title: Risk factors and sources of foodborne hepatitis E virus infection in the United States.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important human pathogen with pigs and other species serving as natural animal reservoirs. Ample evidence documents sporadic cases of hepatitis E acquired via consumption of undercooked meat. Chronic hepatitis E cases in immunosuppressed individuals are mostly caused by zoonotic HEV of swine origin. We report here the identification of genotype 3 HEV from non-liver commercial pork from local grocery stores in southwest Virginia, and association of HEV seropositivity to the consumption of undercooked meat in healthy young adults at a university in the United States. These results raise concerns about foodborne HEV transmission in the United States. J. Med. Virol. 88:1641-1645, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Caitlin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cossaboom
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Connie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Heffron
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Dianjun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Yugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Alice E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Houk-Miles
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zajac
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bertke
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elvinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Xiang-Jin
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HEV transmission; pork contamination; seroprevalence; zoonosis