First molecular detection of hepatitis E virus genome in camel and pig faecal samples in Ethiopia

Virology Journal

Samson Leta¹  Hika Waktole²  Fufa Dawo Bari²  Haimanot Belete Wodaje³  Umer Said⁴  Paul Plummer⁵  Melaku Sombo⁶  Tesfaye Rufael Chibsa⁶ 

[1] Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia;Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia;Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia;Assosa University, Assosa, Ethiopia;Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia;Oda Bultum University, West Hararge, Chiro, Ethiopia;Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA;Department of Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA;National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia;

关键词: Dromedary camels;    Hepatitis E virus;    Nested RT-PCR;    Pigs;    Ethiopia;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12985-021-01626-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHepatitis E is an enteric and zoonotic disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) that is mainly transmitted via the faecal-oral route through contaminated food or the environment. The virus is an emerging infectious agent causing acute human infection worldwide. A high seroprevalence of the disease was reported in pregnant women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, raising significant public health concern. The presence of HEV specific antibodies were also reported in dromedary camels in the country; however, the infectious virus and/or the viral genome have not been demonstrated to date in animal samples.MethodsTo address this gap, a total of 95 faecal samples collected from both apparently healthy pigs of uncharacterised types (50 samples) in Burayu and Addis Ababa areas and camels (Camelus dromedarius, 45 samples) in west Hararghe were screened for the presence of HEV genome using universal primers in a fully nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR). The protocol is capable of detecting HEV in faecal samples from both pigs and camels.ResultsThe nRT-PCR detected HEV genes in six (12%) pig faecal samples and one camel sample (2.2%). Therefore, the results indicate that HEV is circulating in both pigs and camels in Ethiopia and these animals and their products could serve as a potential source of infection for humans.ConclusionThe detection of HEV in both animals could raise another concern regarding its public health importance as both animals’ meat and camel milk are consumed in the country. Further studies to determine the prevalence and distribution of the virus in different animals and their products, water bodies, food chain, and vegetables are warranted, along with viral gene sequencing for detailed genetic characterisation of the isolates circulating in the country. This information is critically important to design and institute appropriate control and/or preventive measures.

【 授权许可】

CC BY