Serological evidence of hepatitis E virus infection in pigs from Northern Bulgaria

Ilia  Tsachev; Magdalena Baymakova; Kiril K.  Dimitrov; Krasimira  Gospodinova; Plamen  Marutsov; Roman  Pepovich; Todor  Kundurzhiev; Massimo  Ciccozzi; Harry R.  Dalton

doi:10.12834/VetIt.2341.14461.1

Veterinaria Italiana (Jul 2021)

Serological evidence of hepatitis E virus infection in pigs from Northern Bulgaria

Ilia Tsachev,
Magdalena Baymakova,
Kiril K. Dimitrov,
Krasimira Gospodinova,
Plamen Marutsov,
Roman Pepovich,
Todor Kundurzhiev,
Massimo Ciccozzi,
Harry R. Dalton

Affiliations

Ilia Tsachev: Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Magdalena Baymakova: Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
Kiril K. Dimitrov: Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Krasimira Gospodinova: Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Plamen Marutsov: Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Roman Pepovich: Department of Infectious Pathology, Hygiene, Technology and Control of Foods from Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria
Todor Kundurzhiev: Department of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria
Massimo Ciccozzi: Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
Harry R. Dalton: Queens Park, London, United Kingdom

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.2341.14461.1
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 57, no. 2

Abstract

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The purpose of the present study was to investigate pigs in Northern Bulgaria for serological evidence of hepatitis E virus (HEV). Sera from 225 individuals from three industrial farms were tested for anti‑HEV IgG antibodies. The overall HEV seroprevalence was 36% (81/225); weaners 6.8% (5/74); fattening pigs 38.7% (29/75) and in sows 61.8% (47/76). Compared to weaners, HEV positivity was higher in fattening pigs and sows: OR = 8.70 (95% CI: 3.14‑24.12) and OR = 22.37 (95% CI: 8.07‑61.96), respectively. These data confirm that HEV is endemic in pigs throughout Bulgaria, and can be a Public Health problem due to the transmission of HЕV to humans through the consumption of pork meat and pork products.

Published in Veterinaria Italiana

ISSN: 0505-401X (Print); 1828-1427 (Online)
Publisher: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale
Country of publisher: Italy
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine
Website: https://www.veterinariaitaliana.izs.it/index.php/VetIt/index

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