Prevalence and genetic characterization of Hepatitis E virus in paired samples of feces and serum from naturally infected pigs |
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| Authors: | Salceda Fern ndez-Barredo, Carolina Galiana, Angel Garcí a, Maria Teresa G mez-Mu oz, Santiago Vega, Manuel A. Rodrí guez-Iglesias, Maria Teresa P rez-Gracia |
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| Affiliation: | Departamento de Atención Sanitaria, Salud Púiblica y Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales y de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avenida Seminario s/n 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain. |
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| Abstract: | This study describes the distribution of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in a naturally infected swine population and the genetic relatedness of HEV strains on swine farms in Spain. Of fecal and serum samples collected from 131 pigs and manure-ditch samples collected from 17 farms, HEV was detected in 16%, 14%, and 59%, respectively, for an overall prevalence rate of 23%. The maximum prevalence rates for feces and serum were in pigs 5 to 12 wk old. A high prevalence of the virus in feces (18%) was observed in sows. Gene sequencing was performed on 6 strains from feces, serum, and manure ditch: the nucleotide identities varied from 81.5% to 99% when compared with those of other strains of genotype 3 isolated from swine. This is the first study in Europe to show the variation in virus distribution by age in feces and serum in a naturally infected swine population. |
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