Porcine blood used as ingredient in meat productions may serve as a vehicle for hepatitis E virus transmission

Boxman, Ingeborg L.A.; Jansen, C. C. C.; Hägele, Geke; Zwartkruis-Nahuis, Ans; Cremer, Jeroen; Vennema, Harry; Tijsma, Aloys

doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.06.029

Cited by 58 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…‐), all the ovine amplicons shared 94.4–100% nucleotide (nt) identity to each other and displayed the highest identities (96.4‐99.3%) to the goat (PB29/ITA, ) and wild boar (P6‐15/ITA, ) Gt3 HEV strains detected in Abruzzo (Di Martino et al., ; Di Profio et al., ). Also, high identity (93.8%–98.0%) was found to human Gt3 HEVs identified in blood donors and hepatitis patients from The Netherland and France (Lhomme et al., ; Smith et al., ) and to HEV strains detected in porcine blood products used in meat industry (Boxman et al., ) (Table ). Nucleotide identity to Italian human Gt3 HEVs in this fragment was 77.5‐89.9%, with the best match (nt identities 87.7%–89.9%) being to the strain Gt3 subtype c, Hu/771‐2/IT (), identified in an Italian blood donor from Abruzzo (Lucarelli et al., ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis E virus in sheep in Italy

Sarchese

Profio

Melegari

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Summary Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the leading cause of human enterically transmitted viral hepatitis occurring around the world both as outbreaks and as sporadic cases. The accumulating literature indicates that domestic pigs and wild boars are the main reservoirs of genotype 3 and genotype 4 for human infections in industrialized countries. However, the recent identification of HEV from various animal species poses additional potential concerns for HEV zoonotic infection. In this study, the role of sheep as potential host of hepatitis E virus (HEV) was investigated. By screening 192 sheep from seven farms located in Abruzzo Region (Southern Italy), HEV‐specific antibodies were detected in the sera of 41 animals (21.3%) whilst the RNA of HEV, genotype 3, was detected in 20 faecal (10.4%) and three serum samples (1.6%). Upon sequence analyses of a partial ORF2 gene region of eight HEV positive samples, the sheep sequences all grouped together within HEV genotype 3 subtype c, being most closely related to HEV strains identified in goat and wild boar from Abruzzo. This is the first study that demonstrates, serologically and molecularly, the presence of HEV in sheep population in a European country.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis E virus in sheep in Italy

Sarchese

Profio

Melegari

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…The remaining 12 farms in which HEV RNA positive samples were detected are disseminated in different regions of Corsica without clustering into geographically defined hotspots. The vast majority of HEV RNA positive samples (83/85) contained sequences corresponding to genotype 3c, which has been associated with human infections (Koot, Hogema, Koot, Molier, & Zaaijer, ; Lhomme et al, ; Wang et al, ), and found highly prevalent in wild boars (Pavio et al, ), domestic pigs, and pork meat products (Boxman et al, ). The two remaining samples contained sequences of genotype 3f, which has also been reported in human infections in Europe (Fogeda, Avellon, Cilla, & Echevarria, ; La Rosa et al, ; Lhomme et al, ; Wang et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drastic decline of hepatitis E virus detection in domestic pigs after the age of 6 months, Corsica, France

Capai

Maestrini

Casabianca

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Suidae is an important reservoir of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and a source of transmission to humans (direct contact or via consumption of meat products). Our goal was to characterize the epidemiology of HEV infecting domestic pigs in Corsica Island, a French region hyperendemic for HEV. In Corsica, traditional extensive (or semi‐extensive) outdoor pig farming system is common. Sixteen farms were selected according to location and breeding system. Individual pig faeces samples were collected and qRT‐PCR for detecting HEV RNA was performed. Nucleic acids from HEV‐positive samples were amplified using specific ORF2 genotyping system. The genotype and subtype of the Corsican HEV sequences were determined by phylogenetic analysis. Among the 919 porcine faeces samples tested 9.2% (n = 85) were positive. The presence of viral RNA was correlated with (a) age (>6 months) Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR) 0.25 [0.068–0.90] p = .032; 3–4 months AOR = 4.94 [2.30–10.62] p = .000043) with the logistic regression model with a random effect at the farm level. Among the 85 positive samples, 83 belonged to genotype 3c and two to genotype 3f. The highest prevalence was observed in the 3–4 months age group and older age (>6 months) was negatively related to HEV infection and this suggests that traditional breeding with a late slaughter age may limit the risk of transmission to humans. A kinetic study of pigs from birth to slaughtering would allow to ensure that the type of traditional breeding reported here is very favourable to the absence of the virus in slaughtered pigs and in pork products.

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“…For future studies, a comparison of anti‐HEV rates in various population subgroups, such as Muslims or vegetarians, would be of interest. For example, porcine blood, which is used in meat production in the Netherlands, has been suggested as a relevant source of HEV infection; however, meat consumption in general seems to be associated with HEV seroprevalence . Nevertheless, meat is not the exclusive source of infection, as shellfish and berry fruits have been reported to cause HEV infection …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%