Cross-sectional Seroprevalence and Genotype of Hepatitis E Virus in Humans and Swine in a High-density Pig-farming Area in Central China

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a common public health problem in developing countries. However, the current prevalence of HEV and the relationship of HEV genotype between swine and human within high-density pig-farming areas in central China are still inadequately understood. Here, cross-sectional serological and genotypic surveys of HEV among the 1232 general population, 273 workers occupationally exposed to swine, and 276 pigs in a high-density pig-breeding area, were undertaken by ELISA and nested RT-PCR methods. Anti-HEV IgG was detected in 26.22% of general population and 48.35% of occupational workers. The prevalence of swine serum HEV-Ag was 6.52%. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was significantly higher among the workers occupationally exposed to swine than among the general population. An increased HEV seropositivity risk among the general population was associated with either being a peasant or male and was very strongly associated with the increase of age. Among the occupationally exposed group, the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies increased with age and working years. Among the 30 HEV-IgM-positive people, the infection rates of clerks in the public, peasants, pork retailers, and pig farmers were higher than those of others. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the isolates belonged to subgenotype 4 d , and four people and four pigs shared 97.04%-100% sequence homology. This study revealed a high HEV seroprevalence among the general population and workers occupationally exposed to swine in the Anlu City, and supports the notion that swine are a source of human HEV infection.

Global molecular diversity of Hepatitis E virus in wild boar and domestic pig

“…In contrast to genotype 3, genotype 4 is limited to Asia, with China being the country with the highest prevalence of this genotype and where the majority of its subtypes have been identified. This is consistent with the HEV epidemiology in humans, where genotype 4 seems to be the major cause of HEV infections of zoonotic origin in Asia [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. A striking finding is the identification of genotype 4d in domestic pig raised in Italy.…”

Seroprevalence of AIH-related autoantibodies in patients with acute hepatitis E viral infection: a prospective case–control study in China

“…In the past 10 years, the epidemiologic pattern in China has shifted from a pattern typical of developing areas to a pattern typical of developed countries [10]. Apart from sporadic HEV infection caused by HEV genotype 4, there are few large-scale outbreaks in China [11].…”

Identifying Circular RNAs in HepG2 Expressing Genotype IV Swine Hepatitis E Virus ORF3 Via Whole Genome Sequencing

“…The distribution of ORF3 epitopes of genotype 4 hepatitis E virus affects the proline rich C-terminal domain, which has an effect on the immune activity of downstream V105 dlp108 14 . In the northeast of China, some strains of hepatitis E virus that were prevalent in human and pig populations were all genotype 4 swine hepatitis E virus 32 – 34 . SHEV ORF3 is an important virulent protein, which affects the replication and release of virus, it is also an important viral regulatory protein, which can affect transcription factor activity and cytoplasmic signal transduction pathway 35 – 37 .…”