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Prevalence of hepatitis E virus-specific antibodies in humans with occupational exposure to pigs

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Abstract

Due to the increasing number of non-travel-associated hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections observed in several industrialised countries including Germany, there is a substantial interest in the characterisation of risk factors and transmission routes relevant to autochthonous HEV infections. Autochthonous cases are believed to be the result of a zoonotic HEV transmission from pigs, wild boars and deer. Recently, a high prevalence of HEV-specific antibodies in the German domestic pig population has been demonstrated. Thus, one may assume a higher prevalence of HEV-specific antibodies in humans with occupational exposure to pigs. In this study, sera obtained from 24 slaughterers, 14 meat inspectors, 46 pig farmers and 22 veterinarians were tested for the presence of HEV-specific antibodies using a line immunoassay. For comparison, sera obtained from 116 age- and gender-matched blood donors were also included. Twenty eight per cent (28.3%; 30/106) of the swine-exposed humans and 15.5% (18/116) of the blood donors without contact to pigs exhibited IgG-antibodies determined as reactive (i.e. borderline or positive) against HEV. Thus, an increased risk of HEV infection in humans occupationally exposed to pigs and particularly for slaughterers (41.7%; 10/24) was demonstrated.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Martina Müller and Carola Perchermeier for their excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Virology and Antiviral Therapy, Jena University Hospital, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Andi Krumbholz, Jeannette Lange, Peter Wutzler & Roland Zell

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Andi Krumbholz & Eberhard Straube

  3. Mikrogen GmbH, 82061, Neuried, Germany

    Ulrich Mohn & Manfred Motz

  4. Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Jürgen J. Wenzel & Wolfgang Jilg

  5. Department of Medical Statistics, Computer Sciences and Documentation, Jena University Hospital, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Mario Walther

Authors
  1. Andi Krumbholz
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  2. Ulrich Mohn
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  3. Jeannette Lange
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  4. Manfred Motz
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  5. Jürgen J. Wenzel
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  6. Wolfgang Jilg
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  7. Mario Walther
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  8. Eberhard Straube
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  9. Peter Wutzler
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  10. Roland Zell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andi Krumbholz.

Additional information

Andi Krumbholz and Ulrich Mohn contributed equally to this work.

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Krumbholz, A., Mohn, U., Lange, J. et al. Prevalence of hepatitis E virus-specific antibodies in humans with occupational exposure to pigs. Med Microbiol Immunol 201, 239–244 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-011-0210-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-011-0210-5

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