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Kim SJ, Moon J. Narrative Review of the Safety of Using Pigs for Xenotransplantation: Characteristics and Diagnostic Methods of Vertical Transmissible Viruses. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1181. [PMID: 38927388 PMCID: PMC11200752 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Amid the deepening imbalance in the supply and demand of allogeneic organs, xenotransplantation can be a practical alternative because it makes an unlimited supply of organs possible. However, to perform xenotransplantation on patients, the source animals to be used must be free from infectious agents. This requires the breeding of animals using assisted reproductive techniques, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer, embryo transfer, and cesarean section, without colostrum derived in designated pathogen-free (DPF) facilities. Most infectious agents can be removed from animals produced via these methods, but several viruses known to pass through the placenta are not easy to remove, even with these methods. Therefore, in this narrative review, we examine the characteristics of several viruses that are important to consider in xenotransplantation due to their ability to cross the placenta, and investigate how these viruses can be detected. This review is intended to help maintain DPF facilities by preventing animals infected with the virus from entering DPF facilities and to help select pigs suitable for xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Jin Kim
- Apures Co., Ltd., 44, Hansan-gil, Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek-si 17792, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
| | - Joonho Moon
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
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2
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Saharia KK, Hall VG, Chesdachai S, Porrett P, Fishman JA, Pouch SM. Heart of the matter-infection and xenotransplantation. Transpl Infect Dis 2024; 26:e14206. [PMID: 38055610 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
In this clinicopathological conference, invited experts discussed a previously published case of a patient with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent heart transplantation from a genetically modified pig source animal. His complex course included detection of porcine cytomegalovirus by plasma microbial cell-free DNA and eventual xenograft failure. The objectives of the session included discussion of selection of immunosuppressive regimens and prophylactic antimicrobials for human xenograft recipients, description of infectious disease risk assessment and mitigation in potential xenograft donors and understanding of screening and therapeutic strategies for potential xenograft-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapil K Saharia
- Institute of Human Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Victoria G Hall
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Supavit Chesdachai
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Paige Porrett
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jay A Fishman
- Transplant Infectious Disease and Compromised Host Program, MGH Transplant Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephanie M Pouch
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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3
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Stunnenberg M, Huizen SCV, Swart A, Lodder WJ, Boxman ILA, Rutjes SA. Thermal Inactivation of Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Products Estimated with a Semiquantitative Infectivity Assay. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2451. [PMID: 37894109 PMCID: PMC10609450 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) is a food-borne pathogen causative of hepatitis E infections in humans. In Europe, HEV-3 is mainly transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked pork. In order to determine the effectiveness of control measures that can be taken in the industry or by the consumer, it is pivotal to determine the infectivity of HEV present in pork products after thermal food-processing steps. First, we implemented a method for the detection of infectious HEV-3c and HEV-3e in a cell culture medium and in extracts from inoculated pork products. Next, we investigated the effect of the thermal inactivation of HEV by mimicking food-processing steps specific for dried sausage and liver homogenate matrices. After four weeks, HEV-inoculated dried sausage subjected to 21 °C or lower temperatures was still infectious. For the liver homogenate, the highest HEV-3c/e inactivation of the conditions tested was observed at 71 °C for five min or longer. Finally, our method was able to successfully detect and estimate viral loads of infectious HEV in naturally infected pig livers. Our data provide a basis for the future use of the quantitative microbial risk assessment of infectious HEV in pork products that are subjected to thermal food processing steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Stunnenberg
- Laboratory for Zoonosis and Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne C van Huizen
- Laboratory for Zoonosis and Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arno Swart
- Laboratory for Zoonosis and Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Willemijn J Lodder
- Laboratory for Zoonosis and Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ingeborg L A Boxman
- National Reference Laboratory Food-Borne Viruses, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia A Rutjes
- Laboratory for Zoonosis and Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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4
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Gorski I, Babić I, Bingulac-Popović J, Topić-Šestan P, Jagnjić S, Jemeršić L, Prpić J, Jukić I. Prevalence of HEV RNA in Croatian blood donors. Transfus Clin Biol 2023; 30:244-248. [PMID: 36708916 DOI: 10.1016/j.tracli.2023.01.005] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES HEV infection is asymptomatic for immunocompetent blood donors (BD). Transfused HEV-infected blood products may cause potentially hazardous HEV infection in immunocompromised patients. Evaluation of the need for routine BD HEV RNA screening primarily demands the establishment of HEV infection prevalence in Croatian BD. MATERIALS AND METHODS We tested BD samples in ID-NAT with the Procleix UltrioPlex E screening test for simultaneous detection of HBV DNA, HCV RNA, HIV-1,2 RNA, and HEV RNA (Grifols, Spain). HEV infection was confirmed with HEV RNA quantitative test (Altona Diagnostics, Germany) and HEV IgM and HEV IgG antibody test (DIA.PRO Diagnostic Bioprobes, Italy). We analysed the HEV RNA sequence and performed a phylogenetic analysis. We recorded BD's anamnestic data and dietary habits. BDs gave follow-up samples after two months and did not donate blood for six months. RESULTS Between December 2021 and March 2022, we tested 8,631 donations and found four HEV RNA-positive donations, which equals to one in 2,158 donations (0.046 %, 95 % confidence interval, 0.018 %-0.119 %). Confirmatory HEV RNA testing gave results from negative to 4.73E + 3 IU/ml HEV RNA. Three donations were in the serological window period. We have genotyped HEV RNA of two infected BD as genotype HEV-3c. Blood donors didn't report any health problems and their diet included pork. Testing on follow-up samples presented seroconversion and no HEV RNA could be detected. CONCLUSION The incidence of HEV RNA infection in BD in Croatia corresponds with other European data. The decision on implementation of HEV NAT screening in Croatia needs an expert team evaluation of the possible risk of TT-HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gorski
- Jasika, Dolenica 55, 10250 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - I Babić
- Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine (CITM), Petrova 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - J Bingulac-Popović
- Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine (CITM), Petrova 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - P Topić-Šestan
- Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine (CITM), Petrova 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - S Jagnjić
- Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine (CITM), Petrova 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - L Jemeršić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - J Prpić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - I Jukić
- Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine (CITM), Petrova 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Trg Svetog Trojstva 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.
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5
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Shata MTM, Hetta HF, Sharma Y, Sherman KE. Viral hepatitis in pregnancy. J Viral Hepat 2022; 29:844-861. [PMID: 35748741 PMCID: PMC9541692 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Viral hepatitis is caused by a heterogenous group of viral agents representing a wide range of phylogenetic groups. Many viruses can involve the liver and cause liver injury but only a subset are delineated as 'hepatitis viruses' based upon their primary site of replication and tropism for hepatocytes which make up the bulk of the liver cell population. Since their discovery, beginning with the agent that caused serum hepatitis in the 1960s, the alphabetic designations have been utilized. To date, we have five hepatitis viruses, A through E, though it is postulated that others may exist. This chapter will focus on those viruses. Note that hepatitis D is included as a subset of hepatitis B, as it cannot exist without concurrent hepatitis B infection. Pregnancy has the potential to affect all aspects of these viral agents due to the unique immunologic and physiologic changes that occur during and after the gestational period. In this review, we will discuss the most common viral hepatitis and their effects during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Tarek M. Shata
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Helal F. Hetta
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of MedicineAssiut UniversityAssiutEgypt
| | - Yeshika Sharma
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Kenneth E. Sherman
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
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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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Baylis SA, O'Flaherty N, Burke L, Hogema B, Corman VM. Identification of rabbit hepatitis E virus (HEV) and novel HEV clade in Irish blood donors. J Hepatol 2022; 77:870-872. [PMID: 35487383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lisa Burke
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Victor M Corman
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Berlin, Germany
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Cook N, D’Agostino M, Wood A, Scobie L. Real-Time PCR-Based Methods for Detection of Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Products: A Critical Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020428. [PMID: 35208881 PMCID: PMC8877315 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Standard methods for detection of hepatitis A virus and norovirus in at-risk foodstuffs are available, but currently there is no standard method for detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pork products or other foods that can be contaminated with the virus. Detection assays for HEV are mainly based on nucleic acid amplification, particularly the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) in real-time format. RTPCR-based methods can be sensitive and specific, but they require a suite of controls to verify that they have performed correctly. There have been several RTPCR methods developed to detect HEV in pork products, varying in details of sample preparation and RTPCR target sequences. This review critically discusses published HEV detection methods, with emphasis on those that have been successfully used in subsequent studies and surveys. RTPCR assays have been used both qualitatively and quantitatively, although in the latter case the data acquired are only reliable if appropriate assay calibration has been performed. One particular RTPCR assay appears to be ideal for incorporation in a standard method, as it has been demonstrated to be highly specific and sensitive, and an appropriate control and calibration standard is available. The review focuses on the detection of HEV in pork products and similar foodstuffs (e.g., boar). The information may be useful to inform standardisation activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Cook
- Jorvik Food Safety Services, York YO32 2GN, UK
- Correspondence: (N.C.); (L.S.)
| | | | - Ann Wood
- Campden BRI, Chipping Campden GL55 6LD, UK; (M.D.); (A.W.)
| | - Linda Scobie
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
- Correspondence: (N.C.); (L.S.)
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Cancela F, Noceti O, Arbiza J, Mirazo S. Structural aspects of hepatitis E virus. Arch Virol 2022; 167:2457-2481. [PMID: 36098802 PMCID: PMC9469829 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05575-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. Hepatitis E is an enterically transmitted zoonotic disease that causes large waterborne epidemic outbreaks in developing countries and has become an increasing public-health concern in industrialized countries. In this setting, the infection is usually acute and self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals, although chronic cases in immunocompromised patients have been reported, frequently associated with several extrahepatic manifestations. Moreover, extrahepatic manifestations have also been reported in immunocompetent individuals with acute HEV infection. HEV belongs to the alphavirus-like supergroup III of single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses, and its genome contains three partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a nonstructural protein with eight domains, most of which have not been extensively characterized: methyltransferase, Y domain, papain-like cysteine protease, hypervariable region, proline-rich region, X domain, Hel domain, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. ORF2 and ORF3 encode the capsid protein and a multifunctional protein believed to be involved in virion release, respectively. The novel ORF4 is only expressed in HEV genotype 1 under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions, and its exact function has not yet been elucidated. Despite important advances in recent years, the biological and molecular processes underlying HEV replication remain poorly understood, primarily due to a lack of detailed information about the functions of the viral proteins and the mechanisms involved in host-pathogen interactions. This review summarizes the current knowledge concerning HEV proteins and their biological properties, providing updated detailed data describing their function and focusing in detail on their structural characteristics. Furthermore, we review some unclear aspects of the four proteins encoded by the ORFs, highlighting the current key information gaps and discussing potential novel experimental strategies for shedding light on those issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Cancela
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ofelia Noceti
- grid.414402.70000 0004 0469 0889Programa Nacional de Trasplante Hepático y Unidad Docente Asistencial Centro Nacional de Tratamiento Hepatobiliopancreatico. Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Arbiza
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Mirazo
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay ,grid.11630.350000000121657640Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay ,Av. Alfredo Navarro 3051, PC 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
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Hepatitis E virus cross-contamination on the surface of porcine livers after storage in Euro meat containers in a German pig abattoir. J Verbrauch Lebensm 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00003-021-01357-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a foodborne zoonotic pathogen and known as the causative agent of hepatitis E in humans. The specific role of porcine liver as a vehicle for human HEV infections has been highlighted in different studies. Nevertheless, gaps of knowledge still exist regarding possible HEV cross-contamination both at consumer and production level. Furthermore, people working in the food production industry, e.g. veterinarians and abattoir employees, are exposed to an increased risk of HEV infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate HEV cross-contamination on the surface of porcine liver in a German abattoir. The sample set included 250 samples of porcine liver parenchyma and the corresponding 250 superficial layer samples of the same livers, which were analyzed for the presence of HEV ribonucleic acid (RNA). Afterwards, the initial status of the tested liver parenchyma was compared with the occurrence of HEV RNA in the corresponding superficial layer. HEV RNA was detectable in 34% (85/250) of superficial layer samples, with 58% (49/85) of the samples originated from initially HEV negative livers. To our knowledge, this is the first study that provides an insight in the potential of HEV cross-contamination at abattoir level in Germany. Furthermore, it could be identified that the joint storage of livers in Euro meat containers has a significant impact on the presence of HEV RNA on the surface of porcine liver.
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Jackova A, Dudasova K, Salamunova S, Mandelik R, Novotny J, Vilcek S. Identification and genetic diversity of hepatitis E virus in domestic swine from Slovakia. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:232. [PMID: 34193126 PMCID: PMC8246685 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02936-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is agent causing hepatitis worldwide. Originally considered to be limited to developing countries, this virus was also detected in developed countries. In recent years an increasing number of reports indicate that farmed domestic pigs are widely infected with HEV in several European countries. The HEV status in Slovakia is still missing. Results In this study, the circulation of HEV among domestic swine in Slovakia and genetic diversity of the virus was studied. Overall HEV RNA was detected in 53/388 (13.7, 95% CI: 10.40–17.48%) pig rectal swabs in five production stages (age categories) with statistically significant differences among all the stages. The highest HEV prevalence was observed in weaners 24/81 (29.6, 95% CI: 19.99–40.81%) and then significantly declined in growers and fatteners. No HEV was detected in suckling piglets and sows. Twenty-eight partial sequences of ORF1 (242 bp) and seventeen of ORF2 (304 bp) were analysed. Phylogenetic analysis and p-distance comparisons confirmed in both ORFs that all Slovak HEV sequences belong to the genotype HEV-3, major clade 3abchij with higher identity to 3a and 3i subtypes. Three sequences were outside of all lastly updated HEV-3 subtypes. Conclusion This is the first report to fill the information gap about HEV infection in pigs in Slovakia. The results suggested a lower prevalence of HEV in Slovak pig farms than observed in other European countries. While most HEV isolates were typed as HEV-3 clade 3abchij, three sequences were unclassified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jackova
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Dudasova
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Slavomira Salamunova
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Rene Mandelik
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Jaroslav Novotny
- Clinic of Swine, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Stefan Vilcek
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81, Kosice, Slovakia.
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12
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Hogema BM, Hakze-van der Honing RW, Molier M, Zaaijer HL, van der Poel WHM. Comparison of Hepatitis E Virus Sequences from Humans and Swine, the Netherlands, 1998-2015. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071265. [PMID: 34209729 PMCID: PMC8310231 DOI: 10.3390/v13071265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pigs are suspected to be a major source of zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in industrialized countries, but the transmission route(s) from pigs to humans are ill-defined. Sequence comparison of HEV isolates from pigs with those from blood donors and patients in 372 samples collected in The Netherlands in 1998 and 1999 and between 2008 and 2015 showed that all sequences were genotype 3 except for six patients (with travel history). Subgenotype 3c (gt3c) was the most common subtype. While the proportion of gt3c increased significantly between 1998 and 2008, it remained constant between 2008 and 2015. Among the few circulating HEV subtypes, there was no difference observed between the human and the pig isolates. Hepatitis E viruses in humans are very likely to originate from pigs, but it is unclear why HEV gt3c has become the predominant subtype in The Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris M. Hogema
- Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.H.); (M.M.); (H.L.Z.)
| | | | - Michel Molier
- Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.H.); (M.M.); (H.L.Z.)
| | - Hans L. Zaaijer
- Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.H.); (M.M.); (H.L.Z.)
- Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Yeboah R, Sylverken AA, Owusu M, El-Duah P, Burimuah V, Frimpong Y, Lamptey J, Eckerle I, Meyer B, Antwi C, Agbenyaga O, Folitse R, Emikpe B, Oppong SK, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Drosten C. Sero-molecular epidemiology of hepatitis E virus in pigs and human contacts in Ghana. ONE HEALTH OUTLOOK 2021; 3:13. [PMID: 34154674 PMCID: PMC8218416 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-021-00043-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is among the leading causes of viral hepatitis in most developing countries. Zoonotic acquisition of HEV genotype 3 from swine has come into focus more recently. Available studies on HEV in Ghana and other countries in the region do not provide enough information towards understanding the epidemiology of HEV in human and animal populations. Towards this end, we conducted a comparative cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HEV exposure, both in swine and humans working on pig farms in typical local settings. The presence of viral RNA in human and swine samples was also evaluated, along with classification of viral sequences from HEV-positive samples. METHODS Structured questionnaires soliciting information on pigs reared, as well as socio-demographic information including age, sex and educational background of humans was collected. A total of 10 ml and 5 ml of whole blood was collected from pigs and human participants respectively. ELISA and real-time RT-PCR were performed on the sera for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus and viral RNA, respectively. RESULTS Five hundred and forty-four (544) human participants including 264 swine contacts and 280 swine non-contacts were enrolled in the study. Although the proportion of HEV IgG antibodies was higher in contact groups (114; 54.3%) than non-contact groups (96; 45.7%), a multivariate analysis did not show any significant difference. No HEV RNA was detected in human samples. Similarly, 720 pigs were sampled from 18 farms located in five regions in Ghana. Twenty-three (23) of the pigs (3.2, 95%CI = 2.0-4.8) were positive for HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR testing. Sequences obtained from HEV-positive samples were found to share high sequence identities with each other and clustered with other genotype 3 viruses indicating the existence of circulating zoonotic genotype 3 viruses on farms. Although we did not find evidence of pig to human transmission of HEV genotype 3, the presence of this genotype in pigs shows the potential for possible zoonotic transmission in African farm settings and buttresses the importance of active surveillance for the infection among at risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richmond Yeboah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Angelina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip El-Duah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Institute of Virology, Charite, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vitus Burimuah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Frimpong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jones Lamptey
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Benjamin Meyer
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christopher Antwi
- Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Olivia Agbenyaga
- Department of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raphael Folitse
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Emikpe
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Kingsley Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Adu-Sarkodie
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Trojnar E, Contzen M, Moor D, Carl A, Burkhardt S, Kilwinski J, Berghof-Jäger K, Mormann S, Schotte U, Kontek A, Althof N, Mäde D, Johne R. Interlaboratory Validation of a Detection Method for Hepatitis E Virus RNA in Pig Liver. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8101460. [PMID: 32977593 PMCID: PMC7598171 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: In the last years, the number of notified hepatitis E cases in humans has continuously increased in Europe. Foodborne infection with the zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 is considered the major cause of this disease. Undercooked liver and raw sausages containing the liver of pigs and wild boar are at high risk of containing HEV. However, so far, no standardized method for the detection of HEV-RNA in pig liver is available. Methods: An international collaborative study on method reproducibility involving 11 laboratories was performed for an HEV-RNA detection method, which consists of steps of sample homogenization, RNA extraction and real-time RT-PCR detection, including a process control. Naturally contaminated pork liver samples containing two different amounts of HEV and a HEV-negative pork liver sample were tested by all laboratories using the method. Results: Valid results were retrieved from 10 laboratories. A specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 79% were calculated for the method. False negative results were only retrieved from the sample containing very low HEV amounts near the detection limit. Conclusions: The results show that the method is highly specific, sufficiently sensitive and robust for use in different laboratories. The method can, therefore, be applied to routine food control as well as in monitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Trojnar
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (E.T.); (N.A.)
| | - Matthias Contzen
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Stuttgart, 70736 Fellbach, Germany;
| | - Dominik Moor
- Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, 3003 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Anja Carl
- Bayrisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | | | - Jochen Kilwinski
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, 59821 Arnsberg, Germany; (J.K.); (S.M.)
| | | | - Sascha Mormann
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, 59821 Arnsberg, Germany; (J.K.); (S.M.)
| | - Ulrich Schotte
- Zentrales Institut des Sanitätsdienstes der Bundeswehr Kiel, 24119 Kronshagen, Germany;
| | - Anne Kontek
- Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 26133 Oldenburg, Germany;
| | - Nadine Althof
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (E.T.); (N.A.)
| | - Dietrich Mäde
- Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz Sachsen-Anhalt, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (E.T.); (N.A.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Suin V, Klamer SE, Hutse V, Wautier M, Jacques M, Abady M, Lamoral S, Verburgh V, Thomas I, Brochier B, Subissi L, Van Gucht S. Epidemiology and genotype 3 subtype dynamics of hepatitis E virus in Belgium, 2010 to 2017. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 30862337 PMCID: PMC6415497 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.10.1800141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging public health concern in high-income countries and can cause acute and chronic hepatitis. Reported numbers of indigenously acquired HEV infection have increased in the past decade in many European countries. Since 2010, the National Reference Centre (NRC) for Hepatitis Viruses has been testing samples of suspected hepatitis E cases in Belgium.AimIn this surveillance report, we present the epidemiological trends of symptomatic HEV infections in Belgium, from the distribution by age, sex and geography to the molecular characterisation of the viral strains.MethodSerum samples of suspected cases sent to the NRC between 2010 and 2017 were analysed for the presence of HEV-specific IgM and RNA. Virus was sequenced for genotyping and phylogenetic analysis in all samples containing sufficient viral RNA.ResultsThe NRC reported an increase in the number of samples from suspected cases (from 309 to 2,663 per year) and in the number of laboratory-confirmed hepatitis E cases (from 25 to 117 per year). Among 217 sequenced samples, 92.6% were genotype 3 (HEV-3), followed by 6.5% of genotype 1 and 0.9% of genotype 4. HEV-3 subtype viruses were mainly 3f, 3c and 3e. HEV-3f was the most common subtype until 2015, while HEV-3c became the most common subtype in 2016 and 2017.ConclusionThe increasing trend of HEV diagnoses in Belgium may be largely explained by increased awareness and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Suin
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sofieke E Klamer
- European Program for Intervention Epidemiology Training, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden.,Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Veronik Hutse
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Magali Wautier
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marjorie Jacques
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mona Abady
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sophie Lamoral
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vera Verburgh
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Thomas
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bernard Brochier
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lorenzo Subissi
- European Program for Public Health Microbiology Training, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden.,National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Van Gucht
- National Reference Centre of Hepatitis Viruses, Viral Diseases, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
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16
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Dzierzon J, Oswaldi V, Merle R, Langkabel N, Meemken D. High Predictive Power of Meat Juice Serology on the Presence of Hepatitis E Virus in Slaughter Pigs. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2020; 17:687-692. [PMID: 32412857 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2020.2797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) as a zoonotic agent can be responsible for an acute hepatitis in humans, which is usually self-limiting. Progression toward a chronic stage is possible, especially in immunocompromised patients. In the past decade, the number of hepatitis E cases in humans in Germany has increased enormously to 3491 cases in 2018. Domestic pigs have been identified as a main animal reservoir and the consumption of raw and undercooked pork products, that is, livers or liver products, meat or meat products, is known as a potential risk of foodborne HEV infection. The aim of this study was to determine whether serological tests are appropriate to predict the occurrence of HEV in the liver and muscle of domestic pigs in Germany. In 2018, samples of meat juice, liver, and ham muscle were collected from 250 fattening pigs at an abattoir in North West Germany. Samples were analyzed for the presence of HEV antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively for the presence of HEV RNA using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In total, 62% (155/250) of the meat juice samples were positive for HEV antibodies at a single animal basis. At herd level, 72% (18/25) of the herds were seropositive. The HEV prevalence in the liver was 17.2% (43/250). Each positive liver sample originated from seropositive herds respectively from HEV seropositive pigs. This study demonstrates for the first time the significant correlation between a positive HEV serology and the occurrence of HEV RNA in the liver of slaughter pigs (χ2 = 31.83; p < 0.001), highlighting the significant predictive power of positive serological results on the occurrence of HEV RNA in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Dzierzon
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Working Group Meat Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Oswaldi
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Working Group Meat Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nina Langkabel
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Working Group Meat Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana Meemken
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Working Group Meat Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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17
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García N, Hernández M, Gutierrez-Boada M, Valero A, Navarro A, Muñoz-Chimeno M, Fernández-Manzano A, Escobar FM, Martínez I, Bárcena C, González S, Avellón A, Eiros JM, Fongaro G, Domínguez L, Goyache J, Rodríguez-Lázaro D. Occurrence of Hepatitis E Virus in Pigs and Pork Cuts and Organs at the Time of Slaughter, Spain, 2017. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2990. [PMID: 32047480 PMCID: PMC6997137 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic hepatitis E, mainly caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype (gt) 3, is a foodborne disease that has emerged in Europe in recent decades. The main animal reservoir for genotype 3 is domestic pigs. Pig liver and liver derivates are considered the major risk products, and studies focused on the presence of HEV in pig muscles are scarce. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of HEV in different organs and tissues of 45 apparently healthy pigs from nine Spanish slaughterhouses (50% national production) that could enter into the food supply chain. Anti-HEV antibodies were evaluated in serum by an ELISA test. Ten samples from each animal were analyzed for the presence of HEV RNA by reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The overall seroprevalence obtained was 73.3% (33/45). From the 450 samples analyzed, a total of 26 RT-qPCR positive samples were identified in the liver (7/45), feces (6/45), kidney (5/45), heart (4/45), serum (3/45), and diaphragm (1/45). This is the first report on detection of HEV RNA in kidney and heart samples of naturally infected pigs. HEV RNA detection was negative for rib, bacon, lean ham, and loin samples. These findings indicate that pig meat could be considered as a low risk material for foodborne HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea García
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Hernández
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Maialen Gutierrez-Boada
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Antonio Valero
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alejandro Navarro
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Milagros Muñoz-Chimeno
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Hepatitis Víricas, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Franco Matías Escobar
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Irene Martínez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Bárcena
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio González
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Avellón
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Hepatitis Víricas, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M. Eiros
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Gislaine Fongaro
- Laboratory of Applied Virology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Lucas Domínguez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Goyache
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Rodríguez-Lázaro
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
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18
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Dalvand N, Dalvand A, Sharifi Z, Hosseini SM. Prevalence of hepatitis E virus in thalassemia patients with hepatitis C in Tehran, Iran. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY 2019; 11:535-540. [PMID: 32148686 PMCID: PMC7048959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES HEV infection is predominantly spread via the fecal-oral route; however, due to the presence of HEV RNA in the serum of healthy blood donors, there is a possibility of the transmissibility of HEV infection through blood. Multi-transfused thalassemia patients are one of the high risk groups for blood borne viruses. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of HEV antibodies and HEV-RNA in thalassemia patients with HCV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS 120 anti-HCV positive thalassemia patient serum samples from Tehran province during April-June 2019 were assessed for the presence of total anti-HEV antibodies using of HEV Ab ELISA kit. All serum samples were assayed by Nested RT-PCR to detect HEV-RNA. RESULTS The results of ELISA test showed that 2 out of 120 (1.67%) samples were positive for anti-HEV Ab. There was no statistically significant difference between anti-HEV antibody prevalence rate and sex, age and other risk factors. None of 120 (0.00%) samples were positive for HEV-RNA by Nested RT-PCR. CONCLUSION Seroprevalence of HEV in our study group was 1.67% which is less than HEV seroprevalence rate in Iranian general population. Therefore, it can be conclude that transmission of HEV infection via blood transfusion seems to be uncommon in Iran and the fecal-oral route can be the predominant mode of transmission in Iran; however, more studies are required to confirm this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najmeh Dalvand
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran,Department of Microbiology & Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azadeh Dalvand
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran,Department of Microbiology & Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Sharifi
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran,Corresponding author: Zohreh Sharifi, PhD, Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran., Tel: +98-2182052233, Fax: +98-2188601555,
| | - Seyed Masoud Hosseini
- Department of Microbiology & Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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19
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Prpić J, Keros T, Vucelja M, Bjedov L, Đaković Rode O, Margaletić J, Habrun B, Jemeršić L. First evidence of hepatitis E virus infection in a small mammal (yellow-necked mouse) from Croatia. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225583. [PMID: 31751424 PMCID: PMC6874066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the role of wild rodents/small mammals in hepatitis E virus (HEV) epidemiology has been a subject of considerable debate, this study was conducted to investigate the potential presence of HEV RNA in small rodents collected within their natural habitats and to detect if they can be potential reservoirs of the virus. A total of 483 small rodents were captured using snap traps placed at 11 regions in Croatia. Sampling was undertaken in 2008 and repeated from 2010 to 2014. Liver samples were tested for the presence of HEV RNA. HEV RNA was detected in only one liver sample (0.21%) originated from Apodemus flavicollis from the location Medvednica, nearby Zagreb collected in 2014. According to the sequence analysis, the isolate has shown to be a member of Orthohepevirus A species, genotype HEV-3. The genotyping results confirmed grouping into subtype 3a, general cluster 3abchij.The detected HEV strain showed to be genetically highly related to strains found in humans and/or domestic pigs and wild boars from Croatia. Our finding indicates that wild small mammals could play a role in the epidemiology of HEV-3 infection and therefore should be taken under consideration as potential reservoirs or/and transmitters of the disease. However, further investigation is needed to recognize their potential for maintaining the infection in natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Prpić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- * E-mail: ,
| | | | - Marko Vucelja
- Forestry Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Linda Bjedov
- Forestry Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Oktavija Đaković Rode
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević”, Zagreb, Croatia
- University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
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20
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van Wezel EM, de Bruijne J, Damman K, Bijmolen M, van den Berg AP, Verschuuren EAM, Ruigrok GA, Riezebos-Brilman A, Knoester M. Sofosbuvir Add-on to Ribavirin Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Does Not Result in Sustained Virological Response. Open Forum Infect Dis 2019; 6:5540719. [PMID: 31404927 PMCID: PMC6690733 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribavirin is effective for treating immunocompromised patients with chronic hepatitis E virus infection. However, ribavirin treatment is not always successful. We describe 3 solid organ transplant recipients treated with sofosbuvir and ribavirin after failing ribavirin monotherapy. Complete elimination of hepatitis E virus could not be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M van Wezel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - J de Bruijne
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - K Damman
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - M Bijmolen
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - A P van den Berg
- Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - E A M Verschuuren
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - G A Ruigrok
- Department of Pulmonology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - A Riezebos-Brilman
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - M Knoester
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
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21
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Jemeršić L, Prpić J, Brnić D, Keros T, Pandak N, Đaković Rode O. Genetic diversity of hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains derived from humans, swine and wild boars in Croatia from 2010 to 2017. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:269. [PMID: 30890143 PMCID: PMC6425696 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3906-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To fulfill epidemiological data and investigate possible interspecies transmission, this study shall attempt to sequence representative HEV strains of human, swine and wild boar origin collected from 2010 to 2017 in Croatia. METHODS In total, 174 anti-HEV antibody positive human sera samples; 1419 blood or faeces samples of swine, as well as 720 tissue and/or blood samples of wild boar originating from different counties (18 in total) in Croatia were tested for the presence of HEV RNA. RESULTS HEV RNA was detected in 26 human sera samples (14.9%; 95% CI 10.4-21.0%). HEV RNA was detected in 216 tested swine (15.2%; 95% CI 13.5-17.1%), regardless of age, farm breeding system or geographical origin. Viral RNA was also detectable in faeces samples which prove that swine actively participate in shedding HEV into the environment. Of the total of 720 tested wild boar samples, 83 were HEV RNA positive (11.5, 95% CI 9.4-14.1%) originating from six counties. According to the sequence analysis all strains have shown to be members of Orthohepevirus A genotype HEV-3, regardless of host. The genotyping results confirm grouping of sequences into four subtypes of HEV strains of which subtypes 3a and 3c belong to the general cluster 3abchij, and were predominately detected during the study, while subtypes 3e and 3f fall within cluster 3efg. Strains within subtypes 3a and 3e were found in humans, swine and wild boars; subtype 3c strains were derived from humans and swine, whereas subtype 3f strains were found only in humans. Strains belonging to subtypes 3a and 3c were derived during the entire investigated period and may be considered endemic in Croatia, whereas strains within subtypes 3e and 3f were detected sporadically indicating the possibility of newly imported infections. CONCLUSIONS All detected strains show to be genetically highly related to strains found in humans and/or animals from other European Countries, indicating that trade of live animals or wild boar movement increases the risk of HEV infection spread. Furthermore, homologous strains found in different investigated species within this study indicate interspecies transmission of HEV and/or an existence of an accessible mutual source of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Jemeršić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jelena Prpić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dragan Brnić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Keros
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nenad Pandak
- General Hospital “Josip Bencevic”, University of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine, Andrije Stampara 42, 35000 Slavonski Brod, Croatia
| | - Oktavija Đaković Rode
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljevic”, Mirogojska 8, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
- University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Gundulićeva 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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22
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Althof N, Trojnar E, Böhm T, Burkhardt S, Carl A, Contzen M, Kilwinski J, Mergemeier S, Moor D, Mäde D, Johne R. Interlaboratory Validation of a Method for Hepatitis E Virus RNA Detection in Meat and Meat Products. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2019; 11:1-8. [PMID: 30465253 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-018-9360-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Increasing numbers of hepatitis E cases are currently recognized in many European countries. The zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 mainly circulates in domestic pigs and wild boars, and can be transmitted to humans via consumption of insufficiently heated meat or meat products produced from those animals. Here, a detailed protocol for detection of HEV RNA in meat products is provided, which is based on the method originally described by Szabo et al. (Intl J Food Microbiol 215:149-156, 2015). It consists of a TRI Reagent®/chloroform-based food matrix homogenization, a silica bead-based RNA extraction and a real-time RT-PCR-based RNA detection. The method was further validated in a ring trial with nine independent laboratories using pork liver sausage samples artificially contaminated with different amounts of HEV. The results indicate sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the method for its broad future use in survey studies, routine food control or outbreak investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Althof
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Trojnar
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Böhm
- Landesbetrieb Hessisches Landeslabor, Kassel, Germany
| | | | - Anja Carl
- Bayrisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Contzen
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Stuttgart, Fellbach, Germany
| | - Jochen Kilwinski
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, Arnsberg, Germany
| | | | - Dominik Moor
- Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dietrich Mäde
- Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz Sachsen-Anhalt, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
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23
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Nellore A, Fishman JA. Donor-derived infections and infectious risk in xenotransplantation and allotransplantation. Xenotransplantation 2019; 25:e12423. [PMID: 30264880 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Post-transplantation infections are common in allograft recipients and should be expected in all immunocompromised hosts. Based on the need for immunosuppression in xenotransplantation, procedures developed to enhance safety in allotransplantation can be applied in future xenotransplantation clinical trials. Standardized approaches can be developed to guide the evaluation of common infectious syndromes in xenograft recipients. The opportunity created by screening of swine intended as xenograft donors has equal applicability to allotransplantation-notably broader screening strategies for allograft donors such as use of advanced sequencing modalities including broad-range molecular probes, microarrays, and high-throughput pyrosequencing. Considerations in management of allotransplant- and xenotransplant-associated infections are largely the same. Experience in xenotransplantation will continue to inform thinking regarding donor-derived infections in allotransplantation. We expect that experience in managing complex allotransplant recipients will similarly inform clinical trials in xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoma Nellore
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jay A Fishman
- Transplant and Compromised Host Infectious Disease Program and MGH Transplant Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) possesses many of the features of other positive-stranded RNA viruses but also adds HEV-specific nuances, making its virus-host interactions unique. Slow virus replication kinetics and fastidious growth conditions, coupled with the historical lack of an efficient cell culture system to propagate the virus, have left many gaps in our understanding of its structure and replication cycle. Recent advances in culturing selected strains of HEV and resolving the 3D structure of the viral capsid are filling in knowledge gaps, but HEV remains an extremely understudied pathogen. Many steps in the HEV life cycle and many aspects of HEV pathogenesis remain unknown, such as the host and viral factors that determine cross-species infection, the HEV-specific receptor(s) on host cells, what determines HEV chronicity and the ability to replicate in extrahepatic sites, and what regulates processing of the open reading frame 1 (ORF1) nonstructural polyprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott P Kenney
- Food Animal Health Research Program, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691
| | - Xiang-Jin Meng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
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25
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Rodríguez-Lázaro D, Hernandez M, Cook N. Hepatitis E Virus: A New Foodborne Zoonotic Concern. ADVANCES IN FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH 2018; 86:55-70. [PMID: 30077224 DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an enteric nonenveloped single-stranded RNA virus. Among the mammalian lineages, four genotypes are associated to human infection: genogroups 1 and 2 infect only humans and are mainly found in developing countries, while genogroups 3 and 4 are zoonotic, being found in a variety of animal species including pigs, and are autochthonous in developed countries. HEV infection can result in liver damage and with genotypes 1 and 2 symptoms can be particularly severe in pregnant women, with a high lethality ratio. Several cases of foodborne transmission of hepatitis E have been reported, often involving consumption of meat, especially raw or undercooked. Information is lacking on the exact extent of foodborne transmission of HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Rodríguez-Lázaro
- Microbiology Division, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain.
| | - Marta Hernandez
- Microbiology Division, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain; Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, ITACyL, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Nigel Cook
- Jorvik Food and Environmental Virology, York, United Kingdom
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26
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Van der Poel WHM, Dalton HR, Johne R, Pavio N, Bouwknegt M, Wu T, Cook N, Meng XJ. Knowledge gaps and research priorities in the prevention and control of hepatitis E virus infection. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 65 Suppl 1:22-29. [PMID: 29318757 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV), family Hepeviridae, is a main cause of epidemic hepatitis in developing countries and sporadic and cluster cases of hepatitis in industrialized countries. There are an increasing number of reported cases in humans especially in industrialized countries, and there is a high potential for transboundary spread of zoonotic genotypes of the virus through the transport of pigs, pig products and by-products. Bloodborne transmission of the virus has been reported with a significant medical concern. To better coordinate HEV research and design better control measures of HEV infections in animals, a group of HEV experts reviewed the current knowledge on the disease and considered the existing disease control tools. It was concluded that there is a lack of in-depth information about the spread of the virus from pigs to humans. The role of animals other than pigs in the zoonotic transmission of the virus to humans and the extent of foodborne transmission are poorly understood. Factors involved in development of clinical disease such as infectious dose, susceptibility and virulence of virus strains need to be studied more extensively. However, such studies are greatly hindered by the absence of a broadly applicable, efficient and sensitive in vitro cell culture system for HEV. Diagnostic tools for HEV are available but need to be further validated, harmonized and standardized. Commercially available HEV vaccines for the control of HEV infection in animal populations are needed as such vaccines can minimize the zoonotic risk for humans. Anti-HEV drugs for treatment of HEV-infected patients need to be studied more extensively. The detailed expert review can be downloaded from the project website at http://www.discontools.eu/.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - H R Dalton
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - R Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BFR), Berlin, Germany
| | - N Pavio
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Paris, France
| | | | - T Wu
- School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - N Cook
- Jorvik Food and Environmental Virology Ltd, York, UK
| | - X J Meng
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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27
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Abstract
Background Hepatitis E (HE) caused by Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging global public health threat. It has been identified as potentially zoonotic and swine act as main reservoirs. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HEV in swine abattoir workers. Methods This was a cross-sectional study where 45 workers were sampled (N=50), serum collected and tested for presence of anti HEV IgM using ELISA. Results A seroprevalence of 13.3% was obtained with the highest 50% among slaughterers and the lowest amongst sanitary cleaner, cloth cleaners and inspector. Those in direct contact with live pigs, their carcasses and tissues were at a higher risk compared to those in indirect contact. Seroprevalence was seen to increase with age, with the highest rate among those above 24 years. Conclusion There is silent HE virus infection in abattoir workers at Wambizi as reflected by presence anti HEV IgM in 13% of the tested serum. However, no single case of HE has ever been reported in swine abattoir workers or general population in Kampala city. This silent maintenance of HEV infection amongst swine abattoir workers is an occupational risk that could challenge public health systems.
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28
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Jackova A, Mandelik R, Novotny J, Salamunova S, Vilcek S. The Incidence of Hepatitis E Virus in Domestic Pigs. FOLIA VETERINARIA 2017. [DOI: 10.1515/fv-2017-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E — an emerging zoonotic disease distributed worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HEV in Slovakian domestic pigs, as this has not been studied yet. Clinical samples (n = 269) from fourteen randomly selected domestic pig farms for three different age categories of pigs were analysed and the subsequently detected isolates were genetically characterized. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that 32 pigs (11.9 %) of all age categories were HEV RNA positive. The highest occurrence was detected in fattening pigs (14.8 %) and the lowest in weaning pigs (12.5 %). The HEV RNA was not observed at all in the youngest category (the suckling piglets). The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all Slovak HEV isolates clustered into two genetic groups of the genotype HEV-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Jackova
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy , Kosice , Slovakia
| | - R. Mandelik
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy , Kosice , Slovakia
| | - J. Novotny
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy , Kosice , Slovakia
| | - S. Salamunova
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy , Kosice , Slovakia
| | - S. Vilcek
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy , Kosice , Slovakia
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Boxman IL, Jansen CC, Hägele G, Zwartkruis-Nahuis A, Cremer J, Vennema H, Tijsma AS. Porcine blood used as ingredient in meat productions may serve as a vehicle for hepatitis E virus transmission. Int J Food Microbiol 2017; 257:225-231. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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30
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Cook N, D'Agostino M, Johne R. Potential Approaches to Assess the Infectivity of Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Products: A Review. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2017; 9:243-255. [PMID: 28470455 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-017-9303-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E, caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), is an emerging issue. HEV appears common in pigs (although infected pigs do not show clinical signs), and evidence suggests that a number of hepatitis E cases have been associated with the consumption of undercooked pork meat and products. Little information is available on whether cooking can eliminate HEV, since there is currently no robust method for measuring its infectivity. HEV infectivity can be clearly demonstrated by monitoring for signs of infection (e.g., shedding of virus) in an animal model. However, this approach has several disadvantages, such as lack of reproducibility and unsuitability for performing large numbers of tests, high costs, and not least ethical considerations. Growth in cell culture can unambiguously show that a virus is infectious and has the potential for replication, without the disadvantages of using animals. Large numbers of tests can also be performed, which can make the results more amenable to statistical interpretation. However, no HEV cell culture system has been shown to be applicable to all HEV strains, none has been standardized, and few studies have demonstrated their use for measurement of HEV infectivity in food samples. Nonetheless, cell culture remains the most promising approach, and the main recommendation of this review is that there should be an extensive research effort to develop and validate a cell culture-based method for assessing HEV infectivity in pork products. Systems comprising promising cell lines and HEV strains which can grow well in cell culture should be tested to select an assay for effective and reliable measurement of HEV infectivity over a wide range of virus concentrations. The assay should then be harnessed to a procedure which can extract HEV from pork products, to produce a method suitable for further use. The method can then be used to determine the effect of heat or other elimination processes on HEV in pork meat and products, or to assess whether HEV detected in any surveyed foodstuffs is infectious and therefore poses a risk to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Cook
- Fera Science Ltd., Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK.
- Jorvik Food and Environmental Virology Ltd., York, UK.
| | - Martin D'Agostino
- Fera Science Ltd., Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK
- Campden BRI, Chipping Campden, UK
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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31
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Mazalovska M, Varadinov N, Koynarski T, Minkov I, Teoharov P, Lomonossoff GP, Zahmanova G. Detection of Serum Antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus Based on HEV Genotype 3 ORF2 Capsid Protein Expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. Ann Lab Med 2017; 37:313-319. [PMID: 28445010 PMCID: PMC5409023 DOI: 10.3343/alm.2017.37.4.313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes epidemics in developing countries and is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route. There have been recent reports on the zoonotic spread of the virus, and several animal species, primarily pigs, have been recognized as reservoirs of HEV. Because of its possible spread, there is an urgent need of a method for the cost-effective production of HEV proteins that can be used as diagnostic antigens for the serological detection of anti-HEV antibodies. METHODS The HEV open reading frame (ORF)2 protein was purified from plant tissue by using immobilized metal-anion chromatography (IMAC). The recombinant protein was used to develop an in-house ELISA for testing anti-HEV antibodies in both human and swine sera. Thirty-six serum samples collected from patients with serologically proven HEV infection with commercial kits were tested for anti-HEV IgG antibodies by using the plant-expressed protein. Forty-five serum samples collected from apparently healthy pigs in Bulgarian farms were also tested. RESULTS We confirmed the transient expression and purification of a truncated version of the HEV genotype 3 capsid protein in Nicotiana benthamiana and its usefulness as a diagnostic antigen. ELISA showed the presence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies in 29 of the 36 human samples. The in-house ELISA showed anti-HEV IgG antibodies in 34 of the 45 pigs. CONCLUSIONS We describe a method for the production of HEV ORF2 protein in N. benthamiana and the usefulness of this protein for the serological detection of anti-HEV antibodies in both humans and swine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Mazalovska
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Nikola Varadinov
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Tsvetoslav Koynarski
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Ivan Minkov
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Pavel Teoharov
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - George P Lomonossoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Gergana Zahmanova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
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32
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The added value of hepatitis E diagnostics in determining causes of hepatitis in routine diagnostic settings in the Netherlands. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 23:667-671. [PMID: 28285979 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 is endemic in Europe and an underdiagnosed and emerging (public) health issue. In recent years commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) that detect antibodies to HEV more adequately, became available. We investigated the added value of this HEV serology in the diagnostic work flow to detect viral causes of recent hepatitis. METHODS During a 2-year period (May 2013 to May 2015), HEV serology was added to the hepatitis work flow, consisting of serological detection of hepatitis viruses A, B and C (HAV, HBV, HCV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Samples positive for HEV IgM were also analysed using PCR to detect HEV RNA. If positive, HEV sequencing was performed for genotyping purposes. RESULTS In 235 out of 2521 patients (9.3%), a viral cause for hepatitis was found. Recent HAV, HBV, HCV, EBV or CMV infections were serologically diagnosed in 3, 34, 10, 69 and 42 patients, respectively. Seventy-eight patients (3.1%) had a recent HEV infection. In 49 of them, sufficient HEV RNA was present for genotyping. All patients were infected with HEV genotype 3. CONCLUSIONS In our region, an HEV infection is the most frequently diagnosed viral cause for recent hepatitis. These results indicate that, in a country where HEV is endemic, serological HEV diagnostics should be added to the standard work-up for viral hepatitis.
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Intharasongkroh D, Sa-Nguanmoo P, Tuanthap S, Thongmee T, Duang-In A, Klinfueng S, Chansaenroj J, Vongpunsawad S, Theamboonlers A, Payungporn S, Chirathaworn C, Poovorawan Y. Hepatitis E Virus in Pork and Variety Meats Sold in Fresh Markets. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2017; 9:45-53. [PMID: 27580911 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-016-9258-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Swine is an economically important livestock, yet pork consumption and close contact with pigs are associated with the risk of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. Limited data on the prevalence of HEV in Southeast Asia have mainly examined farm animals. To investigate the potential zoonotic transmission of HEV from dietary consumption of pork and variety meats (i.e., offal or organ meats), we obtained 1090 liver, 559 pork meat, and 556 intestine samples from fresh markets in the Bangkok metropolitan area between November 2014 and February 2015. The presence of HEV was assessed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Concurrently, 720 bile and 553 fecal samples from a slaughterhouse were also examined. Overall, HEV RNA was found in 0.23 % of the market samples and 3.93 % of the slaughterhouse samples. Fecal and bile samples were more likely to test positive compared to liver, pork, and intestine samples (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all HEV sequences obtained in this study formed a cluster closely related to genotype 3f. Pork and variety meats derived from pigs are commonly sold in fresh markets throughout Southeast Asia. Here, a relatively low HEV prevalence from pork and variety meats sold in Bangkok was found. Additional studies will be required to further assess potential dietary transmission of HEV elsewhere in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duangnapa Intharasongkroh
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pattaratida Sa-Nguanmoo
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supansa Tuanthap
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanunrat Thongmee
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ausanee Duang-In
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirapa Klinfueng
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jira Chansaenroj
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sompong Vongpunsawad
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Apiradee Theamboonlers
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sunchai Payungporn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chintana Chirathaworn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yong Poovorawan
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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34
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Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies Among Blood Donors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2017. [DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.42875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
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35
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Pelosi E, Clarke I. Hepatitis E: a complex and global disease. EMERGING HEALTH THREATS JOURNAL 2017. [DOI: 10.3402/ehtj.v1i0.7069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E Pelosi
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Health Protection Agency, Southeast Regional Laboratory, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK; and
| | - I Clarke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Southampton Medical School, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
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36
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Adelabu OA, Chuks Iweriebor B, Nwodo UU, Obi LC, Okoh AI. Incidence and Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis E Virus from Swine in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Adv Virol 2017; 2017:1073253. [PMID: 28191016 PMCID: PMC5278201 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1073253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus-mediated infection is a serious public health concern in economically developing nations of the world. Globally, four major genotypes of HEV have been documented. Hepatitis E has been suggested to be zoonotic owing to the increase of evidence through various studies. Thus far, this paper reports on prevalence of hepatitis E virus among swine herd in selected communal and commercial farms in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of 160 faecal samples were collected from swine herds in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities of Eastern Cape Province for the presence of HEV. Of the 160 faecal samples screened, only seven were positive (4.4%) for HEV. The nucleotide sequences analyses revealed the isolates as sharing 82% to 99% identities with other strains (KX896664, KX896665, KX896666, KX896667, KX896668, KX896669, and KX896670) from different regions of the world. We conclude that HEV is present among swine in the Eastern Cape Province, albeit in low incidence, and this does have public health implications. There is a need for maintenance of high hygienic standards in order to prevent human infections through swine faecal materials and appropriate cooking of pork is highly advised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olusesan Adeyemi Adelabu
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
| | - Benson Chuks Iweriebor
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
| | - U. U. Nwodo
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
| | - Larry Chikwelu Obi
- Academic and Research Division, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
| | - Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape Province 5700, South Africa
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37
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Nan Y, Zhang YJ. Molecular Biology and Infection of Hepatitis E Virus. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1419. [PMID: 27656178 PMCID: PMC5013053 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a viral pathogen transmitted primarily via fecal-oral route. In humans, HEV mainly causes acute hepatitis and is responsible for large outbreaks of hepatitis across the world. The case fatality rate of HEV-induced hepatitis ranges from 0.5 to 3% in young adults and up to 30% in infected pregnant women. HEV strains infecting humans are classified into four genotypes. HEV strains from genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic, whereas those from genotypes 1 and 2 have no known animal reservoirs. Recently, notable progress has been accomplished for better understanding of HEV biology and infection, such as chronic HEV infection, in vitro cell culture system, quasi-enveloped HEV virions, functions of the HEV proteins, mechanism of HEV antagonizing host innate immunity, HEV pathogenesis and vaccine development. However, further investigation on the cross-species HEV infection, host tropism, vaccine efficacy, and HEV-specific antiviral strategy is still needed. This review mainly focuses on molecular biology and infection of HEV and offers perspective new insight of this enigmatic virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Nan
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityYangling, China; Molecular Virology Laboratory, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College ParkMD, USA
| | - Yan-Jin Zhang
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD, USA
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38
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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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39
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Vilibic-Cavlek T, Vilibic M, Kolaric B, Jemersic L, Kucinar J, Barbic L, Bagaric A, Stevanovic V, Tabain I, Sviben M, Jukic V, Mlinaric-Galinovic G. Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis E in Selected Population Groups in Croatia: A Prospective Pilot Study. Zoonoses Public Health 2016; 63:494-502. [PMID: 26776465 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E has become an emerging infection in many European countries. We analysed the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in selected population groups in Croatia. Overall HEV IgG seropositivity was 5.6%, while 1.9% participants showed IgM antibodies suggestive of recent infection. No IgM-positive sample was positive for HEV RNA. HEV IgG antibodies were most prevalent in alcohol abusers (8.9%) and war veterans (8.6%), compared with 6.1% among injecting drug users and 2.7% in healthcare professionals. No individual with high-risk sexual behaviour tested HEV seropositive. HEV IgG positivity increased significantly with age from 1.8% to 2.3% in individuals younger than 40 years to 11.3% in individuals older than 50 years (P = 0.023). The mean age of HEV-positive participants was significantly higher than that of HEV-negative participants (50.9 ± 11.8 years versus 41.2 ± 11.8 years, P = 0.008). Seroprevalence rates were significantly higher in residents of suburban and rural areas compared with residents of urban areas (14.5% versus 2.5%, P = 0.003). Additionally, an increasing prevalence of HEV IgG antibodies was observed from 1.8% in participants living in families with two household members to 12.1% in those living with more than four members (P = 0.046). Gender, marital status, educational level, sexual orientation, source of drinking water, history of blood transfusions, surgical procedures, tattooing and travelling were not associated with HEV seroprevalence. Logistic regression showed that living in suburban/rural areas was the main risk factor for HEV seropositivity (OR = 6.67; 95%CI = 1.89-25.0; AOR = 7.14, 95%CI = 1.89-25.0).
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Affiliation(s)
- T Vilibic-Cavlek
- Department of Virology, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia.,School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - M Vilibic
- Vrapce University Psychiatric Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - B Kolaric
- Department of Epidemiology, Teaching Institute 'Dr Andrija Stampar', Zagreb, Croatia.,School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - L Jemersic
- Department of Virology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - J Kucinar
- Department of Microbiology, Istria County Institute of Public Health, Pula, Croatia
| | - L Barbic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - A Bagaric
- Vrapce University Psychiatric Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - V Stevanovic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - I Tabain
- Department of Virology, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - M Sviben
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - V Jukic
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Vrapce University Psychiatric Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - G Mlinaric-Galinovic
- Department of Virology, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia.,School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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40
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Lapa D, Capobianchi MR, Garbuglia AR. Epidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus in European Countries. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:25711-43. [PMID: 26516843 PMCID: PMC4632823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms161025711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin (IgG) anti hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been increasing in European countries and shows significant variability among different geographical areas. In this review, we describe the serological data concerning the general population and risk groups in different European countries. Anti-HEV antibody prevalence ranged from 1.3% (blood donors in Italy) to 52% (blood donors in France). Various studies performed on risk groups in Denmark, Moldova and Sweden revealed that swine farmers have a high seroprevalence of HEV IgG (range 13%-51.1%), confirming that pigs represent an important risk factor in HEV infection in humans. Subtypes 3e,f are the main genotypes detected in the European population. Sporadic cases of autochthonous genotype 4 have been described in Spain, France, and Italy. Although most HEV infections are subclinical, in immune-suppressed and transplant patients they could provoke chronic infection. Fulminant hepatitis has rarely been observed and it was related to genotype 3. Interferon and ribavirin treatment was seen to represent the most promising therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Lapa
- Laboratory of Virology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Via Portuense 292, Rome 00149, Italy.
| | - Maria Rosaria Capobianchi
- Laboratory of Virology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Via Portuense 292, Rome 00149, Italy.
| | - Anna Rosa Garbuglia
- Laboratory of Virology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Via Portuense 292, Rome 00149, Italy.
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41
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Prpić J, Černi S, Škorić D, Keros T, Brnić D, Cvetnić Ž, Jemeršić L. Distribution and Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis E virus in Domestic Animals and Wildlife in Croatia. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2015; 7:195-205. [PMID: 25820413 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-015-9193-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E is becoming a growing health concern in European countries as an increase of sporadic human cases of unknown origin has been recorded lately. Its causative agent, Hepatitis E virus (HEV), is known to have zoonotic potential and thus the role of domestic and wild animals in the chain of viral spread should be considered when investigating risk factors and the epidemiology of the disease. A comprehensive survey based on viral RNA detection was carried out in Croatia including blood, spleen and liver samples originating from 1816 different domestic and wild animals and digestive gland samples from 538 molluscs. A high HEV prevalence was detected in domestic pigs (24.5%) and wild boars (12.3%), whereas cattle, molluscs, ruminant and carnivore wildlife samples tested negative. Molecular characterization of both ORF1 and ORF2 genomic regions confirmed the phylogenetic clustering of the obtained sequences into genotype 3, previously reported in Europe. Furthermore, our results proved the presence of identical sequence variants in different samples, regardless of their origin, age or habitat of the host, suggesting transmission events between domestic swine, as well as between domestic swine and wild boars in the country. Moreover, a close genetic relationship of Croatian animal strains and known human HEV strains from GenBank opens the question of possible cross-species HEV transmission in Croatia, especially in the areas with an intensive swine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Prpić
- Department of Virology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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42
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Pérez-Gracia MT, García M, Suay B, Mateos-Lindemann ML. Current Knowledge on Hepatitis E. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2015; 3:117-26. [PMID: 26355220 PMCID: PMC4548356 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although only a single serotype of hepatitis E virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, has been identified, there is great genetic variation among the different HEV isolates reported. There are at least four major recognized genotypes of HEV: genotypes 1 and 2 are mainly restricted to humans and linked to epidemic outbreaks in nonindustrialized countries, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic in both developing and industrialized countries. Besides human strains, genotype 3 and 4 strains of HEV have been genetically characterized from swine, sika deer, mongooses, sheep, and rabbits. Currently, there are approximately 11,000 human and animal sequences of HEV available at the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration. HEV is the major cause of waterborne outbreaks of hepatitis in areas of poor sanitation. Additionally, it is responsible for sporadic cases of viral hepatitis in not only endemic but industrialized countries as well. Transmission of HEV occurs predominantly by the fecal-oral route, although parenteral and perinatal routes have been reported. HEV infection develops in most individuals as a self-limiting, acute, icteric hepatitis; with mortality rates around 1%. However, some affected individuals will develop fulminant hepatic failure, a serious condition that is frequently fatal without a liver transplant. This complication is particularly common when the infection occurs in pregnant women, where mortality rates rise dramatically to up to 25%. Among the preventive measures available to avoid HEV infection, two separate subunit vaccines containing recombinant truncated capsid proteins of HEV have been shown to be highly effective in the prevention of disease. One of them, HEV 239, was approved in China, and its commercialization by Innovax began in November 2012 under the name Hecolin(®).
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Pérez-Gracia
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence to: María Teresa Pérez‐Gracia, Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avenida Seminario s/n 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain. Tel: +34‐961369000, Fax: +34‐961395272, E‐mail:
| | - Mario García
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suay
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain
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43
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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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44
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Sayed IM, Vercauteren K, Abdelwahab SF, Meuleman P. The emergence of hepatitis E virus in Europe. Future Virol 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.15.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections appear to be an emerging problem in Europe. Infections are mainly caused by viruses of genotype 3. Pigs and wild boar are the main reservoirs of HEV in Europe and most autochthonous infections are probably caused by the consumption of uncooked or undercooked infected meat. Nevertheless, transfusion-associated transmission has been described in different European countries but the efficiency of this route of transmission need to be further investigated. Most acute infections are asymptomatic or the induced symptoms are rather nonspecific. Although people that are otherwise completely healthy can spontaneously clear an HEV infection, people with underlying liver disease and/or suffering from immune deficiencies may require treatment to avoid chronicity and exacerbation of liver disease. In this review, we give an epidemiological overview of HEV in Europe and the potential complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim M Sayed
- Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
- Microbiology & Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit 71515, Egypt
| | - Koen Vercauteren
- Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Sayed F Abdelwahab
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia 61511, Egypt
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
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45
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Pavoni E, Barbieri I, Bertasi B, Lombardi G, Giangrosso G, Cordioli P, Losio MN. Detection and Molecular Characterisation of Swine Hepatitis E Virus in Brescia Province, Italy. Ital J Food Saf 2015; 4:4587. [PMID: 27800394 PMCID: PMC5076652 DOI: 10.4081/ijfs.2015.4587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important public health concern in many developing countries and it occurs in sporadic forms in industrialized areas. With the discovery of swine HEV in pigs, which is genetically closely related to human HEV, hepatitis E is considered to be a zoonotic disease. To investigate the circulation of HEV within a distinct area of Lombardy region (Northern Italy), 17 pig farms were subjected to monitoring study by collection of fresh stool samples each represented by ground-pooled specimens. In particular, three distinct types of breeding farms were focused, represented by farrow to weaning, farrow to finish and fattening farms, respectively. Epidemiological data confirm that in Europe the seroprevalence in pigs, more than 9 month of age, ranges from 51.4 to 75%, while in 3-9 months fatteners is about 38%. In France and Italy, the positivity among farms is respectively 30 and 97.4% and the seroprevalence in Italy is 50.2%. Since HEV viremia was typically observed in the early period of life in swine, faeces were collected in boxes containing weaning pigs. For the study, 183 stool samples were collected and amplifications were performed with universal primers specific for the ORF2 region of genome. Twentyeight samples resulted positive to HEV RNA and genotyping demonstrated that they were closely related to HEV strains belonging to genotype 3 and circulating in Europe. Comparison with reference strains from GenBank excluded their similarity to genotype 1, 2 or 4 confirming that genotype 3 strains are circulating in Europe. Since it was demonstrated that swine act as a reservoir for HEV, and since many strains into HEV genotype 3 share a strong molecular similarity to human HEV, it was important to detect the presence of HEV in a restricted area with a very high density of pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pavoni
- Veterinary Public Health Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, Brescia, Italy
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46
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Montagnaro S, De Martinis C, Sasso S, Ciarcia R, Damiano S, Auletta L, Iovane V, Zottola T, Pagnini U. Viral and Antibody Prevalence of Hepatitis E in European Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) and Hunters at Zoonotic Risk in the Latium Region. J Comp Pathol 2015; 153:1-8. [PMID: 26025105 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2015.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a member of the genus Hepevirus within the family Hepeviridae. Hepatitis E is recognized as a zoonosis, and swine and wild boars (Sus scrofa) are known reservoirs of HEV infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of HEV in wild boars and hunters exposed to infection in central Italy (Latium region). During the hunting season, blood samples were collected from 228 wild boars and 20 hunters. The seroprevalence of HEV infection was determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, previously validated for use in man, pigs and wild boars. The estimated HEV seroprevalence in wild boars and in hunters was 40.7% (93/228; 95% confidence interval [CI] 34.4-47.1%) and 25% (5/20; 95% CI 6.1-43.9%), respectively. Liver samples were collected from the boars and HEV RNA was detected by nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Fifty-five of 164 tested wild boar liver samples (33.5%; 95% CI 26.2-40.7%) and three of 20 (15.0%; 95% CI 1.3-28.7%) tested human serum samples were positive for HEV RNA. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences obtained from PCR products indicated that the HEV strains present in wild boars and the human population all belonged to genotype 3, supporting the zoonotic role of wild boars in the spread of HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Montagnaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, Naples, Italy.
| | - C De Martinis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, Naples, Italy
| | - S Sasso
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, Naples, Italy
| | - R Ciarcia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, Naples, Italy
| | - S Damiano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, Naples, Italy
| | - L Auletta
- Istituto di Ricerca Diagnostica e Nucleare, IRCCS-SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, Naples, Italy
| | - V Iovane
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, Naples, Italy
| | - T Zottola
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lazio e Toscana Regions, Diagnostic Section of Latina, Italy
| | - U Pagnini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, Naples, Italy
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47
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Vina-Rodriguez A, Schlosser J, Becher D, Kaden V, Groschup MH, Eiden M. Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 diversity: phylogenetic analysis and presence of subtype 3b in wild boar in Europe. Viruses 2015; 7:2704-26. [PMID: 26008708 PMCID: PMC4452927 DOI: 10.3390/v7052704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of indigenous cases of hepatitis E caused by genotype 3 viruses (HEV-3) have been diagnosed all around the word, particularly in industrialized countries. Hepatitis E is a zoonotic disease and accumulating evidence indicates that domestic pigs and wild boars are the main reservoirs of HEV-3. A detailed analysis of HEV-3 subtypes could help to determine the interplay of human activity, the role of animals as reservoirs and cross species transmission. Although complete genome sequences are most appropriate for HEV subtype determination, in most cases only partial genomic sequences are available. We therefore carried out a subtype classification analysis, which uses regions from all three open reading frames of the genome. Using this approach, more than 1000 published HEV-3 isolates were subtyped. Newly recovered HEV partial sequences from hunted German wild boars were also included in this study. These sequences were assigned to genotype 3 and clustered within subtype 3a, 3i and, unexpectedly, one of them within the subtype 3b, a first non-human report of this subtype in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Vina-Rodriguez
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Josephine Schlosser
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Dietmar Becher
- Micromun GmbH, Greifswald, Walther-Rathenau-Straße 49A, 17489 Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Volker Kaden
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
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Hong Y, He ZJ, Tao W, Fu T, Wang YK, Chen Y. Experimental infection of Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils with human hepatitis E virus. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21:862-867. [PMID: 25624719 PMCID: PMC4299338 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i3.862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate whether Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils are readily susceptible to infection by human hepatitis E virus (HEV).
METHODS: Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils were infected with a clinical HEV strain isolated from an acute hepatitis E patient, and virus pathogenesis was assessed in this host. Non-infected gerbils served as the control group. Feces samples from gerbils were collected weekly for reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction. Serum anti-HEV IgG and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. At sacrifice, each animal’s liver, spleen and kidney were collected for histopathologic examination.
RESULTS: HEV-infected gerbils showed fatigue, with histopathological changes observed in the liver, spleen and kidney. HEV RNA was detected in fecal samples taken at day 7 after inoculation and the detectable levels lasted out to day 42 after inoculation. Interestingly, ALT levels were only moderately increased in the HEV-infected animals compared with the non-infected control group.
CONCLUSION: Z:ZCLA Mongolian gerbils are susceptible to human HEV.
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MESH Headings
- Alanine Transaminase/blood
- Animals
- Biomarkers/blood
- Disease Models, Animal
- Disease Susceptibility
- Feces/virology
- Gerbillinae
- Hepatitis Antibodies/blood
- Hepatitis E/blood
- Hepatitis E/diagnosis
- Hepatitis E/transmission
- Hepatitis E/virology
- Hepatitis E virus/genetics
- Hepatitis E virus/immunology
- Hepatitis E virus/pathogenicity
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/blood
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/diagnosis
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/transmission
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/virology
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Male
- RNA, Viral/genetics
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Serologic Tests
- Time Factors
- Viral Load
- Zoonoses
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Oliveira-Filho EF, Bank-Wolf BR, Thiel HJ, König M. Phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis E virus in domestic swine and wild boar in Germany. Vet Microbiol 2014; 174:233-8. [PMID: 25287630 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2014] [Revised: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging non-enveloped positive strand RNA virus with worldwide distribution that can cause acute liver disease in humans. The virus has also been detected in both domestic and wild animals. In this study we investigated the presence of HEV in free-living wild boar as well as in domestic swine. A total of 105 domestic swine fecal samples and 124 wild boar sera were tested for the presence of HEV RNA by RT-PCR. A 241 nucleotide (nt) fragment from the capsid gene of HEV from one domestic swine and from 18 wild boars were amplified and sequenced. In addition, the complete capsid of three HEV sequences found in wild boar and the complete genomic sequence of the domestic swine HEV were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on both the 241 nt fragments as well as four complete capsid gene sequences demonstrated that all sequences belong to genotype HEV-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmilson F Oliveira-Filho
- Institut für Virologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Barbara R Bank-Wolf
- Institut für Virologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Heinz-Jürgen Thiel
- Institut für Virologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Matthias König
- Institut für Virologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Ðaković Rode O, Jemeršić L, Brnić D, Pandak N, Mikulić R, Begovac J, Vince A. Hepatitis E in patients with hepatic disorders and HIV-infected patients in Croatia: is one diagnostic method enough for hepatitis E diagnosis? Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 33:2231-6. [PMID: 25005459 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-014-2187-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We assessed hepatitis E virus (HEV) seroprevalence in patients with hepatic disorders as well as in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and emphasised the issue of possible non-specific anti-HEV seroresponse and need for combining diagnostic methods for hepatitis E diagnosis. Over a two-year period, from March 2011 to February 2013, we determined anti-HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG by enzyme immunoassays (EIA; Mikrogen, Germany) in 504 hepatitis patients negative for acute viral hepatitis A-C. Furthermore, 88 samples from randomly selected consecutive HIV-infected patients were also analysed. All EIA reactive samples were additionally tested by line immunoblot assays (LIA; Mikrogen, Germany). HEV nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out in 14 anti-HEV IgM LIA-positive patients. Anti-HEV IgM or IgG were detected in 16.9 % of patients by EIA and confirmed by LIA in 10.7 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 8.3-13.7 %] of hepatitis patients. HEV RNA was detected in five patients. The agreement between EIA and LIA assessed by Cohen's kappa was 0.47 (95 % CI 0.55-0.75) for IgM and 0.83 (95 % CI 0.78-0.93) for IgG. Anti-HEV IgM and IgG seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients was 1.1 %, respectively. Our findings show a rather high HEV seroprevalence in patients with elevated liver enzymes in comparison to HIV-infected patients. Discordant findings by different methods stress the need to combine complementary methods and use a two-tier approach with prudent interpretation of reactive serological results for hepatitis E diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Ðaković Rode
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mirogojska 8, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia,
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