, Charrel RN, Falchi A. Drastic decline of hepatitis E virus detection in domestic pigs after the age of 6 months, Corsica, France. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:2462-2473. [DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisandru Capai
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie Université de Corse Corte France
| | - Oscar Maestrini
- Laboratoire de Recherche sur le Développement de l’Elevage (LRDE) Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Corte France
| | - François Casabianca
- Laboratoire de Recherche sur le Développement de l’Elevage (LRDE) Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Corte France
| | | | - Shirley Masse
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie Université de Corse Corte France
| | - Frédéric Bosseur
- Sciences Pour l’Environnement – UMR CNRS 6134 niversité de Corse Corte France
| | - Xavier Lamballerie
- IRD 190, INSERM 1207 IHU Méditerranée Infection, Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE): Aix Marseille Univ Marseille France
| | - Rémi N. Charrel
- IRD 190, INSERM 1207 IHU Méditerranée Infection, Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE): Aix Marseille Univ Marseille France
- Emerging Pathogens Institute University of Florida Gainesville Florida
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Fu RM, Decker CC, Dao Thi VL. Cell Culture Models for Hepatitis E Virus. Viruses 2019; 11:E608. [PMID: 31277308 PMCID: PMC6669563 DOI: 10.3390/v11070608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite a growing awareness, hepatitis E virus (HEV) remains understudied and investigations have been historically hampered by the absence of efficient cell culture systems. As a result, the pathogenesis of HEV infection and basic steps of the HEV life cycle are poorly understood. Major efforts have recently been made through the development of HEV infectious clones and cellular systems that significantly advanced HEV research. Here, we summarize these systems, discussing their advantages and disadvantages for HEV studies. We further capitalize on the need for HEV-permissive polarized cell models to better recapitulate the entire HEV life cycle and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Menhua Fu
- Schaller Research Group at Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Caroline Decker
- Schaller Research Group at Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Viet Loan Dao Thi
- Schaller Research Group at Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Mejido DCP, de Oliveira JM, Gaspar AMC, Gardinali NR, Bottino FDO, de Carvalho LG, Lopes dos Santos DR, Kevorkian YB, Xavier LL, Moran J, Pelajo-Machado M, Marchevsky RS, Pinto MA. Evidences of HEV genotype 3 persistence and reactivity in liver parenchyma from experimentally infected cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218472. [PMID: 31211801 PMCID: PMC6581283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen, responsible for sporadic cases of acute hepatitis E worldwide. Primate models have proven to be an essential tool for the study of HEV pathogenesis. Here we describe the outcomes of HEV infection in Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus) inoculated experimentally with genotype 3. Eight adult cynomolgus macaques were inoculated intravenously with HEV-3 viral particles isolated from swine and human samples. Liver, spleen, duodenum, gallbladder and bile were sequential assessed up to the end-point of this study, 67 days post-inoculation (dpi). Our previously published findings showed that biochemical parameters return gradually to baseline levels at 55 dpi, whereas anti-HEV IgM and HEV RNA become undetectable in the serum and feces of all animals, indicating a non-viremic phase of recovery. Nevertheless, at a later stage during convalescence (67 dpi), the presence of HEV-3 RNA and antigen persist in central organs, even after peripheral viral clearance. Our results show that two cynomolgus inoculated with swine HEV-3 (animals I3 and O1) presented persistence of HEV RNA low titers in liver, gallbladder and bile. At this same stage of infection, HEV antigen (HEV Ag) could be detected in all infected animals, predominantly in non-reactive Kupffer cells (CD68+iNOS-) and sinusoidal lining cells. Simultaneously, CD4+, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+ immune cells were identified in hepatic sinusoids and small inflammatory clusters of lobular mononuclear cells, at the end-point of this study. Inability of HEV clearance in humans can result in chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, with subsequent liver failure requiring transplantation. The results of our study support the persistence of HEV-3 during convalescence at 67 dpi, with active immune response in NHP. We alert to the inherent risk of viral transmission through liver transplantation, even in the absence of clinical and biochemical signs of acute infection. Thus, besides checking conventional serological markers of HEV infection, we strongly recommend HEV-3 RNA and antigen detection in liver explants as public health measure to prevent donor-recipient transmission and spread of hepatitis E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Chaves Pereira Mejido
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Jaqueline Mendes de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Ana Maria Coimbra Gaspar
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Noemi Rovaris Gardinali
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Fernanda de Oliveira Bottino
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Debora Regina Lopes dos Santos
- Departament of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Federal Rural University of Rio De Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Yohan Brito Kevorkian
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Leandro Layter Xavier
- Laboratory of Morphometry, Institute of Biology, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Julio Moran
- Laboratory of Pathology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Renato Sergio Marchevsky
- Laboratory of Control of Neurovirulence, Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Alves Pinto
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- * E-mail:
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21
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Primadharsini PP, Nagashima S, Okamoto H. Genetic Variability and Evolution of Hepatitis E Virus. Viruses 2019; 11:v11050456. [PMID: 31109076 PMCID: PMC6563261 DOI: 10.3390/v11050456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. HEV can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, with the latter usually occurring in immunocompromised patients. Modes of transmission range from the classic fecal–oral route or zoonotic route, to relatively recently recognized but increasingly common routes, such as via the transfusion of blood products or organ transplantation. Extrahepatic manifestations, such as neurological, kidney and hematological abnormalities, have been documented in some limited cases, typically in patients with immune suppression. HEV has demonstrated extensive genomic diversity and a variety of HEV strains have been identified worldwide from human populations as well as growing numbers of animal species. The genetic variability and constant evolution of HEV contribute to its physiopathogenesis and adaptation to new hosts. This review describes the recent classification of the Hepeviridae family, global genotype distribution, clinical significance of HEV genotype and genomic variability and evolution of HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Putu Prathiwi Primadharsini
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
| | - Shigeo Nagashima
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Okamoto
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
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Tulen AD, Vennema H, van Pelt W, Franz E, Hofhuis A. A case-control study into risk factors for acute hepatitis E in the Netherlands, 2015–2017. J Infect 2019; 78:373-381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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23
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Tsachev I, Baymakova M, Ciccozzi M, Pepovich R, Kundurzhiev T, Marutsov P, Dimitrov KK, Gospodinova K, Pishmisheva M, Pekova L. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Pigs from Southern Bulgaria. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:767-772. [PMID: 31017536 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been isolated from humans and several animals' species. During the last years, the knowledge of HEV infection dramatically changed and enriched. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HEV in industrial pigs in different districts of Southern Bulgaria. Three hundred sixty swine serum samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG antibodies. The samples were collected from four industrial farms from three districts of Southern Bulgaria. HEV-specific antibodies in porcine serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PrioCHECK HEV Ab porcine). The overall HEV seroprevalence was 60.3%. The seropositivity varied widely depending on age groups and investigated farms. The overall prevalence in weaners was 25%, in fattening pigs 75.8%, and in group of sows was found the highest HEV positivity of 80%. The occurrence of HEV positivity in sows and fattening pigs presented odds ratio (OR) = 17.200 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.8-33.7) and OR = 11.342 (95% CI: 6.1-21.0), respectively, compared to weaners. The study indicated that HEV is widespread in industrial farms in Bulgaria and presented high seroprevalence in pigs. The results found that HEV seropositivity showed age dependency. The National Health Authorities should raise awareness of HEV and its zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Tsachev
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Magdalena Baymakova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Roman Pepovich
- Department of Infectious Pathology, Hygiene, Technology and Control of Foods from Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Todor Kundurzhiev
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Plamen Marutsov
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Kiril K Dimitrov
- Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Krasimira Gospodinova
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Pishmisheva
- Department of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital, Pazardzhik, Bulgaria
| | - Liliya Pekova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Stara Zagora University Hospital, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
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Wang H, Karlsson M, Lindberg M, Nyström K, Norder H. Hepatitis E virus strains infecting Swedish domestic pigs are unique for each pig farm and remain in the farm for at least 2 years. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:1314-1323. [PMID: 30784199 PMCID: PMC6850098 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 (HEV3) is distributed globally and infects both humans and animals, mainly domestic pigs and wild boars, which are the major reservoirs. In this study, the prevalence of HEV among Swedish pigs was investigated by HEV RNA analysis in 363 faecal samples from 3-month-old piglets sampled twice (2013 and 2014) in 30 Swedish pig farms. Four different types of farms were investigated; organic, conventional closed (keeping the sow), satellites in a sow pool (conventional farms sharing sows) and conventional non-closed farms (purchasing gilts). More than two-thirds (77%) of the farms had HEV-infected pigs. HEV RNA was found in faeces from 79 pigs (22%). Partial ORF1 could be sequenced in 46 strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a unique HEV3 strain for each farm. Strains sampled more than a year apart from the same farm were closely related, indicating that the same HEV strain is present for several years on the farm. Despite that only 4% of the Swedish pig farms were investigated, two farms had strains similar to those from humans, another had strains similar to wild boar HEV. The uniqueness of strains from each farm indicates a possibility to identify a source of infection down to farm level. This knowledge may be used by the farms to investigate the effectiveness of good hygiene routines to reduce the amount of HEV and thus the infection risk in the farm, and for Swedish public health authorities to identify cases of HEV transmissions from consumption of uncooked pork.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marie Karlsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Kristina Nyström
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Heléne Norder
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
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25
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Motoya T, Umezawa M, Goto K, Doi I, Nagata N, Ikeda Y, Sakuta A, Sasaki N, Ishii K. High prevalence of hepatitis E virus infection among domestic pigs in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:87. [PMID: 30866949 PMCID: PMC6416891 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-1816-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is prevalent in pigs and may serve as a reservoir for human infection. However, data on HEV infections in pigs in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, are limited. Here, we clarified the process and course of HEV in naturally infected pigs. Serum (n = 160) and liver (n = 110) samples were collected from pigs at the slaughterhouse. Furthermore, serum samples were collected from 45 breeding sows and serum and feces samples were collected from 7 piglets once a week (raised until 166 days of age). HEV antigen and antibodies were evaluated, and the genotype was identified based on molecular phylogenetic tree analysis. RESULTS The samples collected from the slaughterhouse revealed that few pigs were HEV carriers but most possessed anti-HEV antibodies. Most breeding sows possessed antibodies, and the piglets excreted HEV on the farm at approximately 10 weeks of age. One pig was initially infected, and in a few weeks, the other pigs living in the same sty became infected. CONCLUSIONS Most pigs in Ibaraki Prefecture were with HEV. On the farm, most piglets were infected with HEV by the time they reached slaughter age. We confirmed that HEV infection is successively transmitted among piglets living in the same sty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Motoya
- Ibaraki Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-0852, Japan. .,Laboratory of Laboratory Animal Science and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
| | - Masahiro Umezawa
- Ibaraki Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-0852, Japan
| | - Keiko Goto
- Ibaraki Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-0852, Japan
| | - Ikuko Doi
- Ibaraki Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-0852, Japan
| | - Noriko Nagata
- Ibaraki Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-0852, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Ikeda
- Ibaraki Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-0852, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sakuta
- Swine Laboratory, Ibaraki Prefectural Livestock Research Center, Inashiki, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuya Sasaki
- Laboratory of Laboratory Animal Science and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan
| | - Koji Ishii
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
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26
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Dähnert L, Eiden M, Schlosser J, Fast C, Schröder C, Lange E, Gröner A, Schäfer W, Groschup MH. High sensitivity of domestic pigs to intravenous infection with HEV. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:381. [PMID: 30514313 PMCID: PMC6278151 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1713-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one major cause of acute clinical hepatitis among humans throughout the world. In industrialized countries an increasing number of autochthonous HEV infections have been identified over the last years triggered by food borne as well as – to a much lower degree – by human to human transmission via blood transfusion. Pigs have been recognised as main reservoir for HEV genotype 3 (HEV-3), and zoonotic transmission to humans through undercooked/raw meat is reported repeatedly. The minimal infectious dose of HEV-3 for pigs is so far unknown. Results The minimum infectious dose of HEV-3 in a pig infection model was determined by intravenous inoculation of pigs with a dilution series of a liver homogenate of a HEV infected wild boar. Seroconversion, virus replication and shedding were determined by analysis of blood and faeces samples, collected over a maximum period of 91 days. A dose dependent incubation period was observed in faecal shedding of viruses employing a specific and sensitive PCR method. Faecal viral shedding and seroconversion was detected in animals inoculated with dilutions of up to 10− 7. This correlates with an intravenously (i.v.) administered infectious dose of only 6.5 copies in 2 ml (corresponding to 24 IU HEV RNA/ml). Furthermore the first detectable shedding of HEV RNA in faeces is clearly dose dependent. Unexpectedly one group infected with a 10− 4 dilution exhibited prolonged virus shedding for more than 60 days suggesting a persistent infection. Conclusion The results indicate that pigs are highly susceptible to i.v. infection with HEV and that the swine model represents the most sensitive infectivity assay for HEV so far. Considering a minimum infectious dose of 24 IU RNA/ml our findings highlights the potential risk of HEV transmission via blood and blood products. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1713-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Dähnert
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Josephine Schlosser
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Fast
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Charlotte Schröder
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Elke Lange
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Albrecht Gröner
- PathoGuard Consult, Fasanenweg 6, 64342, Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany
| | - Wolfram Schäfer
- CSL Behring Biotherapies for Life™, P.O. Box 1230, 35002, Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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27
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Salines M, Andraud M, Terrade F, Rose N. Are French pig farmers and veterinarians knowledgeable about emerging foodborne pathogens? The case of hepatitis E virus. Prev Vet Med 2018; 156:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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28
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Baylis SA, Moradpour D, Wedemeyer H, Negro F. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on hepatitis E virus infection. J Hepatol 2018; 68:1256-1271. [PMID: 29609832 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 359] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, representing an important global health problem. Our understanding of HEV has changed completely over the past decade. Previously, HEV was thought to be limited to certain developing countries. We now know that HEV is endemic in most high-income countries and is largely a zoonotic infection. Given the paradigm shift in our understanding of zoonotic HEV and that locally acquired HEV is now the commonest cause of acute viral hepatitis in many European countries, the focus of these Clinical Practice Guidelines will be on HEV genotype 3 (and 4).
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29
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Baumann-Popczyk A, Popczyk B, Gołąb E, Rożej-Bielicka W, Sadkowska-Todys M. A cross-sectional study among Polish hunters: seroprevalence of hepatitis E and the analysis of factors contributing to HEV infections. Med Microbiol Immunol 2017; 206:367-378. [PMID: 28776194 PMCID: PMC5599476 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-017-0515-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is known as zoonotic agent. The main reservoirs of HEV in Europe are pigs, wild boars, and deer. Hunting activity is considered to be a risk factor for HEV infection. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1021 Polish hunters. To understand socio-demographic characteristics of this population and to gather information on potential exposures, all participants completed a questionnaire. Commercial immunoassays were employed to estimate seroprevalence anti-HEV. Samples with confirmed positive result of anti-HEV IgM were examined for HEV RNA. Anti-HEV IgG were identified in 227 people, 22.2% of the studied group. Seroprevalence among the studied hunters was associated with age ≥65 [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.6, p = 0.037), living in a house (aPR 1.54, p = 0.013), professional contact with farm animals (aPR 1.09, p = 0.01), and consumption of stewed offal (aPR 1.61, p = 0.00). Washing hands after disembowelment was linked to lower seroprevalence (aPR 0.53; p = 0.00). Lower prevalence of anti-HEV IgG among hunters living in cities was associated with age: 35–49 (aPR 0.52, p = 0.011) and 50–64 (aPR 0.93, p = 0.58), living in a house (aPR 1.58, p = 0.002) and owning a cat (aPR 0.58, p = 0.042). Among hunters living in rural areas, seropositivity was associated with contact with farm animals (aPR 1.66, p = 0.013) and consumption of stewed offal (aPR 1.81; p = 0.001). Contrary to initial assumptions, it was concluded that hunting was of significantly lesser importance than other factors. Due to the high level of HEV seroprevalence identified, we recommend conducting a large-scale study in the general population of Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Baumann-Popczyk
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska str 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Bartłomiej Popczyk
- Department of Genetic and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.,Polish Hunting Association, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Gołąb
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wioletta Rożej-Bielicka
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Sadkowska-Todys
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska str 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
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30
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Soomro MH, Shi R, She R, Yang Y, Wang T, Wu Q, Li H, Hao W. Molecular and structural changes related to hepatitis E virus antigen and its expression in testis inducing apoptosis in Mongolian gerbil model. J Viral Hepat 2017; 24:696-707. [PMID: 28182318 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been associated with a wide range of extrahepatic manifestations, so this study was designed to examine the effect and role of HEV on structural and molecular changes in the testicular tissues of Mongolian gerbils experimentally infected with swine HEV. HEV RNA was first detected in testis at 14 days post-inoculation and reached a peak between 28 and 42 days later with viral load between 3.12 and 6.23 logs/g by PCR assays. Changes including vacuolation, sloughing of germ cells, formation of multinuclear giant cells, degeneration, necrosis of tubules and damaged blood-testis barrier were observed through transmission electron microscopy. HEV ORF2 antigen was detected in the sperm cell cytoplasm along with decrease in relative protein of zonula occludens-1 through immunohistochemistry. HEV ORF3 antigen and ZO-1 protein were detectable by Western blotting. Lower (P<.05) serum testosterone and higher (P<.05) blood urea nitrogen level was observed in inoculated Mongolian gerbils. Likewise, increased (P<.05) germ cell apoptosis rate was detected with significant increased expression of Fas-L and Fas in HEV-inoculated groups at each time points. Up-regulation (P<.05 or P<.01) in mRNA level of Fas-L, Fas, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was observed in HEV RNA-positive testes. Our study demonstrated that after experimental inoculation, HEV can be detected in testis tissues and viral proteins produce structural and molecular changes that in turn disrupt the blood-testis barrier and induce germ cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Soomro
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Pakistan
| | - R Shi
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China
| | - R She
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China
| | - Y Yang
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China
| | - T Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China
| | - Q Wu
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China
| | - H Li
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China
| | - W Hao
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agriculture University, Beijing, China
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31
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Salines M, Andraud M, Rose N. From the epidemiology of hepatitis E virus (HEV) within the swine reservoir to public health risk mitigation strategies: a comprehensive review. Vet Res 2017; 48:31. [PMID: 28545558 PMCID: PMC5445439 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-017-0436-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E in humans, an emerging zoonosis mainly transmitted via food in developed countries and for which domestic pigs are recognised as the main reservoir. It therefore appears important to understand the features and drivers of HEV infection dynamics on pig farms in order to implement HEV surveillance programmes and to assess and manage public health risks. The authors have reviewed the international scientific literature on the epidemiological characteristics of HEV in swine populations. Although prevalence estimates differed greatly from one study to another, all consistently reported high variability between farms, suggesting the existence of multifactorial conditions related to infection and within-farm transmission of the virus. Longitudinal studies and experimental trials have provided estimates of epidemiological parameters governing the transmission process (e.g. age at infection, transmission parameters, shedding period duration or lag time before the onset of an immune response). Farming practices, passive immunity and co-infection with immunosuppressive agents were identified as the main factors influencing HEV infection dynamics, but further investigations are needed to clarify the different HEV infection patterns observed in pig herds as well as HEV transmission between farms. Relevant surveillance programmes and control measures from farm to fork also have to be fostered to reduce the prevalence of contaminated pork products entering the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Salines
- ANSES-Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France. .,Université Bretagne Loire, Rennes, France.
| | - Mathieu Andraud
- ANSES-Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France.,Université Bretagne Loire, Rennes, France
| | - Nicolas Rose
- ANSES-Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France.,Université Bretagne Loire, Rennes, France
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32
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Wu Q, An J, She R, Shi R, Hao W, Soomro M, Yuan X, Yang J, Wang J. Detection of Genotype 4 Swine Hepatitis E Virus in Systemic Tissues in Cross-Species Infected Rabbits. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171277. [PMID: 28129390 PMCID: PMC5271373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence demonstrates that hepatitis E virus (HEV) can be transmitted across species. According to previous reports, swine HEV has two genotypes, genotype 3 and 4, and both can infect humans by the fecal-oral route. Thus, it is crucial for the control of HEV zoonotic transmission to evaluate the dynamics of viral shedding and distribution in different tissues during cross-species infection by HEV. In this study, rabbits were infected with genotype 4 swine HEV by the intraperitoneal route. The results showed that HEV RNA not only shed in the feces but also in the saliva of some rabbits during infection with swine HEV. Viremia appeared late after infection, and anti-HEV IgG was not obvious until the appearance of high viremia levels. After the rabbits were euthanized, a histopathological examination showed that the livers developed overt hepatitis accompanied by an elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Furthermore, HEV RNA was detected in various tissues, especially in the salivary glands and tonsils. Subsequently, negative-stranded HEV RNA was practiced in tissues with positive HEV RNA, which demonstrated that HEV replicated in the tissues. Next, we harvested additional tissues from the liver, salivary gland, tonsil, spleen, thymus gland, lymph node and intestine, which are known as replication sites of swine HEV. Additionally, we also observed the HEV antigen distributed in the organs above through immunohistochemical staining. These results demonstrate that rabbits could be used as an animal model for researching cross-species infection of genotype 4 HEV. It is also noteworthy that HEV can shed in the saliva and presents the risk of droplet transmission. These new data provide valuable information for understanding cross-species infection by HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoxing Wu
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junqing An
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiping She
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruihan Shi
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhuo Hao
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - MajidHussain Soomro
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerui Yuan
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinling Yang
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyuan Wang
- Laboratory of veterinary pathology and public health, college of veterinary medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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33
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Transmission of Hepatitis E Virus in Developing Countries. Viruses 2016; 8:v8090253. [PMID: 27657112 PMCID: PMC5035967 DOI: 10.3390/v8090253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV), an RNA virus of the Hepeviridae family, has marked heterogeneity. While all five HEV genotypes can cause human infections, genotypes HEV-1 and -2 infect humans alone, genotypes HEV-3 and -4 primarily infect pigs, boars and deer, and genotype HEV-7 primarily infects dromedaries. The global distribution of HEV has distinct epidemiological patterns based on ecology and socioeconomic factors. In resource-poor countries, disease presents as large-scale waterborne epidemics, and few epidemics have spread through person-to-person contact; however, endemic diseases within these countries can potentially spread through person-to-person contact or fecally contaminated water and foods. Vertical transmission of HEV from infected mother to fetus causes high fetal and perinatal mortality. Other means of transmission, such as zoonotic transmission, can fluctuate depending upon the region and strain of the virus. For instance, zoonotic transmission can sometimes play an insignificant role in human infections, such as in India, where human and pig HEV infections are unrelated. However, recently China and Southeast Asia have experienced a zoonotic spread of HEV-4 from pigs to humans and this has become the dominant mode of transmission of hepatitis E in eastern China. Zoonotic HEV infections in humans occur by eating undercooked pig flesh, raw liver, and sausages; through vocational contact; or via pig slurry, which leads to environmental contamination of agricultural products and seafood. Lastly, blood transfusion-associated HEV infections occur in many countries and screening of donors for HEV RNA is currently under serious consideration. To summarize, HEV genotypes 1 and 2 cause epidemic and endemic diseases in resource poor countries, primarily spreading through contaminated drinking water. HEV genotypes 3 and 4 on the other hand, cause autochthonous infections in developed, and many developing countries, by means of a unique zoonotic food-borne transmission.
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34
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Burt SA, Veltman J, Hakze-van der Honing R, Schmitt H, van der Poel WHM. Hepatitis E Virus in Farmed Rabbits, Wild Rabbits and Petting Farm Rabbits in the Netherlands. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2016; 8:227-9. [PMID: 27147250 PMCID: PMC4972841 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-016-9239-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Rabbits have been suggested as a zoonotic source of Hepatitis E virus. Phylogenetic analysis of HEV isolates from farmed, wild and pet rabbits in the Netherlands (0, 60, and 23 % respectively) showed them to be grouped amongst published rabbit HEV sequences and distinct from most human isolates. Dutch rabbits are unlikely to be a zoonotic source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Burt
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences - Veterinary Public Health Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80175, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jorg Veltman
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences - Veterinary Public Health Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80175, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Renate Hakze-van der Honing
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University Research, Edelhertweg 15, 8219PH, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Heike Schmitt
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences - Veterinary Public Health Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80175, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wim H M van der Poel
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University Research, Edelhertweg 15, 8219PH, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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A Novel Blocking ELISA for Detection of Antibodies against Hepatitis E Virus in Domestic Pigs. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152639. [PMID: 27023902 PMCID: PMC4811412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infects both humans and animals, with an overall human mortality rate generally less than 1%, but as high as 20% among pregnant women. HEV strains fall into 4 major genotypes. Zoonotic genotypes 3 and 4 associate with sporadic human and animal HEV cases in many industrialized countries. To date, collective evidence implicates pigs as the main HEV reservoir, justifying the importance of monitoring HEV infection rates in pig herds to prevent human illness. Due to the lack of a robust in vitro cell culture system for viral propagation, no “gold standard” assay has yet been developed to detect HEV infection in domestic pigs. 1E4, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for the C-terminal 268 amino acids of HEV genotype 4 ORF2 capsid protein (sORF2-C), was generated and conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for use in a blocking ELISA (bELISA). Optimal sORF2-C coating antigen concentration (8 μg/ml), HRP-1E4 dilution (1:1000), and test pig serum dilution (1:20) were determined using a checkerboard titration test. A cut-off value of 16.9% was chosen to differentiate between positive vs. negative sera after mean percent inhibition (PI) testing of 230 negative pig sera. Compared with the indirect ELISA (iELISA), western blot, and a commercial ELISA kit for detecting anti-HEV antibodies in human sera, the bELISA showed no statistical differences and statistically high coincidence of 93.23%, 92%, and 95% with the other tests, respectively. A blocking ELISA (bELISA) for detecting anti-HEV antibodies in pig serum samples was developed with high sensitivity and high specificity comparable to that of the indirect ELISA. The bELISA results exhibited high agreement with iELISA, western blot, and a commercial ELISA kit designed to detect human anti-HEV antibodies. Therefore, bELISA should serve as an ideal method for large-scale serological investigation of anti-HEV antibodies in domestic pigs.
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Abstract
Hepatitis E (HE) virus infection is not limited to spread from human to human but also occurs between animals and more importantly as zoonotic spread from animals to humans. Genotyping of strains from hepatitis E virus-infected patients has revealed that these infections are not all caused by genotypes 1 or 2 but often by genotypes 3 or 4. Therefore, it is important to understand the striking difference between the spread of genotypes 1 and 2 in countries with poor sanitary standards and the spread of genotypes 3 and 4 in countries with good sanitary standards. The number of animal species known to be infected with HEV is expanding rapidly. The finding of HEV in new host species always raises the question regarding the zoonotic potential of these newfound strains. However, as new strains are found, the complexity increases.Certain genotypes are known to have the ability of zoonotic spread from certain animal species and these animals may even constitute an infection reservoir. Some animal species may contribute to zoonotic infections albeit on a smaller scale, while others are believed to be of minor or no importance at all. This chapter reviews possible sources of zoonotic hepatitis E virus infection.
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Salines M, Barnaud E, Andraud M, Eono F, Renson P, Bourry O, Pavio N, Rose N. Hepatitis E virus chronic infection of swine co-infected with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. Vet Res 2015; 46:55. [PMID: 26048774 PMCID: PMC4456777 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-015-0207-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In developed countries, most of hepatitis E human cases are of zoonotic origin. Swine is a major hepatitis E virus (HEV) reservoir and foodborne transmissions after pork product consumption have been described. The risk for HEV-containing pig livers at slaughter time is related to the age at infection and to the virus shedding duration. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is a virus that impairs the immune response; it is highly prevalent in pig production areas and suspected to influence HEV infection dynamics. The impact of PRRSV on the features of HEV infections was studied through an experimental HEV/PRRSV co-infection of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs. The follow-up of the co-infected animals showed that HEV shedding was delayed by a factor of 1.9 in co-infected pigs compared to HEV-only infected pigs and specific immune response was delayed by a factor of 1.6. HEV shedding was significantly increased with co-infection and dramatically extended (48.6 versus 9.7 days for HEV only). The long-term HEV shedding was significantly correlated with the delayed humoral response in co-infected pigs. Direct transmission rate was estimated to be 4.7 times higher in case of co-infection than in HEV only infected pigs (0.70 and 0.15 per day respectively). HEV infection susceptibility was increased by a factor of 3.3, showing the major impact of PRRSV infection on HEV dynamics. Finally, HEV/PRRSV co-infection – frequently observed in pig herds – may lead to chronic HEV infection which may dramatically increase the risk of pig livers containing HEV at slaughter time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Salines
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France. .,Université européenne de Bretagne, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Elodie Barnaud
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94706, Maisons-Alfort, France. .,UMR 1161 Virology, INRA, 94706, Maisons-Alfort, France. .,UMR 1161 Virology, Paris Est University, École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94706, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Mathieu Andraud
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France. .,Université européenne de Bretagne, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Florent Eono
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France. .,Université européenne de Bretagne, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Patricia Renson
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France. .,Université européenne de Bretagne, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Olivier Bourry
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France. .,Université européenne de Bretagne, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Nicole Pavio
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94706, Maisons-Alfort, France. .,UMR 1161 Virology, INRA, 94706, Maisons-Alfort, France. .,UMR 1161 Virology, Paris Est University, École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94706, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Nicolas Rose
- ANSES, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, BP 53, 22440, Ploufragan, France. .,Université européenne de Bretagne, 35000, Rennes, France.
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Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV) continues to cause outbreaks in domestic pigs and wild boar in Eastern European countries. To gain insights into its transmission dynamics, we estimated the pig-to-pig basic reproduction number (R0) for the Georgia 2007/1 ASFV strain using a stochastic susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model with parameters estimated from transmission experiments. Models showed that R0 is 2·8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·3–4·8] within a pen and 1·4 (95% CI 0·6–2·4) between pens. The results furthermore suggest that ASFV genome detection in oronasal samples is an effective diagnostic tool for early detection of infection. This study provides quantitative information on transmission parameters for ASFV in domestic pigs, which are required to more effectively assess the potential impact of strategies for the control of between-farm epidemic spread in European countries.
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Burniston S, Okello AL, Khamlome B, Inthavong P, Gilbert J, Blacksell SD, Allen J, Welburn SC. Cultural drivers and health-seeking behaviours that impact on the transmission of pig-associated zoonoses in Lao People's Democratic Republic. Infect Dis Poverty 2015; 4:11. [PMID: 25973203 PMCID: PMC4430026 DOI: 10.1186/2049-9957-4-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pig rearing is an important income source in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), with many smallholder farmers using traditional free-range pig production systems. Despite the potentially significant health risks posed by pig production regarding pig-associated zoonoses, information on the sociocultural drivers of these zoonoses is significantly lacking. This review summarises the existing sociocultural knowledge on eight pig-associated zoonoses suspected to be endemic in Southeast Asia: brucellosis, Q fever (Coxiella burnetii), trichinellosis, hepatitis E virus, leptospirosis, Japanese encephalitis, Streptococcus suis and Taenia solium taeniasis-cysticercosis. It summarises current knowledge on these diseases grouped according to their clinical manifestations in humans to highlight the propensity for underreporting. A literature search was conducted across multiple databases for publications from 1990 to the present day related to the eight pig-associated zoonoses and the risk and impact connected with them, with Lao PDR as a case study. Many of these pig-associated zoonoses have similar presentations and are often diagnosed as clinical syndromes. Misdiagnosis and underreporting are, therefore, substantial and emphasise the need for more robust diagnostics and appropriate surveillance systems. While some reports exist in other countries in the region, information is significantly lacking in Lao PDR with existing information coming mainly from the capital, Vientiane. The disease burden imposed by these zoonoses is not only characterised by morbidity and mortality, but directly impacts on livelihoods through income reduction and production losses, and indirectly through treatment costs and lost work opportunities. Other factors crucial to understanding and controlling these diseases are the influence of ethnicity and culture on food-consumption practices, pig rearing and slaughter practices, hygiene and sanitation, health-seeking behaviours and, therefore, risk factors for disease transmission. Published information on the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of people regarding pig zoonoses and their risk factors is also extremely limited in Lao PDR and the broader Southeast Asian region. The need for more transdisciplinary research, using a One Health approach, in order to understand the underlining social determinants of health and their impacts on health-seeking behaviours, disease transmission and, ultimately, disease reporting, cannot be more emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Burniston
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, College of Medicine and Veterinary, Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB UK
| | - Anna L Okello
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, College of Medicine and Veterinary, Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB UK ; CSIRO Animal Food and Health Sciences, Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), Regional Programme, 5 Portarlington Road, East Geelong, Victoria 3219 Australia
| | - Boualam Khamlome
- Department for Communicable Disease Control (DCDC), Ministry of Health, Thadeua Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | - Phouth Inthavong
- Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ban Sithan Nua, Luang Prabang Road, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane, 7042 Lao PDR
| | - Jeffrey Gilbert
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Asia Programme, Kabete, Naivasha Road, Nairobi, 30709-00100 Kenya
| | - Stuart D Blacksell
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithee Road, 10400 Bangkok, Thailand ; Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LJ UK
| | - John Allen
- CSIRO Animal Food and Health Sciences, Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), Regional Programme, 5 Portarlington Road, East Geelong, Victoria 3219 Australia
| | - Susan C Welburn
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, College of Medicine and Veterinary, Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB UK
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Buhnerkempe MG, Roberts MG, Dobson AP, Heesterbeek H, Hudson PJ, Lloyd-Smith JO. Eight challenges in modelling disease ecology in multi-host, multi-agent systems. Epidemics 2014; 10:26-30. [PMID: 25843378 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many disease systems exhibit complexities not captured by current theoretical and empirical work. In particular, systems with multiple host species and multiple infectious agents (i.e., multi-host, multi-agent systems) require novel methods to extend the wealth of knowledge acquired studying primarily single-host, single-agent systems. We outline eight challenges in multi-host, multi-agent systems that could substantively increase our knowledge of the drivers and broader ecosystem effects of infectious disease dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Buhnerkempe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Mick G Roberts
- Institute of Natural & Mathematical Sciences, New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study and Infectious Disease Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew P Dobson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA
| | - Hans Heesterbeek
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Peter J Hudson
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; The Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - James O Lloyd-Smith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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41
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Forero JE, Parra JE, López A. DETECCIÓN DEL GENOMA DEL VIRUS DE LA HEPAITIS E (VHE) EN MUESTRAS DE HECES DE CERDOS EN PLANTAS DE BENEFICIO DE ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA. REVISTA DE LA FACULTAD DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA Y DE ZOOTECNIA 2014. [DOI: 10.15446/rfmvz.v61n3.46868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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Guinat C, Reis AL, Netherton CL, Goatley L, Pfeiffer DU, Dixon L. Dynamics of African swine fever virus shedding and excretion in domestic pigs infected by intramuscular inoculation and contact transmission. Vet Res 2014; 45:93. [PMID: 25256695 PMCID: PMC4189175 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-014-0093-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly virulent swine pathogen that has spread across Eastern Europe since 2007 and for which there is no effective vaccine or treatment available. The dynamics of shedding and excretion is not well known for this currently circulating ASFV strain. Therefore, susceptible pigs were exposed to pigs intramuscularly infected with the Georgia 2007/1 ASFV strain to measure those dynamics through within- and between-pen transmission scenarios. Blood, oral, nasal and rectal fluid samples were tested for the presence of ASFV by virus titration (VT) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Serum was tested for the presence of ASFV-specific antibodies. Both intramuscular inoculation and contact transmission resulted in development of acute disease in all pigs although the experiments indicated that the pathogenesis of the disease might be different, depending on the route of infection. Infectious ASFV was first isolated in blood among the inoculated pigs by day 3, and then chronologically among the direct and indirect contact pigs, by day 10 and 13, respectively. Close to the onset of clinical signs, higher ASFV titres were found in blood compared with nasal and rectal fluid samples among all pigs. No infectious ASFV was isolated in oral fluid samples although ASFV genome copies were detected. Only one animal developed antibodies starting after 12 days post-inoculation. The results provide quantitative data on shedding and excretion of the Georgia 2007/1 ASFV strain among domestic pigs and suggest a limited potential of this isolate to cause persistent infection.
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van der Poel WHM, Pavio N, van der Goot J, van Es M, Martin M, Engel B. Development and validation of a genotype 3 recombinant protein-based immunoassay for hepatitis E virus serology in swine. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 47:334-9. [PMID: 24676472 PMCID: PMC4075298 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20133249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is classified within the family Hepeviridae, genus
Hepevirus. HEV genotype 3 (Gt3) infections are endemic in pigs in
Western Europe and in North and South America and cause zoonotic infections in
humans. Several serological assays to detect HEV antibodies in pigs have been
developed, at first mainly based on HEV genotype 1 (Gt1) antigens. To develop a
sensitive HEV Gt3 ELISA, a recombinant baculovirus expression product of HEV Gt3 open
reading frame-2 was produced and coated onto polystyrene ELISA plates. After
incubation of porcine sera, bound HEV antibodies were detected with anti-porcine
anti-IgG and anti-IgM conjugates. For primary estimation of sensitivity and
specificity of the assay, sets of sera were used from pigs experimentally infected
with HEV Gt3. For further validation of the assay and to set the cutoff value, a
batch of 1100 pig sera was used. All pig sera were tested using the developed HEV Gt3
assay and two other serologic assays based on HEV Gt1 antigens. Since there is no
gold standard available for HEV antibody testing, further validation and a definite
setting of the cutoff of the developed HEV Gt3 assay were performed using a
statistical approach based on Bayes' theorem. The developed and validated HEV
antibody assay showed effective detection of HEV-specific antibodies. This assay can
contribute to an improved detection of HEV antibodies and enable more reliable
estimates of the prevalence of HEV Gt3 in swine in different regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- W H M van der Poel
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - N Pavio
- Animal Health Laboratory UMR 1161, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - J van der Goot
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - M van Es
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - M Martin
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - B Engel
- Biometris, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Liang H, Su S, Deng S, Gu H, Ji F, Wang L, Liang C, Wang H, Zhang G. The prevalence of hepatitis E virus infections among swine, swine farmers and the general population in Guangdong Province, China. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88106. [PMID: 24520348 PMCID: PMC3919735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is widespread in China, but few studies have been carried out in Guangdong Province. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of HEV infections among swine, swine farmers and the general population in Guangdong Province. We conducted an epidemiological study that included swine, swine farmers and health examination attendees in Guangdong from 2011 to 2013. The overall seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in swine was 64.7%. The results revealed that growing pigs, sows and boars (OR ranges from 3.5 to 21.5) have a higher risk than nursery pigs. HEV RNA in swine bile showed that HEV is epidemic in swine in the Pearl River Delta, with the highest prevalence of 22.73% in Foshan. Some genomes of HEV strains from each district were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of partial open reading frame 2 (ORF2) shows that they belong to genotype IV and are most closely related to isolates from China. In total, 307 participants were enrolled in the study, including 114 swine farmers and 193 attendees from hospitals. IgG anti-HEV was detected in 48.25% of swine farmers and in 38.34% of the general population. Seroprevalence rates were almost stratified by age, with a higher positive rate for males compared to females across all age groups. Women on swine farms appeared to have a lower risk of infection compared to the general population, revealing that the risk factors for HEV infection are not unique. The results suggested that there were other risk factors for HEV infection. HEV infection is prevalent in Guangdong, but due to the small sample sizes, more investigations are needed to assess the potential impact of HEV infection, and many additional risk factors should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanbin Liang
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuo Su
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengchao Deng
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Honglang Gu
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangxiao Ji
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chumin Liang
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Heng Wang
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guihong Zhang
- MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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45
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Van der Poel WHM. Food and environmental routes of Hepatitis E virus transmission. Curr Opin Virol 2014; 4:91-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2014.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Risk factors associated with the presence of hepatitis E virus in livers and seroprevalence in slaughter-age pigs: a retrospective study of 90 swine farms in France. Epidemiol Infect 2013; 142:1934-44. [PMID: 24284046 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268813003063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The frequency of sporadic cases of hepatitis E in humans in developed countries has increased in recent years. The consumption of raw or undercooked pig liver-based products has been identified as an important source of human infection. The question of possible massive human exposure to this zoonotic agent has been raised by the high prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in swine herds. However, little is known about the epidemiology of HEV on pig farms. A retrospective study, based on a previous prevalence study of 185 farms, was conducted on 90 farms located in Western France, randomly selected from this database, to identify factors associated with the presence of HEV in pig livers and HEV seroprevalence in slaughter-age pigs. At least one HEV RNA-positive liver was found in 30% of the sampled farms while seroprevalence in slaughter-age pigs at the farm level reached almost 75%. Different factors were associated with the two conditions. The risk of having HEV-positive livers was increased by early slaughter, genetic background, lack of hygiene measures and surface origin of drinking water. High HEV seroprevalence was associated with mingling practices at the nursery stage and hygiene conditions. These results can be used to determine on-farm measures to reduce within-farm HEV spread and infection of slaughter-age pigs.
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47
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Andraud M, Dumarest M, Cariolet R, Aylaj B, Barnaud E, Eono F, Pavio N, Rose N. Direct contact and environmental contaminations are responsible for HEV transmission in pigs. Vet Res 2013; 44:102. [PMID: 24165278 PMCID: PMC4176089 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause enterically-transmitted hepatitis in humans. The zoonotic nature of Hepatitis E infections has been established in industrialized areas and domestic pigs are considered as the main reservoir. The dynamics of transmission in pig herds therefore needs to be understood to reduce the prevalence of viremic pigs at slaughter and prevent contaminated pig products from entering the food chain. An experimental trial was carried out to study the main characteristics of HEV transmission between orally inoculated pigs and naïve animals. A mathematical model was used to investigate three transmission routes, namely direct contact between pigs and two environmental components to represent within-and between-group oro-fecal transmission. A large inter-individual variability was observed in response to infection with an average latent period lasting 6.9 days (5.8; 7.9) in inoculated animals and an average infectious period of 9.7 days (8.2; 11.2). Our results show that direct transmission alone, with a partial reproduction number of 1.41 (0.21; 3.02), can be considered as a factor of persistence of infection within a population. However, the quantity of virus present in the environment was found to play an essential role in the transmission process strongly influencing the probability of infection with a within pen transmission rate estimated to 2 ⋅ 10− 6g ge− 1d− 1(1 ⋅ 10− 7; 7 ⋅ 10− 6). Between-pen environmental transmission occurred to a lesser extent (transmission rate: 7 ⋅ 10− 8g ge− 1d− 1(5 ⋅ 10− 9; 3 ⋅ 10− 7) but could further generate a within-group process. The combination of these transmission routes could explain the persistence and high prevalence of HEV in pig populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Andraud
- Anses, Laboratoire de Ploufragan/Plouzané, Unité Epidémiologie et Bien-Être du Porc, BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France.
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de Carvalho LG, Marchevsky RS, dos Santos DRL, de Oliveira JM, de Paula VS, Lopes LM, Van der Poel WHM, González JE, Munné MS, Moran J, Cajaraville ACRA, Pelajo-Machado M, Cruz OG, Pinto MA. Infection by Brazilian and Dutch swine hepatitis E virus strains induces haematological changes in Macaca fascicularis. BMC Infect Dis 2013; 13:495. [PMID: 24148233 PMCID: PMC3870956 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been described as an emerging pathogen in Brazil and seems to be widely disseminated among swine herds. An autochthonous human case of acute hepatitis E was recently reported. To obtain a better understanding of the phenotypic profiles of both human and swine HEV strains, a experimental study was conducted using the animal model, Macaca fascicularis. METHODS Six cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were inoculated intravenously with swine HEV genotype 3 that was isolated from naturally and experimentally infected pigs in Brazil and the Netherlands. Two other monkeys were inoculated with HEV genotype 3 that was recovered from Brazilian and Argentinean patients with locally acquired acute and fulminant hepatitis E. The haematological, biochemical, and virological parameters of all animals were monitored for 67 days. RESULTS Subclinical hepatitis was observed in all monkeys after inoculation with HEV genotype 3 that was recovered from the infected swine and human patients. HEV RNA was detected in the serum and/or faeces of 6 out of the 8 cynomolgus monkeys between 5 and 53 days after inoculation. The mild inflammation of liver tissues and elevations of discrete liver enzymes were observed. Seroconversions to anti-HEV IgM and/or IgG were detected in 7 animals. Reactivities to anti-HEV IgA were also detected in the salivary samples of 3 animals. Interestingly, all of the infected monkeys showed severe lymphopenia and a trend toward monocytosis, which coincided with elevations in alanine aminotransferase and antibody titres. CONCLUSIONS The ability of HEV to cross the species barrier was confirmed for both the swine (Brazilian and Dutch) and human (Argentinean) strains, thus reinforcing the zoonotic risk of hepatitis E in South America. Cynomolgus monkeys that were infected with HEV genotype 3 developed subclinical hepatitis that was associated with haematological changes. Haematological approaches should be considered in future studies of HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian G de Carvalho
- Centre for Laboratory Animal Breeding, Department of Primatology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato S Marchevsky
- Laboratory of Neurovirulence, Institute of Technology on Immunobiologicals, Bio-Manguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Debora RL dos Santos
- Laboratory of Veterinary Viruses, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, UFRRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline M de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa S de Paula
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leilane M Lopes
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wilhelmus HM Van der Poel
- Central Veterinary, Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jorge E González
- National Reference Laboratory in Viral Hepatitis, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria S Munné
- National Reference Laboratory in Viral Hepatitis, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julio Moran
- Dr. Julio Moran Laboratories, Ebmatingen, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ana Carolina R A Cajaraville
- Laboratory of Virological Technology, Institute of Technology on Immunobiologicals, Bio-Manguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Pelajo-Machado
- Laboratory of Pathology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Oswaldo G Cruz
- Programme of Scientific Computation, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A Pinto
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Hepatitis E virus: foodborne, waterborne and zoonotic transmission. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 10:4507-33. [PMID: 24071919 PMCID: PMC3823334 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10104507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for epidemics and endemics of acute hepatitis in humans, mainly through waterborne, foodborne, and zoonotic transmission routes. HEV is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus classified in the family Hepeviridae and encompasses four known Genotypes (1–4), at least two new putative genotypes of mammalian HEV, and one floating genus of avian HEV. Genotypes 1 and 2 HEVs only affect humans, while Genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic and responsible for sporadic and autochthonous infections in both humans and several other animal species worldwide. HEV has an ever-expanding host range and has been identified in numerous animal species. Swine serve as a reservoir species for HEV transmission to humans; however, it is likely that other animal species may also act as reservoirs. HEV poses an important public health concern with cases of the disease definitively linked to handling of infected pigs, consumption of raw and undercooked animal meats, and animal manure contamination of drinking or irrigation water. Infectious HEV has been identified in numerous sources of concern including animal feces, sewage water, inadequately-treated water, contaminated shellfish and produce, as well as animal meats. Many aspects of HEV pathogenesis, replication, and immunological responses remain unknown, as HEV is an extremely understudied but important human pathogen. This article reviews the current understanding of HEV transmission routes with emphasis on food and environmental sources and the prevalence of HEV in animal species with zoonotic potential in humans.
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Kantala T, Oristo S, Heinonen M, von Bonsdorff CH, Maunula L. A longitudinal study revealing hepatitis E virus infection and transmission at a swine test station. Res Vet Sci 2013; 95:1255-61. [PMID: 24119762 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic agent that causes acute hepatitis in humans, and infects several animal species, most importantly swine. In the current study, that presents the first evidence of HEV infections in pigs in Finland, genetic divergence and transmission of HEV was investigated among pigs at a swine test station at two occasions. In 2007, HEV RNA was found in 25% of pens, and 35% of 2-3 month-old pigs at the station. Three different isolates, comprising 13 sequences of HEV genotype 3 e that were imported from different farms were detected. In 2010, 39% of pigs were HEV RNA positive on weeks 1, 3, or 5 of a 3-month follow-up, and 11 sequences, all representing one of the isolates that was also present in 2007, were detected. The isolate was considered to be either re-introduced to, or to persist at the station, and it was transmitted between the pigs. The study sheds light on the rate and time of HEV transmission in swine, and describes the epidemiologic variability of HEV isolates over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kantala
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
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