Debora Regina Lopes dos Santos

Hepatitis E virus in swine and effluent samples from slaughterhouses in Brazil.

Hepatitis E is an infectious disease which virus (HEV) is highly disseminated in swine herd populations. Sporadic acute human hepatitis E cases have been associated to genotype 3 and 4 strains of HEV also reported in swine populations of endemic and non-endemic areas. With the aim to evaluate the incidence of animals with current infection of HEV, 115 bile samples were collected from three slaughterhouses under inspection by Animal Sanitary Protection Agency of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In parallel, effluent samples were collected from six sewage pipe exit sites of two slaughterhouses. HEV RNA was detected in 11 out of 115 (9.6%) bile samples collected and three waste samples from one slaughterhouse. Viral loads observed for bile samples varied from 10(1)-10(5) genome copies/mL and for effluent samples mean load was 10(2) genome copies/mL. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis classified samples within genotype 3 subtype 3b closely related to the sample obtained from the first reported autochthonous human case and samples from swine of commercial herds in Brazil. Our data demonstrates that although most animals achieve slaughter age (around 20 weeks old) already immune to HEV, a significant number of animals are with current infection at commercial age. Further studies should be addressed to consider risk analysis and possible evaluation of inspection regulations considering food safety measures regarding hepatitis E zoonotic aspect in Brazil.

HEV infection in swine from Eastern Brazilian Amazon: Evidence of co-infection by different subtypes

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a fecal-orally transmitted member of the genus Hepevirus that causes acute hepatitis in humans and is widely distributed throughout the world. Pigs have been reported as the main source of genotypes 3 and 4 infection to humans in non-endemic areas. To investigate HEV infection in pigs from different regions of Pará state (Eastern Brazilian Amazon), we performed serological and molecular analyses of serum, fecal and liver samples from 151 adult pigs slaughtered between April and October 2010 in slaughterhouses in the metropolitan region of Belém, Pará. Among the animals tested, 8.6% (13/151) were positive for anti-HEV IgG but not for anti-HEV IgM. HEV RNA was detected in 4.8% (22/453) of the samples analyzed and 9.9% (15/151) of the animals had at least one positive sample. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all sequences belonged to genotype 3 that were related to human isolates from other non-endemic regions, suggesting that the isolates had zoonotic potential. Subtypes 3c and 3f were simultaneously detected in some pigs, suggesting co-infection by more than one strain and/or the presence of a recombinant virus. These results constitute the first molecular and serologic evidence of swine HEV circulation in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon.

Prevalência da hepatite B em área rural de município hiperendêmico na Amazônia Mato-grossense: situação epidemiológica

Summary An outbreak of hepatitis B was identified in 1995, involving farmers recently settled in Cotriguacu county, in northwestern Mato Grosso State, Brazil. A vaccination campaign was performed after the report. In the following years the vaccination strategy remained, specially focused on the new immigrants still arriving. To assess the current epidemiological situation and the impact of prior vaccination a new survey of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers was carried out in 2001. Nova Uniao community was chosen because at present it has been the most attractive site to migrants. The study included 838 subjects. The overall seroprevalence of HBV markers was 40.0%; 2.1% were HBV carriers, and 40.8% were protected by vaccine. Among HBV carriers, 28% had serological marker for hepatitis B. The HBV markers-associated variables were: sexual activity; regular use of alcohol; hepatitis case communicant; and having lived in gold mining camps. The moderate prevalence of HBV markers observed in the current study is lower than the high HBV prevalence noted in 1995. HBV was associated with increasing age and initiation of sexual activity. Since immigration to this area remains intense, it is recommended that mass vaccination should be continued. The progressive entry of HDV in this region should keep public health authorities on alert.

Identification of two phylogenetic lineages of equine hepacivirus and high prevalence in Brazil

Non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV), as described in horses, is the virus most genetically related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although detected worldwide, limited data on genomic variability and distribution of NPHV are available in Latin America. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity and prevalence of equine NPHV in Brazil. Thirteen percent of 202 equines from three Brazilian states were positive for NPHV genome by reverse transcriptase PCR. Nucleotide sequences of the partial NS5B genome presented the greatest diversity described to date (25.6%), which is comparable to the upper limit of diversity for HCV subtype classification for the same region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Brazilian NPHV sequences along with isolates worldwide form two strongly supported clades (pp = 1.0) suggesting the existence of two distinct lineages.

Hepadnavirus detected in bile and liver samples from domestic pigs of commercial abattoirs

BackgroundPreliminary studies showed the prevalence of a virus similar to human hepatitis B virus (HBV-like) in swine from farms in China and the molecular evidence of Hepadnavirus infection in domestic pigs herds in Brazil. In this study, we genetically characterize the swine Hepadnavirus strains in swine from slaughterhouses located in certified abattoirs from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil and evaluate its hepatotropic potential.ResultsBile and liver samples from swine were positive for partial genome amplification (ORF S and ORF C), direct sequencing and viral load quantification. Sequencing of the gene encoding the surface antigen allowed classification of Hepadnavirus into genotypes, similar to HBV genotype classification. Indirect immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of HBsAg antigen in liver tissue sections.ConclusionsSo far our data suggest that commercial swine house an HBV-like virus and this relevant finding should be considered in studies on the origin and viral evolution.

Hepatitis E in Livestock

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is recognized as an emerging zoonotic disease worldwide, which represents an important economic and public health issue. Swine are the principal animal reservoirs for HEV in nature, besides other mammals, such as wild species, and have demonstrated to be potential candidates. HEV infection is associated to subclinical hepatitis when infecting nonhuman species. As the infection in pigs is subclinical, the diagnosis relies exclusively on laboratory tests such as detection of viral RNA or specific anti-HEV antibodies. In addition, the development of vaccines that provides complete cross-species protection to pigs. Improvements in basic sanitary conditions in swine-breeding farms and slaughterhouses are of fundamental importance towards prevention and control of pig-to-pig and zoonotic HEV transmission.

Situação atual da hepatite B e D na região de Cotriguaçu, Amazônia Mato-grossense, 2001

Em 1195 foi identificada epidemia comunitaria de hepatite b entre colonos entao recentmente assentados em Cotriguacu, no noroeste mato-grossense. Houve campanha de vacinacao nos municipios da regiao. Nos anos seguintes, manreve-se a estrategias de vacinar os migrantes que continuaram chegando. Para avaliar a atual situacao da infeccao pelo VHB na regiao rural de Cotriguacu, foi planejado inquerito sobre a prevalencia dos marcadores do virus da hepatite B (VHB) e do virus da Hepatite D (VHD) em 2001(AU)