scholarly journals High seroprevalence of hepatitis E among pigs suggests an animal reservoir in Cameroon

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (08) ◽  
pp. 676-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdou Fatawou Modiyinji ◽  
Marie Amougou Atsama ◽  
Gwladys Chavely Monamele ◽  
Moise Nola ◽  
Richard Njouom
Keyword(s):  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Zoonotic Potential ◽  
Serological Markers ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Animal Reservoir ◽  
Slaughter Pigs

Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most prevalent cause of acute hepatitis in humans worldwide. The risk of HEV transmission is not limited only to spread from human to human but the infection can also spread from animals to humans, especially from the domestic pigs. Despite mounting evidence regarding the zoonotic potential of porcine HEV infection, there are limited data on its prevalence in pigs in the sub-Sahara Africa region. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HEV antibodies among pigs in two Cameroonian regions. Methodology: A total of 162 sera were collected from slaughtered-age pigs from January to March 2012. To determine whether pigs might represent a HEV reservoir in the Northern and Western region in Cameroon, anti-HEV IgG and IgM were tested by ELISA using commercials available kits. Results: Overall, 70 of the 162 samples (43.2%, 95% CI: 35.5% - 51.2%) were positive for at least one of the serological markers of HEV infection (IgM and / or IgG).We observed a significant seroprevalence of HEV antibodies between the northern and western regions (60% (42/70) and 40% (28/70), p = 0.01796) respectively. Conclusion: Overall, this study reports a high seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus antibodies in slaughter pigs in Cameroon. Our findings suggest that pigs might be a cause of zoonotic HEV transmission in Cameroon. Therefore, further studies are warranted to establish the dynamics of zoonotic HEV and characterize the different genotypes circulating in humans and pigs.

Rat Hepatitis E Virus Linked to Severe Acute Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Patient

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (6) ◽  
pp. 951-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Andonov ◽  
Mark Robbins ◽  
Jamie Borlang ◽  
Jingxin Cao ◽  
Todd Hatchette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
The United States ◽  
Immunocompetent Patient ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Animal Reservoir ◽  
Hepatitis Infection ◽  
Severe Acute Hepatitis

Abstract Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major public health concern in developing countries where the primary transmission is via contaminated water. Zoonotic HEV cases have been increasingly described in Europe, Japan, and the United States, with pigs representing the main animal reservoir of infection. We report an unusual acute hepatitis infection in a previously healthy man caused by a rat HEV with a considerably divergent genomic sequence compared with other rat HEV strains. It is possible that rat HEV is an underrecognized cause of hepatitis infection, and further studies are necessary to elucidate its potential risk and mode of transmission.

scholarly journals Infection dynamics and persistence of hepatitis E virus on pig farms – a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Meester ◽  
T. J. Tobias ◽  
M. Bouwknegt ◽  
N. E. Kusters ◽  
J. A. Stegeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Infection Dynamics ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
Slaughter Pigs

Abstract Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 and 4 is a zoonosis that causes hepatitis in humans. Humans can become infected by consumption of pork or contact with pigs. Pigs are the main reservoir of the virus worldwide and the virus is present on most pig farms. Main body Though HEV is present on most farms, the proportion of infected pigs at slaughter and thus the level of exposure to consumers differs between farms and countries. Understanding the cause of that difference is necessary to install effective measures to lower HEV in pigs at slaughter. Here, HEV studies are reviewed that include infection dynamics of HEV in pigs and on farms, risk factors for HEV farm prevalence, and that describe mechanisms and sources that could generate persistence on farms. Most pigs become infected after maternal immunity has waned, at the end of the nursing or beginning of the fattening phase. Risk factors increasing the likelihood of a high farm prevalence or proportion of actively infected slaughter pigs comprise of factors such as farm demographics, internal and external biosecurity and immunomodulating coinfections. On-farm persistence of HEV is plausible, because of a high transmission rate and a constant influx of susceptible pigs. Environmental sources of HEV that enhance persistence are contaminated manure storages, water and fomites. Conclusion As HEV is persistently present on most pig farms, current risk mitigation should focus on lowering transmission within farms, especially between farm compartments. Yet, one should be aware of the paradox of increasing the proportion of actively infected pigs at slaughter by reducing transmission insufficiently. Vaccination of pigs may aid HEV control in the future.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E Virus Occurrence in Pigs Slaughtered in Italy

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Eleonora Chelli ◽  
Elisabetta Suffredini ◽  
Paola De Santis ◽  
Dario De Medici ◽  
Santina Di Bella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Sporadic Cases ◽  
Wild Boar Meat ◽  
Small Clusters ◽  
Frequent Exposure

In Europe, foodborne transmission has been clearly associated to sporadic cases and small clusters of hepatitis E in humans linked to the consumption of contaminated pig liver sausages, raw venison, or undercooked wild boar meat. In Europe, zoonotic HEV-genotype 3 strains are widespread in pig farms but little information is available on the prevalence of HEV positive pigs at slaughterhouse. In the present study, the prevalence of HEV-RNA positive pigs was assessed on 585 animals from 4 abattoirs located across Italy. Twenty-one pigs (3.6%) tested positive for HEV in either feces or liver by real-time RT-PCR. In these 21 pigs, eight diaphragm muscles resulted positive for HEV-RNA. Among animals collected in one abattoir, 4 out of 91 plasma tested positive for HEV-RNA. ELISA tests for the detection of total antibodies against HEV showed a high seroprevalence (76.8%), confirming the frequent exposure of pigs to the virus. The phylogenetic analyses conducted on sequences of both ORF1 and ORF2 fragments, shows the circulation of HEV-3c and of a novel unclassified subtype. This study provides information on HEV occurrence in pigs at the slaughterhouse, confirming that muscles are rarely contaminated by HEV-RNA compared to liver, which is the most frequently positive for HEV.

Detection and characterisation of hepatitis E virus in naturally infected swine in Croatia

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoran Lipej ◽  
Dinko Novosel ◽  
Lea Vojta ◽  
Besi Roić ◽  
Miljenko Šimpraga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Animal Reservoir ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Swine Herds ◽  
Bile Samples

Hepatitis E is a viral zoonotic disease infecting swine worldwide. Since pigs represent a likely animal reservoir for the hepatitis E virus, the epidemiology of naturally occurring hepatitis E was investigated in Croatian swine herds. Nearly all tested animals were seropositive for antibodies against the hepatitis E virus (55/60, 91.7%). Active infection was detected in all age groups by RT-PCR of viral RNA in serum (8/60, 13.3%) and bile samples (3/37, 8.1%), which was further confirmed by histopathological findings of characteristic lesions in the livers of the infected animals. Three new strains of hepatitis E virus were isolated from Croatian pig herds. Phylogenetic analysis using median-joining networks clustered those Croatian strains with isolates from various parts of the world, indicating their likely origin in international trade. Similarity to human isolates implies a zoonotic potential of Croatian strains, which raises a public health concern, especially in the light of the high prevalence of hepatitis E in the herds studied.

scholarly journals Hepatitis E Virus Quasispecies and the Outcome of Acute Hepatitis E in Solid-Organ Transplant Patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (18) ◽  
pp. 10006-10014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien Lhomme ◽  
Florence Abravanel ◽  
Martine Dubois ◽  
Karine Sandres-Saune ◽  
Lionel Rostaing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Solid Organ Transplant ◽  
First Year ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Serum Concentrations

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are responsible for chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients, and this can evolve to cirrhosis. Like all RNA viruses, HEV exists as a mixture of heterogeneous viruses defining quasispecies. The relationship between the genetic heterogeneity described as a quasispecies, cytokine secretion, and the outcome of acute hepatitis in immunocompromised patients remains to be elucidated. We cloned and sequenced the region encoding the M and P capsid domains of HEV from eight solid-organ transplant (SOT) patients with acute HEV infection who subsequently cleared the virus and from eight SOT patients whose infection became chronic. We analyzed the cytokines and chemokines in the sera of these SOT patients by multianalyte profiling. The nucleotide sequence entropy and genetic distances were greater in patients whose infections became chronic. A lowerKa/Ksratio was associated with the persistence of HEV. The patients who developed chronic infection had lower serum concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist and soluble IL-2 receptor. Increased concentrations of the chemokines implicated in leukocyte recruitment to the liver were associated with persistent infection. Those patients with chronic HEV infection and progressing liver fibrosis had less quasispecies diversification during the first year than patients without liver fibrosis progression. Great quasispecies heterogeneity, a weak inflammatory response, and high serum concentrations of the chemokines involved in leukocyte recruitment to the liver in the acute phase were associated with persistent HEV infection. Slow quasispecies diversification during the first year was associated with rapidly developing liver fibrosis.

scholarly journals Acute hepatitis E virus infection in human immunodeficiency virus-positive men and women in Nepal: Not quite a rare entity

Hepatology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 1006-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birendra Prasad Gupta ◽  
Ananta Shrestha ◽  
Anurag Adhikari ◽  
Thupten Kelsang Lama ◽  
Binaya Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Rare Entity ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Acute Hepatitis E

scholarly journals High seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in the ethnic minority populations in Yunnan, China

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. e0197577
Author(s):  
Yue Feng ◽  
Yue-Mei Feng ◽  
Songmei Wang ◽  
Fang Xu ◽  
Xuehui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Minority Populations ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Ethnic Minority Populations

scholarly journals Hepatitis E Virus Superinfection: an Underrecognized Trigger of Acute Hepatitis B Virus Flare

Cureus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adham E Obeidat ◽  
Gabriel Monti ◽  
Wichit Sae-Ow ◽  
Hiroko Shinoda ◽  
Herbert Lim
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Acute Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Acute Hepatitis B
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