Presence of hepatitis E virus in a naturally infected swine herd from nursery to slaughter

Int J Food Microbiol. 2007 Jun 30;117(2):160-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2007.03.008. Epub 2007 Mar 30.

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus has recently been recognized as having zoonotic potential and could be transmitted from pig to human. Pigs are identified as a potential animal reservoir and HEV is highly prevalent in the swine population around the world. In this study, the presence of HEV was investigated in 51 subjects reared on a simulated commercial farm setting from the age of 2 weeks up to slaughter. Samples were collected on four occasions: at 2, 8, and 18 weeks and between 22-29 weeks of age. Anti-HEV IgG in plasma samples, presence of HEV RNA in plasma samples and feces were monitored. At 2 weeks of age, HEV RNA was detected in feces of 6 subjects (11.8%) but not in their plasma. At 8 weeks, HEV was detected in feces of 27 subjects (52.9%) and in plasma of one subject. At 18 weeks, HEV was detected in feces of 44 subjects (86.2%) and in plasma of 24 subjects (47.1%). At slaughter time (22-29 weeks), HEV was present in plasma of 6 subjects (11.8%) and in stools of 21 subjects (41.2%). Spread of the virus inside the population was evaluated by comparison of means (paired t-test, P<0.05) of anti-HEV IgG ELISA results from the 4 bleedings. Significant differences were noted between the results of populations at 8 and 18 weeks and also between 18 and 22 to 29 weeks indicating an immune response to the virus. Based on the comparison of a 304 nucleotides sequence of the 5' ORF 2 gene, all amplified fragments clustered in genotype 3a.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Consumer Product Safety
  • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
  • Feces / virology
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Food Microbiology
  • Hepatitis E / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis E / transmission*
  • Hepatitis E / veterinary*
  • Hepatitis E virus / classification
  • Hepatitis E virus / immunology
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Meat / virology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Swine Diseases / transmission
  • Zoonoses*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • RNA, Viral