BACKGROUND: In rural areas of southern China, where hepatitis E is endemic, residents generally rear pigs in pigsties near their houses. The study was conducted to assess the possibility that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in this region are acquired primarily through contact with swine. METHODS: One hundred twenty swine fecal samples collected from pigsties located in eight rural communities of southern China were tested for HEV RNA. The swine HEV isolates were analyzed genetically and were experimentally inoculated into rhesus monkeys to determine the potential risk of cross-species infection. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of the 120 swine fecal samples were positive for HEV RNA. The nucleotide sequences of these swine HEV strains shared 85%-99% identities with the local human genotype 4 isolates and belonged to two subgroups of genotype 4. Importantly, swine HEV strains representing both subgroups induced hepatitis in rhesus monkeys by inoculation with the virus, evidenced by elevated serum alanine transaminase (ALT), viremia, fecal viral shedding, anti-HEV seroconversion, and liver histopathological changes. CONCLUSIONS: Swine may be the principal reservoir for human HEV infection in rural southern China.
BACKGROUND: In rural areas of southern China, where hepatitis E is endemic, residents generally rear pigs in pigsties near their houses. The study was conducted to assess the possibility that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in this region are acquired primarily through contact with swine. METHODS: One hundred twenty swine fecal samples collected from pigsties located in eight rural communities of southern China were tested for HEV RNA. The swineHEV isolates were analyzed genetically and were experimentally inoculated into rhesus monkeys to determine the potential risk of cross-species infection. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of the 120 swine fecal samples were positive for HEV RNA. The nucleotide sequences of these swineHEV strains shared 85%-99% identities with the local human genotype 4 isolates and belonged to two subgroups of genotype 4. Importantly, swineHEV strains representing both subgroups induced hepatitis in rhesus monkeys by inoculation with the virus, evidenced by elevated serum alanine transaminase (ALT), viremia, fecal viral shedding, anti-HEV seroconversion, and liver histopathological changes. CONCLUSIONS:Swine may be the principal reservoir for humanHEVinfection in rural southern China.
Authors: X J Meng; R H Purcell; P G Halbur; J R Lehman; D M Webb; T S Tsareva; J S Haynes; B J Thacker; S U Emerson Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 1997-09-02 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: F F Huang; G Haqshenas; D K Guenette; P G Halbur; S K Schommer; F W Pierson; T E Toth; X J Meng Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2002-04 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: X J Meng; P G Halbur; M S Shapiro; S Govindarajan; J D Bruna; I K Mushahwar; R H Purcell; S U Emerson Journal: J Virol Date: 1998-12 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: W H van der Poel; F Verschoor; R van der Heide; M I Herrera; A Vivo; M Kooreman; A M de Roda Husman Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2001 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Lilian G de Carvalho; Renato S Marchevsky; Debora R L dos Santos; Jaqueline M de Oliveira; Vanessa S de Paula; Leilane M Lopes; Wilhelmus H M Van der Poel; Jorge E González; Maria S Munné; Julio Moran; Ana Carolina R A Cajaraville; Marcelo Pelajo-Machado; Oswaldo G Cruz; Marcelo A Pinto Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2013-10-23 Impact factor: 3.090