Hepatitis E virus in pork production chain in Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain, 2010

Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Aug;18(8):1282-9. doi: 10.3201/eid1808.111783.

Abstract

We evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the pork production chain in Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain during 2010. A total of 337 fecal, liver, and meat samples from animals at slaughterhouses were tested for HEV by real-time quantitative PCR. Overall, HEV was higher in Italy (53%) and Spain (39%) than in Czech Republic (7.5%). HEV was detected most frequently in feces in Italy (41%) and Spain (39%) and in liver (5%) and meat (2.5%) in Czech Republic. Of 313 sausages sampled at processing and point of sale, HEV was detected only in Spain (6%). HEV sequencing confirmed only g3 HEV strains. Indicator virus (porcine adenovirus) was ubiquitous in fecal samples and absent in liver samples and was detected in 1 slaughterhouse meat sample. At point of sale, we found porcine adenovirus in sausages (1%-2%). The possible dissemination of HEV and other fecal viruses through pork production demands containment measures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs
  • Animals
  • Czech Republic / epidemiology
  • Feces / virology
  • Food Contamination
  • Food Handling / methods*
  • Hepatitis E / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis E / veterinary*
  • Hepatitis E / virology
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Liver / virology
  • Meat / virology*
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Swine / virology*
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology
  • Swine Diseases / virology