Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the etiological agent behind hepatitis E infection. Domestic pigs and wild boars are the main animal reservoirs of HEV. Very few papers describe HEV infection in goats and sheep. As the data pertaining to the presence of HEV virus in the milk of small ruminants in Europe are lacking, the aim of this paper was to examine a representative number of milk samples from these animals. The detection of HEV genome (HEV RNA) was performed using reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). HEV RNA was found in 2.8% of the examined samples. Positivity ranged from 101 to 103 genome equivalents/mL (GE/mL) with a median of 9.99 × 102 GE/mL. On the basis of these results, the milk of small ruminants could represent a source of HEV infection to consumers.

• MeSH
• hepatitida E veterinární   MeSH
• kozy virologie   MeSH
• mléko virologie   MeSH
• nemoci zvířat diagnóza   virologie   MeSH
• ovce virologie   MeSH
• RNA virová MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

To determine whether hepatitis E virus (HEV) was distributed in the population of wild boars in South Moravia between 1990 and 2008, a total of 366 samples of archived sera from wild boars were investigated using serological (commercial ELISA) and molecular (RT-qPCR) methods. A total of 31 (8.5%) wild boars were seropositive, and from two of them, RNA sequences were recovered by nested RT-PCR. The presented results, with one of the oldest animal's HEV-positive serum (collected in 1990), suggest that wild boars may be a reservoir of HEV in the Czech Republic and that this virus has been circulating in studied areas for more than 20 years.

• MeSH
• ELISA MeSH
• hepatitida E krev   epidemiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• nemoci prasat epidemiologie   virologie   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce s reverzní transkripcí MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• Sus scrofa virologie   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zdroje nemoci MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) is genetically only distantly related to hepeviruses found in other mammalian reservoirs and in humans. It was initially detected in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Germany, and subsequently in rats from Vietnam, the USA, Indonesia, China, Denmark and France. Here, we report on a molecular survey of Norway rats and Black rats (Rattus rattus) from 12 European countries for ratHEV and human pathogenic hepeviruses. RatHEV-specific real-time and conventional RT-PCR investigations revealed the presence of ratHEV in 63 of 508 (12.4%) rats at the majority of sites in 11 of 12 countries. In contrast, a real-time RT-PCR specific for human pathogenic HEV genotypes 1-4 and a nested broad-spectrum (NBS) RT-PCR with subsequent sequence determination did not detect any infections with these genotypes. Only in a single Norway rat from Belgium a rabbit HEV-like genotype 3 sequence was detected. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a clustering of all other novel Norway and Black rat-derived sequences with ratHEV sequences from Europe, the USA and a Black rat-derived sequence from Indonesia within the proposed ratHEV genotype 1. No difference in infection status was detected related to age, sex, rat species or density of human settlements and zoological gardens. In conclusion, our investigation shows a broad geographical distribution of ratHEV in Norway and Black rats from Europe and its presence in all settlement types investigated.

• MeSH
• divoká zvířata MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• hepatitida E epidemiologie   veterinární   virologie   MeSH
• hustota populace MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• rozšíření zvířat MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH

• MeSH
• asymptomatické infekce MeSH
• červené maso MeSH
• dárci krve MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• hepatitida E * epidemiologie   přenos   MeSH
• krevní transfuze * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• masné výrobky MeSH
• nemoci přenášené potravou * MeSH
• potransfuzní reakce MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zoonózy MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH

BACKGROUND: An increasing incidence of endemic hepatitis E (HE) has been reported in developed countries. Thus, an evaluation of the clinical characteristics of the disease and the utility of the current diagnostic methods is warranted. METHODS: Fifty-one adult acute patients with HE hospitalized in a single center between the years 2009 and 2012 were evaluated. Serological and molecular techniques (detection of hepatitis E virus [HEV] RNA from stool and serum samples by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) with sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were used for diagnosis, and the clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological parameters of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-nine (96.1%) patients had acute endemic HE and 2 (3.9%) had an imported infection. In the cohort of patients with acute symptomatic HE (n = 47), men outnumbered women (40:7), the patients were in older middle age (mean, 60.57 years), and they had elevated median values of total bilirubin (6.67 mg/dL), alanine aminotransferase (2288.82 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (1251.76 U/L), gamma-glutamyl transferase (360.53 U/L), and alkaline phosphatase (197.06 U/L). Serology was positive in 50 (98%) of the patients, and 1 case was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction only. HEV RNA was detected in at least 1 specimen from 84.3% of the patients, and 28 of 29 tested isolates belonged to genotype 3. The eating of meat, innards, other home-prepared pork products, or the tasting of raw meat before cooking were the most frequently reported data (reported by 25 patients [49.0%]). CONCLUSIONS: Large numbers of the endemic cases of HE were caused by HEV genotype 3, and the clinical characteristics of endemic HE were demonstrated.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• endemické nemoci * MeSH
• feces virologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• hepatitida - protilátky krev   MeSH
• hepatitida E epidemiologie   patologie   MeSH
• imunoenzymatické techniky MeSH
• imunoglobulin G krev   MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• RNA virová genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sérum virologie   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: An increasing incidence of endemic hepatitis E (HE) has been reported in developed countries. Thus, an evaluation of the clinical characteristics of the disease and the utility of the current diagnostic methods is warranted. METHODS: Fifty-one adult acute patients with HE hospitalized in a single center between the years 2009 and 2012 were evaluated. Serological and molecular techniques (detection of hepatitis E virus [HEV] RNA from stool and serum samples by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) with sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were used for diagnosis, and the clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological parameters of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-nine (96.1%) patients had acute endemic HE and 2 (3.9%) had an imported infection. In the cohort of patients with acute symptomatic HE (n = 47), men outnumbered women (40:7), the patients were in older middle age (mean, 60.57 years), and they had elevated median values of total bilirubin (6.67 mg/dL), alanine aminotransferase (2288.82 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (1251.76 U/L), gamma-glutamyl transferase (360.53 U/L), and alkaline phosphatase (197.06 U/L). Serology was positive in 50 (98%) of the patients, and 1 case was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction only. HEV RNA was detected in at least 1 specimen from 84.3% of the patients, and 28 of 29 tested isolates belonged to genotype 3. The eating of meat, innards, other home-prepared pork products, or the tasting of raw meat before cooking were the most frequently reported data (reported by 25 patients [49.0%]). CONCLUSIONS: Large numbers of the endemic cases of HE were caused by HEV genotype 3, and the clinical characteristics of endemic HE were demonstrated.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• endemické nemoci * MeSH
• feces virologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• hepatitida - protilátky krev   MeSH
• hepatitida E epidemiologie   patologie   MeSH
• imunoenzymatické techniky MeSH
• imunoglobulin G krev   MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• RNA virová genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sérum virologie   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Meat and meat products may be the source of various pathogenic and potentially pathogenic agents for humans. We ascertained the occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, subsp. avium, and subsp. hominissuis, and hepatitis E virus in retail raw meat products. The DNA of at least one of the target M. avium subspecies was detected in 26 (29.2%) of 89 analyzed samples of meat products. Fourteen (15.7%), 1 (1.1%), and 17 (19.1%) samples contained the DNA of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, subsp. avium, and subsp. hominissuis, respectively. The number of mycobacterial cells per gram of meat products determined by real-time quantitative PCR ranged from 1.15 × 10(2) to 6.97 × 10(3). Mycobacterium chitae and Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum were isolated from three (3.4%) samples. Culture examination was not positive for any M. avium subspecies. Hepatitis E virus RNA was not detected in any of the samples.

• MeSH
• bezpečnost potravin MeSH
• DNA bakterií analýza   genetika   MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• masné výrobky mikrobiologie   virologie   MeSH
• Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

In recent years, numerous foodborne outbreaks due to consumption of berry fruit contaminated by human enteric viruses have been reported. This European multinational study investigated possible contamination routes by monitoring the entire food chain for a panel of human and animal enteric viruses. A total of 785 samples were collected throughout the food production chain of four European countries (Czech Republic, Finland, Poland and Serbia) during two growing seasons. Samples were taken during the production phase, the processing phase, and at point-of-sale. Samples included irrigation water, animal faeces, food handlers' hand swabs, swabs from toilets on farms, from conveyor belts at processing plants, and of raspberries or strawberries at points-of-sale; all were subjected to virus analysis. The samples were analysed by real-time (reverse transcription, RT)-PCR, primarily for human adenoviruses (hAdV) to demonstrate that a route of contamination existed from infected persons to the food supply chain. The analyses also included testing for the presence of selected human (norovirus, NoV GI, NoV GII and hepatitis A virus, HAV), animal (porcine adenovirus, pAdV and bovine polyomavirus, bPyV) and zoonotic (hepatitis E virus, HEV) viruses. At berry production, hAdV was found in 9.5%, 5.8% and 9.1% of samples of irrigation water, food handlers' hands and toilets, respectively. At the processing plants, hAdV was detected in one (2.0%) swab from a food handler's hand. At point-of-sale, the prevalence of hAdV in fresh raspberries, frozen raspberries and fresh strawberries, was 0.7%, 3.2% and 2.0%, respectively. Of the human pathogenic viruses, NoV GII was detected in two (3.6%) water samples at berry production, but no HAV was detected in any of the samples. HEV-contaminated frozen raspberries were found once (2.6%). Animal faecal contamination was evidenced by positive pAdV and bPyV assay results. At berry production, one water sample contained both viruses, and at point-of-sale 5.7% and 1.3% of fresh and frozen berries tested positive for pAdV. At berry production hAdV was found both in irrigation water and on food handler's hands, which indicated that these may be important vehicles by which human pathogenic viruses enter the berry fruit chain. Moreover, both zoonotic and animal enteric viruses could be detected on the end products. This study gives insight into viral sources and transmission routes and emphasizes the necessity for thorough compliance with good agricultural and hygienic practice at the farms to help protect the public from viral infections.

• MeSH
• adenoviry prasat izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Enterovirus MeSH
• epidemický výskyt choroby MeSH
• feces virologie   MeSH
• kontaminace potravin analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidské adenoviry izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• manipulace s potravinami metody   MeSH
• mikrobiologie vody MeSH
• Norovirus izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• ovoce virologie   MeSH
• Polyomavirus izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• ruka virologie   MeSH
• skot MeSH
• virus hepatitidy A izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• viry MeSH
• zásobování potravinami MeSH
• zemědělské zavlažování MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Finsko MeSH
• Polsko MeSH
• Srbsko MeSH

We evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the pork production chain in Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain during 2010. A total of 337 fecal, liver, and meat samples from animals at slaughterhouses were tested for HEV by real-time quantitative PCR. Overall, HEV was higher in Italy (53%) and Spain (39%) than in Czech Republic (7.5%). HEV was detected most frequently in feces in Italy (41%) and Spain (39%) and in liver (5%) and meat (2.5%) in Czech Republic. Of 313 sausages sampled at processing and point of sale, HEV was detected only in Spain (6%). HEV sequencing confirmed only g3 HEV strains. Indicator virus (porcine adenovirus) was ubiquitous in fecal samples and absent in liver samples and was detected in 1 slaughterhouse meat sample. At point of sale, we found porcine adenovirus in sausages (1%-2%). The possible dissemination of HEV and other fecal viruses through pork production demands containment measures.

• MeSH
• feces virologie   MeSH
• hepatitida E epidemiologie   veterinární   virologie   MeSH
• jatka MeSH
• játra virologie   MeSH
• kontaminace potravin MeSH
• manipulace s potravinami metody   MeSH
• maso virologie   MeSH
• nemoci prasat epidemiologie   virologie   MeSH
• prasata virologie   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Itálie MeSH
• Španělsko MeSH

To determine the origin of hepatitis E virus in the Czech Republic, we analyzed patient clinical samples. Five isolates of genotypes 3e, 3f, and 3g were obtained. Their genetic relatedness with Czech strains from domestic pigs and wild boars and patient recollections suggest an autochthonous source likely linked to consumption of contaminated pork.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• feces virologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• hepatitida E virologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• otevřené čtecí rámce genetika   MeSH
• RNA virová genetika   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH