Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen causing hepatitis worldwide. Despite the prevalent evidence of interspecies HEV infection in various animal species, the role of horses in HEV epidemiology remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of HEV infection in 283 blood and 114 fecal samples from 397 horses using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Among the 283 serum samples, 35 were positive for anti-HEV antibodies (12.4%; 95% confidence interval: 8.8-16.8), and four of the five sampling regions (80%) had these seropositive individuals. Analyses of the potential risk factors for HEV infection revealed that racing horses had a significantly higher risk of infection (P = 0.01). However, HEV RNA was not detected in any of the tested serum and fecal samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first epidemiological HEV study on horses in Republic of Korea, thereby providing evidence of HEV exposure in the horse population in Korea and specifying the risk factors for HEV infection.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105317 | DOI Listing |
Viruses
January 2025
Department of Biomedical & Nutritional Sciences, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a globally widespread pathogen that causes acute hepatitis infection. Beyond hepatic pathogenesis, HEV has been proven to cause several extrahepatic manifestations, such as neurological, renal, and hematological manifestations. It was also associated with mortality in pregnant females.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
December 2024
Department of Levante Ligure, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy.
Bivalve molluscs are filter-feeding organisms, capable of concentrating pathogenic microorganisms from the surrounding environment, thus contributing to the spread of viral pathogens, which they can transmit to humans, especially if eaten raw or undercooked. Although norovirus (NoV) and the hepatitis A virus (HAV) are considered the most common causes of foodborne infections, in recent years, other viruses with a zoonotic potential have been identified in shellfish, such as the hepatitis E virus (HEV), astrovirus (AsV), and aichi virus (AiV). The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of classical and emerging pathogenic enteric viruses in oysters () and mussels () from a mollusc farming area in the northwest of Italy, between April 2022 and March 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
January 2025
Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad", Rumenački put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute hepatitis E infection in humans. Two epidemiological patterns of the disease exist-endemic and sporadic. Genotypes 1 (HEV-1) and 2 (HEV-2) are transmitted through contaminated water and are responsible for the outbreaks of many large-scale epidemics in developing countries of Asia and Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccines (Basel)
January 2025
Kauno Kolegija Higher Education, Faculty of Medicine, Pramones pr 20, 50468 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection presents a significant health risk in endemic regions, especially for pregnant women, who face higher risks of severe complications, including maternal and fetal mortality. The recombinant HEV vaccine, HEV239, has demonstrated high efficacy in the general population, yet data on its safety and efficacy in women of a childbearing age remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of HEV239 in this specific population, with a focus on pregnancy-related outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccines (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Gastroenterology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India.
: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis in adults. The schedule for HEV 239, the only approved anti-HEV vaccine, consists of three doses at 0, 1, and 6 months, which is unsuitable for use in emergency and outbreak situations where quick protection is desired. We, therefore, undertook a systematic review of data on immunogenicity, efficacy, and effectiveness of alternative accelerated schedules.
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