Identification of genotype 3 hepatitis E virus (HEV) in serum and fecal samples from pigs in Thailand and Mexico, where genotype 1 and 2 HEV strains are prevalent in the respective human populations.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, is an important public health concern in many developing countries. Increasing evidence indicates that hepatitis E is a zoonotic disease. There exist four major genotypes of HEV, and HEV isolates identified in samples from pigs belong to either genotype 3 or 4. Genotype 1 and 2 HEVs are found exclusively in humans. To determine whether genotype 1 and 2 HEVs also exist in pigs, a universal reverse transcription-PCR assay that is capable of detecting all four HEV genotypes was used to test for the presence of HEV RNA in serum and/or fecal samples from pigs in Thailand, where genotype 1 human HEV is prevalent, and from pigs in Mexico, where genotype 2 human HEV was epidemic. In Thailand, swine HEV RNA was detected in sera from 10/26

SUBMITTER: Cooper K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1081392 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature