Abstract

IBARRA V, Humberto; RIEDEMANN G, Stella; REINHARDT V, Germán  and  CALVO A, Mario. Presence of anti hepatitis E virus antibodies in swine. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2007, vol.135, n.8, pp. 997-1001. ISSN 0034-9887.  doi: 10.4067/S0034-98872007000800006.

Background: Swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) has a cross-reaction with human anti-HEV antibodies. Therefore, pigs could be an animal reservoir, rendering hepatitis E as a zoonosis. The spread of this infection among infected pigs across countries would be possible through trading. Previously, using an anti-human conjugate, we detected anti-HEV antobodies in adult pigs in Chile. Aim: To detect anti-HEV (ELISA) in a cohort of swine at different ages. Material and Methods: Two hundred pigs aged 42 to 360 days, divided in 20 groups of 10 animals were tested. Anti-HEV was detected by ELISA using anti-pig IgG horseradish peroxidase instead of anti-human conjugates. Results: Anti-HEV were detected in one animal aged 90 days, two animals aged 120 days, one animal aged 260 days and 2 animals aged 360 days, five pregnant sows and two old hogs. This represents a total of 14 animals or 7% of the sample. Conclusions: There is a significant prevalence of anti-HEV in pigs from 90 days of birth, suggesting that these swine are aprobable reservoir (RevMéd Chile 2007; 135: 997-1001)

Keywords : Antobodies; viral; Hepatitis E virus; Swine.