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Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Spreads from Pigs and Sheep in Mongolia
Enkhbaatar Batmagnai1, Bazartseren Boldbaatar2, Amarbayasgalan Sodbayasgalan1
1Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17024, Mongolia.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|March 11, 2023
Summary
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 4 is spreading in Mongolian pigs and sheep, posing a zoonotic risk. Urgent public health and livestock management strategies are needed to control this emerging infectious disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- One Health
Background:
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infects a wide range of animals, including livestock.
- Changing lifestyles in Mongolia have increased pork consumption and swine disease emergence.
- HEV poses a significant zoonotic risk, particularly as infected pigs can shed the virus asymptomatically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect HEV RNA in Mongolian sheep and pigs.
- To investigate HEV infection dynamics in pigs.
- To determine the HEV genotype prevalent in these animal populations.
Main Methods:
- RT-PCR analysis of fecal samples from 400 sheep and pigs.
- HEV RNA detection in 120 liver samples from pigs and sheep.
- ORF2 gene sequencing for HEV genotyping.
Main Results:
- HEV was detected in 2% of sheep and 15% of pigs.
- Longitudinal analysis confirmed HEV infection in pigs of the same genotype and cluster.
- Sequence analysis identified HEV genotype 4 in both pigs and sheep.
Conclusions:
- HEV infection is widespread in Mongolian pigs and sheep.
- Genotype 4 is prevalent in both species, indicating potential transmission.
- Urgent measures for infection prevention and control are necessary, alongside a re-evaluation of livestock husbandry and public health strategies.
