title: High prevalence of hepatitis E in humans and pigs and evidence of genotype-3 virus in swine, Madagascar.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes an orofecal disease transmitted through poor hygiene environments, contaminated food (mainly pork products), or by contacts with infected animals. Very little data are currently available regarding the disease in the Southwestern Indian Ocean Islands. We report the first sero- and viro-survey for HEV in human and swine in Madagascar. A seroprevalence rate of 14.1% (60 of 427) was measured in slaughterhouse workers. Seroprevalence to HEV in pigs was estimated to 71.2% (178 of 250), strongly suggesting the existence of a zoonotic cycle. Three out of 250 pig livers (1.2%) tested HEV RNA-positive by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Phylogenetic analyses based on 1-kb sequences of the ORF 2-3 identified these viruses as HEV genotype 3. Sequences clustered in a distinct Malagasy sub-clade, possibly representative of a new sub-genotype, for which the date of emergence was estimated around 1989. Further studies are needed to confirm other transmission routes of HEV to humans, especially through non-zoonotic cycles.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche et de Veille sur les Maladies Émergentes dans l'Océan Indien (CRVOI), Plateforme de Recherche CYROI, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France. s.temmam@cyroi.fr
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Temmam
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Besnard
authors.forename: Soa Fy
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Andriamandimby
authors.forename: Coralie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foray
authors.forename: Harentsoaniaina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rasamoelina-Andriamanivo
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Héraud
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: Koussay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dellagi
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavio
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pascalis
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Porphyre
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007195:Indian Ocean Islands; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral