[Epidemiological survey on the infection of hepatitis E virus among pigs in Henan province].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among pigs in Henan province.


METHODS
A total of 623 swine sera, collected from 5 districts, were divided into two groups, under 3-month of age and over 3-month of age. They were tested for HEV antigen and antibody by using ELISAs, respectively. The sera positive for HEV antigen were tested for HEV RNA with RT-PCR. The positive products of RT-PCR were cloned and sequenced.


RESULTS
The positive rates of anti-HEV antibody of the groups under 3-month and over 3-month of age were 90.27% and 92.55%, respectively, without statistical difference, while those of HEV antigen were 15.93% and 5.69%, respectively, with significant difference. The positive rates of anti-HEV antibody and HEV antigen were significantly different among different districts. HEV RNA was detectable in 5 of 47 HEV antigen positive samples. The sequence analysis showed that in 4 of 5 specimens the sequence belonged to genotype 4 while in the remaining one the sequence was genotype 1.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rate of HEV infection in pigs was high in Henan province and the rate differed in different districts.
Li
Xiu-ji
XJ
Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
Zhao
Chen-yan
CY
Fan
Jin-ping
JP
Song
Ai-jing
AJ
Wang
You-chun
YC
Zhang
Jin-gang
JG
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D002681:China; D005838:Genotype; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral