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Serological and Molecular Survey of Hepatitis E Virus in Small Ruminants from Central Portugal

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  • Additional Information
    • Contributors:
      Instituto de Saúde Pública
    • Publication Information:
      Springer
    • Publication Date:
      2024
    • Collection:
      Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto
    • Abstract:
      Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is currently recognized as an emerging problem and a growing concern for public health in developed countries, with HEV infections mainly attributable to foodborne transmission of HEV-3. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3 infects a wide range of mammalian hosts, with swine considered as the primary host. This study investigates the occurrence of HEV among small ruminants in Portugal. The primary aim of the present research was to evaluate the circulation and the potential for HEV infection among sheep and goats. A total of 400 bile samples and 493 blood samples were collected from sheep and goats at a slaughterhouse in the center region of Portugal, between January 2022 and March 2023. The HEV RNA detection in bile samples was performed using a nested broad-spectrum RT-PCR targeting the ORF1 region. Serological analysis to detect anti-HEV antibodies was conducted using a commercial double-antigen sandwich multi-species ELISA. The HEV RNA was not detected in any bile samples using the nested broad-spectrum RT-PCR. Serological analysis revealed an overall HEV antibody seroprevalence of 2% (10/493, 95% CI: 0.98–3.70) among the small ruminants, namely 2.2% in goats and 2.0% in sheep. Curiously, no statistically significant association among the factors, age, sex and species and HEV seroprevalence was observed. Although HEV RNA was not detected in the bile of sheep and goats, this study the evidence of seroprevalence in these small ruminant species. Further research could provide additional insights into the factors influencing HEV transmission dynamics in small ruminants in Portugal and its potential implications for public health. © The Author(s) 2024. ; "Sérgio Santos-Silva thanks Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for the financial support of his Ph.D work under the scholarship 2021.09461.BD contract through the Maria de Sousa-2021 program. Helena M.R. Gonçalves received financial support from FCT/MCTES, DOI 10.54499/UIDP/50006/2020 and DOI 10.54499/2022.04199.CEECIND/CP1724/CT0008. ...
    • File Description:
      application/pdf
    • Relation:
      info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/2021.09461.BD/PT; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDP/50006/2020/PT; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/CEEC IND5ed/2022.04199.CEECIND/CP1724/CT0008/PT; Food Environ Virol. 2024 Dec;16(4):516-524. doi:10.1007/s12560-024-09612-4. Epub 2024 Sep 5.; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12560-024-09612-4; https://hdl.handle.net/10216/161747
    • Accession Number:
      10.1007/s12560-024-09612-4
    • Online Access:
      https://hdl.handle.net/10216/161747
      https://doi.org/10.1007/s12560-024-09612-4
    • Rights:
      info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
    • Accession Number:
      edsbas.2F668468