TY - JOUR T1 - Estimation of hepatitis E virus (HEV) pig seroprevalence using ELISA and Western blot and comparison between human and pig HEV sequences in Belgium. JF - Vet Microbiol Y1 - 2014 A1 - Thiry, Damien A1 - Mauroy, Axel A1 - Saegerman, Claude A1 - Isabelle Thomas A1 - Wautier, Magali A1 - Miry, Cora A1 - Czaplicki, Guy A1 - Berkvens, Dirk A1 - Praet, Nicolas A1 - van der Poel, Wim A1 - Cariolet, Roland A1 - Bernard Brochier A1 - Thiry, Etienne KW - Animals KW - Belgium KW - Blotting, Western KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay KW - Genotype KW - Hepatitis E KW - Hepatitis E virus KW - Humans KW - Phylogeny KW - Sensitivity and Specificity KW - Seroepidemiologic Studies KW - Swine KW - Swine Diseases AB -

Zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) is of special concern, particularly in high income countries were waterborne infections are less frequent than in developing countries. High HEV seroprevalences can be found in European pig populations. The aims of this study were to obtain prevalence data on HEV infection in swine in Belgium and to phylogenetically compare Belgian human HEV sequences with those obtained from swine. An ELISA screening prevalence of 73% (95% CI 68.8-77.5) was determined in Belgian pigs and a part of the results were re-evaluated by Western blot (WB). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed and scenarios varying the ELISA specificity relative to WB were analysed. The seroprevalences estimated by the different scenarios ranged between 69 and 81% and are in agreement with the high exposure of the European pig population to HEV. Pig HEV sequences were genetically compared to those detected in humans in Belgium and a predominance of genotype 3 subtype f was shown in both swine and humans. The high HEV seroprevalence in swine and the close phylogenetic relationships between pig and human HEV sequences further support the risk for zoonotic transmission of HEV between humans and pigs.

VL - 172 CP - 3-4 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24975642?dopt=Abstract M3 - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.06.004 ER -