First report of hepatitis E virus circulation in domestic pigs in Nigeria

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute hepatitis in humans. Zoonotic transmission between pigs and humans has been confirmed. Human HEV infection is common in Nigeria; however, characterization of HEV infection in other species was lacking. The objective of this study was to investig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2014-10, Vol.91 (4), p.699-704
Main Authors: Owolodun, Olajide A, Gerber, Priscilla F, Giménez-Lirola, Luis G, Kwaga, Jacob K P, Opriessnig, Tanja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Base Sequence
Feces - virology
Genotype
Geography
Hepatitis Antibodies - blood
Hepatitis E - epidemiology
Hepatitis E - veterinary
Hepatitis E - virology
Hepatitis E virus
Hepatitis E virus - genetics
Hepatitis E virus - immunology
Hepatitis E virus - isolation & purification
Immunoglobulin G - blood
Molecular Sequence Data
Nigeria - epidemiology
Phylogeny
Prevalence
RNA, Viral - genetics
RNA, Viral - isolation & purification
Sequence Analysis, DNA - veterinary
Sus scrofa
Swine
Swine Diseases - epidemiology
Swine Diseases - virology
Zoonoses
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Summary:Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute hepatitis in humans. Zoonotic transmission between pigs and humans has been confirmed. Human HEV infection is common in Nigeria; however, characterization of HEV infection in other species was lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate HEV infection in Nigerian pigs. A total of 286 serum samples from six states in Nigeria were tested for presence of anti-HEV IgG. Ninety fecal samples from one of these states (Plateau State) were tested for presence of HEV RNA. The overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG-positive or suspect-positive pigs was 55.6% (159 of 286) with regional prevalence rates ranging from 36% (9 of 25; Delta State) to 88% (22 of 25; Taraba State). The overall HEV RNA prevalence rate was 76.7% (69 of 90). All polymerase chain reaction-positive samples belonged to HEV genotype 3 based on sequencing. The results indicate that HEV genotype 3 infection is widespread in Nigerian pigs.
ISSN:0002-9637
1476-1645
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.14-0144