Abstract
IntroductionThe zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 (HEV-G3) has become a common cause of acute and chronic hepatitis among humans worldwide. In Israel, while HEV-3 sequences have previously been detected in sewage, only the non-zoonotic HEV-G1 genotype has been found in samples from human patients.AimIn this pilot study, we aimed to assess the status of HEV in a sample of the swine population and among swine farm workers in Israel.MethodsPig blood (n = 141) and faecal samples (n = 39), pig farm sewage samples (n = 8) and blood from farm workers (n = 24) were collected between February 2016 and October 2017. Anti-HEV IgG was detected using the Wantai assay. HEV RNA was analysed with the RealStar HEV kit. HEV open reading frame 1 fragments amplified from representative HEV RNA-positive samples were used for phylogenetic analysis.ResultsOverall prevalence of HEV antibodies in pigs was 75.9% (107/141). HEV RNA was detected in plasma (2.1%, 3/141), faecal (22.8%, 18/79) and pig sewage (4/8) samples. Pig and sewage-derived viral sequences clustered with previously identified human sewage HEV-G3 sequences. Most pig farms workers (23 of 24) were HEV-seropositive; none was viraemic or reported previous clinical signs.ConclusionsThis study showed that domestic pigs in Israel are infected with HEV-G3. The high HEV seropositivity of the farm workers together with the previous identification of this virus in human sewage suggests circulation to humans. The clinical impact of these findings on public health should be further explored.
Highlights
The zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 (HEV-G3) has become a common cause of acute and chronic hepatitis among humans worldwide
Two of the eight known HEV genotypes [3] are most frequently identified in these regions: HEV-G1, which is considered endemic in Asia, Africa and South America and infects humans through contaminated water [4], and HEV-G3, which is a zoonotic virus infecting pigs and other animals and is primarily transmitted to humans through the consumption of infected meat [5]
Both genotypes were detected in clinical and environmental samples, while HEV-G1 infection results only in acute viral hepatitis, infection with different HEV-G3 subtypes could result in persistent chronic hepatitis [4] and is considered to be the main cause of HEV-related chronic viral hepatitis in Europe
Summary
The zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 (HEV-G3) has become a common cause of acute and chronic hepatitis among humans worldwide. Reports on the involvement of HEV viral hepatitis in Europe and non-European Mediterranean countries have been accumulating Both acute and chronic viral hepatitis cases were identified. Two of the eight known HEV genotypes [3] are most frequently identified in these regions: HEV-G1, which is considered endemic in Asia, Africa and South America and infects humans through contaminated water [4], and HEV-G3, which is a zoonotic virus infecting pigs and other animals and is primarily transmitted to humans through the consumption of infected meat [5] Both genotypes were detected in clinical and environmental samples, while HEV-G1 infection results only in acute viral hepatitis, infection with different HEV-G3 subtypes could result in persistent chronic hepatitis [4] and is considered to be the main cause of HEV-related chronic viral hepatitis in Europe. To reduce the risk for bloodborne transmission of HEV-G3 sequences from donors chronically infected with this virus, several European countries have already initiated HEV screening of blood donations [6]
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