1. Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Production Chain in Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain, 2010.
- Author
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Di Bartolo, Maria, Diez-Valcarce, Marta, Vasickova, Petra, Kralik, Petr, Hernandez, Marta, Angeloni, Giorgia, Ostanello, Fabio, Bouwknegt, Martijn, Rodríguez-Lázaro, David, Pavlik, Ivo, and Ruggeri, Franco Maria
- Subjects
HEPATITIS E virus ,SLAUGHTERING ,PORK industry ,POLYMERASE chain reaction ,ADENOVIRUSES - Abstract
We evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the pork production chain in Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain during 2010. A total of 337 fecal, liver, and meat samples from animals at slaughterhouses were tested for HEV by real-time quantitative PCR. Overall, HEV was higher in Italy (53%) and Spain (39%) than in Czech Republic (7.5%). HEV was detected most frequently in feces in Italy (41%) and Spain (39%) and in liver (5%) and meat (2.5%) in Czech Republic. Of 313 sausages sampled at processing and point of sale, HEV was detected only in Spain (6%). HEV sequencing confirmed only g3 HEV strains. Indicator virus (porcine adenovirus) was ubiquitous in fecal samples and absent in liver samples and was detected in 1 slaughterhouse meat sample. At point of sale, we found porcine adenovirus in sausages (1%-2%). The possible dissemination of HEV and other fecal viruses through pork production demands containment measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012