Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence of domestic pigs in Germany determined by a novel in-house and two reference ELISAs.
- Journal:
- Journal of virological methods
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Dremsek, Paul et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases · Germany
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the presence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies in domestic pigs in Germany, which can be transmitted to humans. Researchers developed a new test to detect these antibodies and found it to be very accurate. They discovered that about 42.7% of pigs in Germany and 50.3% in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg had been exposed to the virus, with some areas showing rates as low as 34.9% and others as high as 60%. The new test was compared to existing tests and showed good results, making it a valuable tool for future studies on HEV in pigs. Overall, the new test worked well and could help monitor the virus in pig populations.
Abstract
Autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections by zoonotic transmission of genotype 3 (GT3) have been reported increasingly from industrialized countries. In this paper the development and validation of an IgG ELISA for the detection of HEV-specific antibodies in domestic pigs is described. Comparison of the diagnostic value of Escherichia coli-expressed HEV-GT3 capsid protein (CP) derivatives revealed a carboxy-terminal derivative as most suitable. Validation of the in-house assay using a commercially available IgG ELISA revealed a high diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. The average HEV seroprevalence of domestic pigs from Germany and the federal state Baden-Wuerttemberg determined by the in-house test was 42.7% and 50.3%, respectively. The seroprevalence in different districts of Baden-Wuerttemberg ranged from 34.9% to 60%, but from 0% to 100% between different herds. These data were compared to those achieved by two commercially available ELISA kits and an in-house ratHEV-based ELISA. In conclusion, the CP-based in-house test proved sensitive and specific, indicating that the ORF3-encoded protein might be dispensable for diagnostics. The novel assay also allowed a parallel analysis by a homologous ratHEV-derived antigen. Thus, the novel IgG ELISA represents a useful tool for future standardized seroprevalence studies in domestic pigs from Germany and other regions of Europe.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23523888/