Hepatitis E virus in liver and bile samples from slaughtered pigs of Brazil

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2012 Nov;107(7):935-9. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762012000700016.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to detect and identify hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains in liver and bile samples from slaughtered pigs in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Liver and bile samples were collected from 118 asymptomatic adult pigs at a slaughterhouse in a major Brazilian pork production area. The samples were assayed using a nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction protocol with primer sets targeting open reading frames (ORF)1 and 2 of the HEV genome. HEV RNA was detected in two (1.7%) liver samples and one (0.84%) bile sample using both primers sets. The HEV strains were classified as genotype 3b on the basis of their nucleotide sequences. These data suggest that healthy pigs may be a source of HEV infection for consumers of pig liver and slaughterhouse workers in Brazil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs
  • Animals
  • Bile / virology*
  • Brazil
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification*
  • Liver / virology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sus scrofa / virology*