title: Detection of hepatitis E virus infections among domestic swine in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal.
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections among 55 domestic swine living in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal was investigated. Sera and stool specimens were collected from 47 free-roaming swine and examined for the presence of HEV genomic sequences by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Sera from these animals, as well as sera from eight other swine, were also examined for the presence of HEV-specific antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by a fluorescent antibody blocking assay. Hepatitis E virus RNA was detected in the sera and/or stool of three of 47 swine, while HEV-specific antibodies were detected in 18 of 55 swine. These results indicate that HEV is a zoonotic virus, and that swine are among its natural hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Component, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Clayson
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Innis
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Myint
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narupiti
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ranabhat
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Shrestha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral