Pork Consumption and Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus,Thailand, 2007–2008

Gonwong, Siriphan; Chuenchitra, Thippawan; Khantapura, Patchariya; Islam, Dilara; Sirisopana, Narongrid; Mason, Carl J.

doi:10.3201/eid2009.140418

Cited by 22 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…With an IgG seroprevalence of 51.8%, HEV is hyperendemic in the rural population at least in Vientiane Capital. In South‐East Asia, seroprevalence rates between 8.9% and 77.7% have been reported (Gonwong et al, ; Holt et al, ; Sa‐nguanmoo et al, ; Yamada et al, ). This wide range certainly reflects regional differences and differing cohort selection criteria, but also disparities in sensitivity and specificity between commercial antibody detection kits (Avellon, Morago, Garcia‐Galera del Carmen, Munoz, & Echevarria, ; Vollmer, Diekmann, Eberhardt, Knabbe, & Dreier, ; Wenzel, Preiss, Schemmerer, Huber, & Jilg, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of increased Hepatitis E virus exposure in Lao villagers with contact to ruminants

Tritz

Khounvisith²,

Pommasichan

et al. 2018

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Although pigs are the main reservoir, ruminants have also been shown to be susceptible to hepatitis E virus (HEV). We investigated zoonotic transmission of HEV in rural settings of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) where humans are in close contacts with ruminants and where pigs are rare. Villagers with (n = 171, risk group) and without (n = 155, control group) cattle were recruited in seven villages in Vientiane Capital. Owners of pigs were excluded. Blood, as well as information on socio-demographics, animal contact, dietary habits and awareness of zoonoses were collected to assess risk factors. Blood and rectal swabs were collected from cattle (n = 173) and other ruminants (27 goat, 5 buffaloes) to measure anti-HEV antibody and virus prevalence. A similar anti-HEV antibody seroprevalence was found in cattle (6.8%) and other ruminants (8%). HEV RNA was detected in none of the animal rectal swabs and human sera. Anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence was higher in cattle farmers than in the control group (59.1% vs. 43.9%, p = 0.008) and increased significantly with age. Other risk factors included male gender, close contact with cattle and consumption of undercooked meat. We find that HEV is highly endemic in rural Laos and provide first evidence that HEV circulates in free-roaming ruminants with open access to village water sources. Despite some awareness about hygiene, villagers are likely constantly exposed to zoonotic diseases by dietary and lifestyle habits. Cattle farmers had a higher risk of HEV infection than other villagers. Our study highlights the need to raise the awareness of the rural population about water- and food-borne pathogens, and about the role of cattle as a possible source of infection. The knowledge gained on local risk factors and husbandry conditions should guide future awareness raising campaigns and promote appropriate hygienic measures including handwashing and the consumption of safe food and water.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of increased Hepatitis E virus exposure in Lao villagers with contact to ruminants

Tritz

Khounvisith²,

Pommasichan

et al. 2018

Zoonoses and Public Health

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“…11,12 Seroprevalence studies in Thailand further confirmed a link between dietary or occupational exposure to swine and the presence of HEV immunity. 13,14 The frequency of HEV detection in pork and variety meats sold in Thai markets was similar to or lower than the prevalence found in industrialized countries. [15][16][17] In several countries, inadvertent HEV transmission to blood recipients was associated with blood donation from healthy donors who may have acquired zoonotic foodborne HEV infection.…”

mentioning

confidence: 55%

“…14 Nationwide, approximately 14% of Thai men in their 20s possessed anti-HEV IgG antibodies. 13 Thus, past exposure to HEV in Thailand as measured by HEV seroprevalence does not differ drastically from the rates found in western Europe. [42][43][44] Data regarding the prevalence of HEV in healthy adults have important implications in ensuring the safety of donated blood.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…More interestingly, HEV identified in Thai patients consistently showed viral genome sequence similarity to those isolated from swine, whereby Genotype 3 was exclusively identified in both clinical and zoonotic settings . Seroprevalence studies in Thailand further confirmed a link between dietary or occupational exposure to swine and the presence of HEV immunity . The frequency of HEV detection in pork and variety meats sold in Thai markets was similar to or lower than the prevalence found in industrialized countries …”

mentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Recent seroprevalence survey in Thailand found that approximately one in three Thais residing in central Thailand possessed anti‐HEV IgG antibodies, which was three times higher than those residing in southern Thailand where residents are predominantly Muslims and Islam region proscribes pork consumption . Nationwide, approximately 14% of Thai men in their 20s possessed anti‐HEV IgG antibodies . Thus, past exposure to HEV in Thailand as measured by HEV seroprevalence does not differ drastically from the rates found in western Europe …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Hepatitis E virus infection in Thai blood donors

et al. 2018

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BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in several industrialized and developing countries is associated with the consumption of pork and other meat products, an exposure risk among the majority of blood donors. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HEV in plasma from healthy blood donors in Thailand. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We screened blood samples collected between October and December 2015, from 30,115 individual blood donors in 5020 pools of six, for HEV RNA using in‐house real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Thrice‐reactive samples were subjected to a commercial real‐time RT‐PCR (cobas HEV test) and evaluated for anti‐HEV immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies. Genotyping using nested RT‐PCR, nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. RESULTS Twenty‐six donors were positive for HEV RNA by the in‐house assay, nine of whom were also positive by cobas test. None of the latter were reactive for anti‐HEV immunoglobulin M or immunoglobulin G antibodies. Six samples were successfully genotyped and found to be HEV genotype 3. Thus, the frequency of HEV infection among healthy Thai blood donors is 1 in 1158. CONCLUSION The presence of HEV RNA in the Thai blood supply was comparable to the rates reported in western European countries, but higher than in North America and Australia.

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Hepatitis E Virus in Pork and Variety Meats Sold in Fresh Markets

et al. 2016

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Swine is an economically important livestock, yet pork consumption and close contact with pigs are associated with the risk of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. Limited data on the prevalence of HEV in Southeast Asia have mainly examined farm animals. To investigate the potential zoonotic transmission of HEV from dietary consumption of pork and variety meats (i.e., offal or organ meats), we obtained 1090 liver, 559 pork meat, and 556 intestine samples from fresh markets in the Bangkok metropolitan area between November 2014 and February 2015. The presence of HEV was assessed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Concurrently, 720 bile and 553 fecal samples from a slaughterhouse were also examined. Overall, HEV RNA was found in 0.23 % of the market samples and 3.93 % of the slaughterhouse samples. Fecal and bile samples were more likely to test positive compared to liver, pork, and intestine samples (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all HEV sequences obtained in this study formed a cluster closely related to genotype 3f. Pork and variety meats derived from pigs are commonly sold in fresh markets throughout Southeast Asia. Here, a relatively low HEV prevalence from pork and variety meats sold in Bangkok was found. Additional studies will be required to further assess potential dietary transmission of HEV elsewhere in the region.

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Pork Consumption and Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus,Thailand, 2007–2008

Cited by 22 publications

References 9 publications

Evidence of increased Hepatitis E virus exposure in Lao villagers with contact to ruminants

Evidence of increased Hepatitis E virus exposure in Lao villagers with contact to ruminants

Hepatitis E virus infection in Thai blood donors

Hepatitis E Virus in Pork and Variety Meats Sold in Fresh Markets

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