Abstract

GARDINALI, Noemi Rovaris et al. Hepatitis E virus in liver and bile samples from slaughtered pigs of Brazil. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz [online]. 2012, vol.107, n.7, pp. 935-939. ISSN 0074-0276.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762012000700016.

The objective of this study was to detect and identify hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains in liver and bile samples from slaughtered pigs in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Liver and bile samples were collected from 118 asymptomatic adult pigs at a slaughterhouse in a major Brazilian pork production area. The samples were assayed using a nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction protocol with primer sets targeting open reading frames (ORF)1 and 2 of the HEV genome. HEV RNA was detected in two (1.7%) liver samples and one (0.84%) bile sample using both primers sets. The HEV strains were classified as genotype 3b on the basis of their nucleotide sequences. These data suggest that healthy pigs may be a source of HEV infection for consumers of pig liver and slaughterhouse workers in Brazil.

Keywords : hepatitis E virus; swine; slaughterhouse.