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Veterinary Archives, Vol. 91 No. 4, 2021.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24099/vet.arhiv.0920

Hepatitis E Virus seroprevalence among cows in a rural area of southern Italy

Michela Pugliese ; Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Messina, Mesina, Italy
Rocky La Maestra orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-2910-3268 ; Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Messina, Mesina, Italy
Annalisa Guercio ; Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
Giuseppa Purpari orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-7285-5321 ; Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
Santina Di Bella orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-6766-9126 ; Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
Stefano Vullo ; Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
Pietro P. Niutta ; Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Messina, Mesina, Italy

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Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered to be an emerging zoonotic disease, which causes numerous cases of hepatitis and deaths worldwide each year. Pigs are a host reservoir of HEV, but numerous other wild and domestic species can be infected. The aim of this study was to carry out serological screening of anti-HEV antibodies in cattle in the Sicily region (Southern Italy). Between April and December 2018, 231 serum samples were collected from cows and analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for detection of HEV antibodies (IgG). The overall prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies was 36.36% (84/231; 95% CI 30-43). There were statistically significant differences in the HEV seroprevalence in animals of different ages (<11 months: 11.41%; >12 months: 39.30%; >24 months: 54.10%) (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were detected between genders (31.37% in male and 37.38% in female) (P >0.05). This study shows that further investigation of HEV in cattle is required to understand better the epidemiology in farm animals and the potential zoonotic risks for humans. This is the first report of HEV seroprevalence for cows in Italy, which provides baseline data for further studies and for control of HEV infection in cattle.

Keywords

HEV; Hepatitis E Virus; antibodies; zoonosis; cow; ELISA

Hrčak ID:

265538

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/265538

Publication date:

17.11.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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