title: First report of hepatitis E virus circulation in domestic pigs in Nigeria.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute hepatitis in humans. Zoonotic transmission between pigs and humans has been confirmed. Human HEV infection is common in Nigeria; however, characterization of HEV infection in other species was lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate HEV infection in Nigerian pigs. A total of 286 serum samples from six states in Nigeria were tested for presence of anti-HEV IgG. Ninety fecal samples from one of these states (Plateau State) were tested for presence of HEV RNA. The overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG-positive or suspect-positive pigs was 55.6% (159 of 286) with regional prevalence rates ranging from 36% (9 of 25; Delta State) to 88% (22 of 25; Taraba State). The overall HEV RNA prevalence rate was 76.7% (69 of 90). All polymerase chain reaction-positive samples belonged to HEV genotype 3 based on sequencing. The results indicate that HEV genotype 3 infection is widespread in Nigerian pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Applied Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Department Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Olajide A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Owolodun
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Applied Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Department Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Priscilla F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Applied Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Department Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Giménez-Lirola
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Applied Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Department Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jacob K P
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kwaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Applied Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Department Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom Tanja.Opriessnig@roslin.ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Opriessnig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012367:RNA, Viral