Richmond Yeboah1, Augustina Angelina Sylverken1,2, Michael Owusu1,3, Philip El-Duah1,4, Vitus Burimuah1,5, Yaw Frimpong1, Jones Lamptey1, Isabella Eckerle6, Benjamin Meyer7, Christopher Antwi8, Olivia Agbenyaga9, Raphael Folitse5, Benjamin Emikpe10, Samuel Kingsley Oppong11, Yaw Adu-Sarkodie12, Christian Drosten13. 1. Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 2. Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 3. Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 4. Institute of Virology, Charite, Berlin, Germany. 5. School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 6. Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva, Switzerland. 7. Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany. 8. Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 9. Department of Agroforestry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 10. Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 11. Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 12. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 13. Institute of Virology, Charite, Berlin, Germany. christian.drosten@charite.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is among the leading causes of viral hepatitis in most developing countries. Zoonotic acquisition of HEV genotype 3 from swine has come into focus more recently. Available studies on HEV in Ghana and other countries in the region do not provide enough information towards understanding the epidemiology of HEV in human and animal populations. Towards this end, we conducted a comparative cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HEV exposure, both in swine and humans working on pig farms in typical local settings. The presence of viral RNA in human and swine samples was also evaluated, along with classification of viral sequences from HEV-positive samples. METHODS: Structured questionnaires soliciting information on pigs reared, as well as socio-demographic information including age, sex and educational background of humans was collected. A total of 10 ml and 5 ml of whole blood was collected from pigs and human participants respectively. ELISA and real-time RT-PCR were performed on the sera for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus and viral RNA, respectively. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty-four (544) human participants including 264 swine contacts and 280 swine non-contacts were enrolled in the study. Although the proportion of HEV IgG antibodies was higher in contact groups (114; 54.3%) than non-contact groups (96; 45.7%), a multivariate analysis did not show any significant difference. No HEV RNA was detected in human samples. Similarly, 720 pigs were sampled from 18 farms located in five regions in Ghana. Twenty-three (23) of the pigs (3.2, 95%CI = 2.0-4.8) were positive for HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR testing. Sequences obtained from HEV-positive samples were found to share high sequence identities with each other and clustered with other genotype 3 viruses indicating the existence of circulating zoonotic genotype 3 viruses on farms. Although we did not find evidence of pig to human transmission of HEV genotype 3, the presence of this genotype in pigs shows the potential for possible zoonotic transmission in African farm settings and buttresses the importance of active surveillance for the infection among at risk populations.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is among the leading causes of viral hepatitis in most developing countries. Zoonotic acquisition of HEV genotype 3 from swine has come into focus more recently. Available studies on HEV in Ghana and other countries in the region do not provide enough information towards understanding the epidemiology of HEV in human and animal populations. Towards this end, we conducted a comparative cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HEV exposure, both in swine and humans working on pig farms in typical local settings. The presence of viral RNA in human and swine samples was also evaluated, along with classification of viral sequences from HEV-positive samples. METHODS: Structured questionnaires soliciting information on pigs reared, as well as socio-demographic information including age, sex and educational background of humans was collected. A total of 10 ml and 5 ml of whole blood was collected from pigs and humanparticipants respectively. ELISA and real-time RT-PCR were performed on the sera for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus and viral RNA, respectively. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty-four (544) humanparticipants including 264 swine contacts and 280 swine non-contacts were enrolled in the study. Although the proportion of HEV IgG antibodies was higher in contact groups (114; 54.3%) than non-contact groups (96; 45.7%), a multivariate analysis did not show any significant difference. No HEV RNA was detected in human samples. Similarly, 720 pigs were sampled from 18 farms located in five regions in Ghana. Twenty-three (23) of the pigs (3.2, 95%CI = 2.0-4.8) were positive for HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR testing. Sequences obtained from HEV-positive samples were found to share high sequence identities with each other and clustered with other genotype 3 viruses indicating the existence of circulating zoonotic genotype 3 viruses on farms. Although we did not find evidence of pig to human transmission of HEV genotype 3, the presence of this genotype in pigs shows the potential for possible zoonotic transmission in African farm settings and buttresses the importance of active surveillance for the infection among at risk populations.
Entities:
Keywords:
Infectious disease reservoirs; Livestock; One health; Viral hepatitis; Zoonoses
Authors: M S Balayan; A G Andjaparidze; S S Savinskaya; E S Ketiladze; D M Braginsky; A P Savinov; V F Poleschuk Journal: Intervirology Date: 1983 Impact factor: 1.763
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