A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig Farms
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E disease in humans. While sporadic HEV infections, which occur in industrialised countries and are typically due to HEV genotypes 3 or 4, are asymptomatic and self-limiting, a chronic form of the disease can lead to liver cirrhosis in immu...
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/129 |
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| author | Constance Wielick Louisa Ludwig-Begall Christel Faes Stefaan Ribbens Claude Saegerman Etienne Thiry |
| author_facet | Constance Wielick Louisa Ludwig-Begall Christel Faes Stefaan Ribbens Claude Saegerman Etienne Thiry |
| author_sort | Constance Wielick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E disease in humans. While sporadic HEV infections, which occur in industrialised countries and are typically due to HEV genotypes 3 or 4, are asymptomatic and self-limiting, a chronic form of the disease can lead to liver cirrhosis in immunocompromised individuals. Pigs share HEV 3 and 4 genotypes and are thus considered a major animal reservoir for human infection. A subset of animals has been shown to carry HEV particles at the age of slaughter, rendering raw or undercooked pig products potential vectors for human infection. To provide an overview of the current dissemination of HEV in Belgian pig herds, this study was designed as a randomized, robust, large-scale, cross-sectional, serological survey. HEV genotypes and subtypes recently circulating in Belgium (2020–2021) were investigated. Sample stratification as well as epidemiological investigation through the available demographic data of the sampled herds showed that HEV widely circulated in the Belgian pig population during this time and that a change in the circulating HEV strains may have occurred in the last decade. Herd size and type were identified as risk factors for HEV herd-seropositivity. Identifying farms at risk of being HEV-positive is an important step in controlling HEV spread and human infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:39:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7feef0909a114fb99d073072f423116f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:39:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-7feef0909a114fb99d073072f423116f2023-11-30T23:36:50ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-01-0111112910.3390/microorganisms11010129A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig FarmsConstance Wielick0Louisa Ludwig-Begall1Christel Faes2Stefaan Ribbens3Claude Saegerman4Etienne Thiry5FARAH Research Centre, Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumFARAH Research Centre, Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumCenter for Statistics, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, BelgiumAnimal Health Service Flanders (DGZ Vlaanderen), 8820 Torhout, BelgiumResearch Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR ULiège), FARAH Research Centre, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumFARAH Research Centre, Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumHepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E disease in humans. While sporadic HEV infections, which occur in industrialised countries and are typically due to HEV genotypes 3 or 4, are asymptomatic and self-limiting, a chronic form of the disease can lead to liver cirrhosis in immunocompromised individuals. Pigs share HEV 3 and 4 genotypes and are thus considered a major animal reservoir for human infection. A subset of animals has been shown to carry HEV particles at the age of slaughter, rendering raw or undercooked pig products potential vectors for human infection. To provide an overview of the current dissemination of HEV in Belgian pig herds, this study was designed as a randomized, robust, large-scale, cross-sectional, serological survey. HEV genotypes and subtypes recently circulating in Belgium (2020–2021) were investigated. Sample stratification as well as epidemiological investigation through the available demographic data of the sampled herds showed that HEV widely circulated in the Belgian pig population during this time and that a change in the circulating HEV strains may have occurred in the last decade. Herd size and type were identified as risk factors for HEV herd-seropositivity. Identifying farms at risk of being HEV-positive is an important step in controlling HEV spread and human infection.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/129hepatitis Ehepatitis E viruspigsswinecross-sectional studyBelgium |
| spellingShingle | Constance Wielick Louisa Ludwig-Begall Christel Faes Stefaan Ribbens Claude Saegerman Etienne Thiry A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig Farms Microorganisms hepatitis E hepatitis E virus pigs swine cross-sectional study Belgium |
| title | A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig Farms |
| title_full | A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig Farms |
| title_fullStr | A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig Farms |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig Farms |
| title_short | A Randomized Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Belgian Pig Farms |
| title_sort | randomized large scale cross sectional serological survey of hepatitis e virus infection in belgian pig farms |
| topic | hepatitis E hepatitis E virus pigs swine cross-sectional study Belgium |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/1/129 |
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