title: Genetic characterization and serological prevalence of swine hepatitis E virus in Shandong province, China.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, is classified into four major genotypes (1 to 4) and swine is the main natural reservoir for genotypes 3 and 4. In this study, a total of 106 bile samples from a slaughterhouse in the Shandong province of China were tested for the partial ORF2 gene of HEV by RT-nPCR to determine the virus genotypes, and two indirect ELISA were developed for the detection of swine HEV specific IgM and IgG antibodies in 980 serum samples from 24 farms, in order to investigate the seroprevalence. Thirty-two out of 106 (30.2%) bile samples were positive for HEV and a high degree of partial ORF2 sequence similarity (86.8-100%) was observed among 20 samples. The viral sequences belonged to genotype 4, subtypes 4a and 4d. One complete genome sequence of a subtype 4d HEV was further determined and characterized. The seroprevalence of HEV IgG and IgM antibodies was 100% (24/24) and 41.7% (10/24) for herds, and 66.4% (651/980) and 1.6% (16/980) for the individual pigs, respectively. These results suggested a high prevalence of genotype 4 of swine HEV infection both in swine farms and at the slaughterhouse in Shandong province, which further raise public-health concerns for zoonosis and pork safety.
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Veterinary Biotechnology, China Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Xin-jie
authors: XJ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Veterinary Biotechnology, China Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Feng-lin
authors: FL
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Bao-yuan
authors: BY
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Ji-nan
authors: JN
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Dang
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Veterinary Biotechnology, China Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Ya-ni
authors: YN
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Veterinary Biotechnology, China Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Mu
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Veterinary Biotechnology, China Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Shu-qi
authors: SQ
authors: Xiao
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Veterinary Biotechnology, China Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Cheng-bao
authors: CB
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
authors: Walter H
authors: WH
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Virology, Immunobiology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 75189 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Lihong
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Virology, Immunobiology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 75189 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Frederik
authors: F
authors: Widén
authors: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Veterinary Biotechnology, China Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: zhouem@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
authors: En-Min
authors: EM
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D059022:Food Safety; D005838:Genotype; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics*; D008460:Meat / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Anti-HEV antibody; Hepatitis E virus; Seroprevalence; Swine HEV