Abstract
Hepatitis E is considered an emerging human viral disease with a zoonotic nature, and domestic and wild pigs are the main reservoirs of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among animals. Pork liver is the target tissue of this virus. This study aimed to investigate the presence of HEV in commercial pig liver samples. Sixty samples were collected during one year from different retail outlets in Serbia. Furthermore, the collected samples were separated by four seasons, and every season included three months. The presence of HEV in the livers was examined by molecular analysis using RT-qPCR. The overall prevalence of the virus in analysed pig livers was 5%. HEV was detected in three livers, two in the first season and one in the second, while in the third and fourth season, no positive livers were detected. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the surveyed seasons. HEV was quantified in positive livers. Among positive livers, HEV concentrations ranged between 8×101 and 1.9×104 genome copies of the virus per gram. The presence of HEV in commercial pig livers indicates a potential risk for consumers. Appropriate heat treatment of meals during preparation is essential to eliminate the potential risk of developing the illness.
Highlights
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a pathogen that causes Hepatitis E disease
This study aimed to investigate the presence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in commercial pig liver samples
During the third and fourth seasons, HEV was not detected in the examined pig livers
Summary
HEV infection has been confirmed in several animal species, while the prime route of transmission is faecaloral [1]. Zoonotic HEV transmission was confirmed by Meng et al [1] This epidemic is increasing worldwide and presents public health concerns in developing countries and developed countries [1]. An increase in HEV confirmed cases were recorded in developed countries [3]. This virus is a small, non-enveloped icosahedral virus with a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome approximately 6.6-7.2 kb in size. Endemic regions for genotypes 1 and 2 are Asia, Africa, and Central America, where the water is a fundamental reservoir of the virus
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