Abstract
BackgroundSeveral studies have independently evaluated the occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and enteroparasites in swine, but no surveys have been conducted to jointly assess the prevalence and genetic diversity of enteroparasites in pigs and wild boars, their sympatric transmission between hosts, and their potential interaction with HEV.MethodsWe prospectively collected serum and faecal samples from black Iberian domestic pigs and wild boars from southern Spain between 2015‒2016. We evaluated for HEV in serum and faeces, and for the presence of enteroparasites (Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis sp., Neobalantidium coli and Strongyloides spp.) in the same faecal samples. The prevalence of each intestinal parasite species was calculated.ResultsA total of 328 animals (56.7% black Iberian pigs and 43.3% wild boars) were included in the study. The overall global prevalence of HEV in serum was 16.8%. The overall global prevalence of each enteroparasite species was 19.5% for G. duodenalis, 8.2% for Cryptosporidium spp., 41.8% for Blastocystis sp., 31.4% for N. coli, and 8.8% for Strongyloides spp. HEV-infected animals showed a significantly lower prevalence of G. duodenalis (3.2 vs 20%; P = 0.002) and Blastocystis sp. (38.7 vs 80%; P < 0.001) than those uninfected by HEV. Animals carrying G. duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. infections showed a significantly lower rate of HEV infection than those not harbouring these enteroparasites (P < 0.001).ConclusionsOur study found a high prevalence of enteroparasites in black Iberian pigs and wild boars in southern Spain, suggesting a sympatric co-transmission of some of the species investigated. It is suggested that extracellular G. duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. might have a protective effect on HEV acquisition in swine.
Highlights
Several studies have independently evaluated the occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and enteropar‐ asites in swine, but no surveys have been conducted to jointly assess the prevalence and genetic diversity of entero‐ parasites in pigs and wild boars, their sympatric transmission between hosts, and their potential interaction with HEV
The presence of soil-transmitted helminths belonging to the genus Strongyloides seem to be a common finding in free-range pigs raised in low-income countries [8], but little or no information at all is available from swine in high-income countries including Spain
We identified carriage/infection with G. duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. as a protective factor associated with detectable HEV RNA in serum both in the global swine population and in the black Iberian pig population alone (Table 4)
Summary
Several studies have independently evaluated the occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and enteropar‐ asites in swine, but no surveys have been conducted to jointly assess the prevalence and genetic diversity of entero‐ parasites in pigs and wild boars, their sympatric transmission between hosts, and their potential interaction with HEV. The intestinal protozoans Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are major contributors to the burden of diarrhoeal disease in humans and livestock species globally [1, 2]. Both parasites are transmitted via the faecal-oral route either indirectly through ingestion. Rivero‐Juarez et al Parasites Vectors (2020) 13:281 of contaminated water or food or directly by contact with infected persons or animals. The presence of soil-transmitted helminths belonging to the genus Strongyloides seem to be a common finding in free-range pigs raised in low-income countries [8], but little or no information at all is available from swine in high-income countries including Spain
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