Abstract
Simple SummaryThe main hosts of hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 are porcine species. Transmission of the virus to humans, for example via undercooked meat, may cause acute or chronic hepatitis. To determine sources and routes of infection, comparing the viruses present in humans to the ones present in main hosts is a helpful tool. However, it requires knowledge of the genetic diversity of the circulating viruses. Therefore, we tested Swiss pigs and wild boars for HEV and determined the virus subtype and part of its genome. In addition, we determined the HEV subtype present in 11 positive meat products. One pig liver from the slaughterhouses (0.3%) and seven livers from a carcass collection (13%) as well as seven wild boar livers (5.8%) were found HEV positive. The same virus subtypes were found in Swiss pigs, wild boars, and meat products. Most of the viruses belonged to a Swiss-specific cluster within the subtype 3h. In addition, one pig liver and one wild boar liver were found positive for 3l and two meat products from Germany for 3c. Our data indicate that Switzerland has its “own” HEV viruses that circulate independent from the rest of Europe.Hepatitis E caused by hepatitis E viruses of the genotype 3 (HEV-3) is a major health concern in industrialized countries and due to its zoonotic character requires a “One Health” approach to unravel routes and sources of transmission. Knowing the viral diversity present in reservoir hosts, i.e., pigs but also wild boars, is an important prerequisite for molecular epidemiology. The aim of this study was to gain primary information on the diversity of HEV-3 subtypes present along the food chain in Switzerland, as well as the diversity within these subtypes. To this end, samples of domestic pigs from slaughterhouses and carcass collection points, as well as from hunted wild boars, were tested for HEV RNA and antibodies. HEV positive meat products were provided by food testing labs. The HEV subtypes were determined using Sanger and next generation sequencing. The genetic analyses confirmed the predominance of a Swiss-specific cluster within subtype HEV-3h in pigs, meat products, and wild boars. This cluster, which may result from local virus evolution due to the isolated Swiss pig industry, supports fast differentiation of domestic and imported infections with HEV.
Highlights
The family of Hepeviridae includes two genera; the genus Piscihepevirus, which contains the single species Piscihepevirus A, known as cutthroat virus of salmonids, and the genus Orthohepevirus, whose members infect mammals and birds and form the four generaOrthohepevirus A, B, C and D
The most important species for human health is Orthohepevirus A, which is divided into 8 genotypes (HEV-1 to 8) [1,2,3,4]
In contrast to HEV-1 and 2, which are restricted to humans, hepatitis E viruses of the genotype 3 (HEV-3) is transmitted zoonotically
Summary
The family of Hepeviridae includes two genera; the genus Piscihepevirus, which contains the single species Piscihepevirus A, known as cutthroat virus of salmonids, and the genus Orthohepevirus, whose members infect mammals and birds and form the four generaOrthohepevirus A, B, C and D (https://talk.ictvonline.org/taxonomy, accessed on 5 October2021). The family of Hepeviridae includes two genera; the genus Piscihepevirus, which contains the single species Piscihepevirus A, known as cutthroat virus of salmonids, and the genus Orthohepevirus, whose members infect mammals and birds and form the four genera. The main reservoir are porcine species with the domestic pig playing the most important role, but wild boars are known to represent reservoir hosts [8,9]. Other animals such as deer and rabbits may be sources of infection [10,11]. Extra-hepatic manifestation such as neuralgic amyotrophy are frequently observed [20]
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