Association of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) with lesions of hepatitis in pigs

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology 2007-05, Vol.122 (1), p.16-24
• Main Authors: Martín, M., Segalés, J., Huang, F.F., Guenette, D.K., Mateu, E., de Deus, N., Meng, X.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genotype; Hepatitis Antibodies - isolation & purification; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Hepatitis E virus - genetics; Hepatitis E virus - isolation & purification; Hepatitis, Animal - complications; Hepatitis, Animal - virology; HEV; Human viral diseases; Infectious diseases; Liver - pathology; Liver - virology; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Phylogeny; Porcine circovirus type 2; Porcine Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome - complications; Porcine Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome - virology; Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome; RNA, Viral - isolation & purification; Swine; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Virology
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.12.020

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA and antibodies in postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome-affected ( n = 114) and non-affected ( n = 46) pigs and the possible association with hepatitis lesions. Forty-four pigs were RT-PCR positive (28.2%); 25 of them were PMWS cases, while 19 were non-PMWS pigs. In both groups, HEV RT-PCR results were associated with hepatitis (OR = 5.61 for PMWS-affected pigs and OR = 5.17 for non-PMWS affected pigs; p = 0.01). No interaction was detected in a logistic regression between PMWS occurrence and HEV infection for the development of hepatitis lesions. Seropositivity to HEV was more likely to occur in pigs with hepatitis (51.9%) compared to pigs without hepatitis (36.1%; p = 0.03). Significant differences in optical densities were notices comparing the lesional stage of pigs ( p = 0.009). While pigs with slight or moderate hepatitis were seropositive, pigs with more severe lesions were seronegative to HEV. These results indicate that swine HEV infection can be a significant contributor to the development of moderate hepatitis in pigs regardless of the PMWS status.