Estudio epidemiológico y caracterización genética del virus de la hepatitis e en explotaciones porcinas

Resumen

This study describes the distribution of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in a naturally infected swine population and the genetic relatedness of HEV strains on swine farms in Spain. Of fecal and serum samples collected from 191 pigs and manure-ditch samples collected from 21 farms, HEV was detected in 19%, 12%, and 38%, respectively, for an overall prevalence rate of 25%. The maximum prevalence rates for feces and serum were in pigs 13 to 16 wk old. A high prevalence of the virus in feces (18%) was observed in sows. Gene sequencing was performed on 30 strains from feces, serum, and manure ditch: the nucleotide identities varied from 85% to 99% when compared with those of other strains of genotype 3 isolated from swine. This is the first study in Europe to show the variation in virus distribution by age in feces and serum in a naturally infected swine population.