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Published on: June 26, 2020
Autochthonous hepatitis E infection in a slaughterhouse worker
Maria Teresa Pérez-Gracia1, Maria Luisa Mateos, Carolina Galiana
1Departamento de Atención Sanitaria, Salud Pública y Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales y de la Salud, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Moncada, Valencia, Spain. teresa@uch.ceu.es
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|November 7, 2007
Summary
The first hepatitis E infection in a slaughterhouse worker was identified. This occupational illness was linked to handling infected pig organs, with the virus strain matching European subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant cause of acute viral hepatitis globally.
- HEV genotype 3 is endemic in developed countries, primarily transmitted through the consumption of undercooked pork.
Observation:
- A slaughterhouse worker presented with symptoms consistent with hepatitis E.
- The patient's serum yielded an HEV strain identified as genotype 3, subtype 3f.
Findings:
- Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed significant homology (83.4%–97.3%) between the patient's isolate and European human and swine HEV strains.
- The genetic similarity strongly suggests a zoonotic transmission from pigs to the worker.
Implications:
- This case highlights the risk of occupational hepatitis E infection in individuals handling pigs or pork products.
- It underscores the importance of implementing stringent biosafety measures in abattoirs and pork processing facilities.
- Further research into HEV transmission dynamics in occupational settings is warranted.
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