title: Estimation of hepatitis E virus (HEV) pig seroprevalence using ELISA and Western blot and comparison between human and pig HEV sequences in Belgium.
abstract: Zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) is of special concern, particularly in high income countries were waterborne infections are less frequent than in developing countries. High HEV seroprevalences can be found in European pig populations. The aims of this study were to obtain prevalence data on HEV infection in swine in Belgium and to phylogenetically compare Belgian human HEV sequences with those obtained from swine. An ELISA screening prevalence of 73% (95% CI 68.8-77.5) was determined in Belgian pigs and a part of the results were re-evaluated by Western blot (WB). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed and scenarios varying the ELISA specificity relative to WB were analysed. The seroprevalences estimated by the different scenarios ranged between 69 and 81% and are in agreement with the high exposure of the European pig population to HEV. Pig HEV sequences were genetically compared to those detected in humans in Belgium and a predominance of genotype 3 subtype f was shown in both swine and humans. The high HEV seroprevalence in swine and the close phylogenetic relationships between pig and human HEV sequences further support the risk for zoonotic transmission of HEV between humans and pigs.
authors: Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors: Damien
authors: D
authors: Thiry
authors: Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Mauroy
authors: Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Science (UREAR-ULg), Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors: Claude
authors: C
authors: Saegerman
authors: National Reference Centre for Hepatitis viruses, Viral Diseases, Operational Directorate Communicable and Infectious Diseases, Scientific Institute of Public Health, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Thomas
authors: National Reference Centre for Hepatitis viruses, Viral Diseases, Operational Directorate Communicable and Infectious Diseases, Scientific Institute of Public Health, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Magali
authors: M
authors: Wautier
authors: Veterinary Pathology, Dierengezondheidszorg Vlaanderen, B-8820 Torhout, Belgium.
authors: Cora
authors: C
authors: Miry
authors: Department of Animal Health, Regional Agency for Animal Health and Identification, B-4431 Loncin, Belgium.
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Czaplicki
authors: Unit of Veterinary Helminthology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Berkvens
authors: Unit of Veterinary Helminthology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Praet
authors: Division Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University Research, NL-8200 AB Lelystad, the Netherlands.
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: van der Poel
authors: Department of Production of Specific Pathogen-Free Decontaminated Pigs and Experimentation, Ploufragan/Plouzané Laboratory, Anses, BP 53, F-22440 Ploufragan, France.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Cariolet
authors: National Reference Centre for Hepatitis viruses, Viral Diseases, Operational Directorate Communicable and Infectious Diseases, Scientific Institute of Public Health, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Brochier
authors: Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. Electronic address: etienne.thiry@ulg.ac.be.
authors: Etienne
authors: E
authors: Thiry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary*; D005838:Genotype; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Belgium; Hepatitis E virus; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Swine; Zoonosis