TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence of increased Hepatitis E virus exposure in Lao villagers with contact to ruminants
AU - Tritz, Silvia E.
AU - Khounvisith, Vilaysone
AU - Pommasichan, Sisavath
AU - Ninnasopha, Khampasong
AU - Keosengthong, Amphone
AU - Phoutana, Vannaphone
AU - Camoin, Margot
AU - Hübschen, Judith M.
AU - Black, Antony P.
AU - Muller, Claude P.
AU - Snoeck, Chantal J.
AU - Pauly, Maude
N1 - Funding Information:
the primary animal health workers of the villages for their support. We would also like to express our gratitude towards the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR for approving the study. Bounta Vongphachannh, Latdavone Khenkha, Solène Cordel and Aurélie Sausy performed or supervised part of the laboratory analy‐ ses. The authors wish to thank Ulla Muller, Carole Weis and Jonah Neuser who provided valuable logistic and technical support. Finally, we are grateful to all study participants. This study was funded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Luxembourg (project “Lao Luxembourg Partnership for Research and Capacity Building in Infectious Disease Surveillance II”).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Authors Zoonoses and Public Health Published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - Although pigs are the main reservoir, ruminants have also been shown to be susceptible to hepatitis E virus (HEV). We investigated zoonotic transmission of HEV in rural settings of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) where humans are in close contacts with ruminants and where pigs are rare. Villagers with (n = 171, risk group) and without (n = 155, control group) cattle were recruited in seven villages in Vientiane Capital. Owners of pigs were excluded. Blood, as well as information on socio-demographics, animal contact, dietary habits and awareness of zoonoses were collected to assess risk factors. Blood and rectal swabs were collected from cattle (n = 173) and other ruminants (27 goat, 5 buffaloes) to measure anti-HEV antibody and virus prevalence. A similar anti-HEV antibody seroprevalence was found in cattle (6.8%) and other ruminants (8%). HEV RNA was detected in none of the animal rectal swabs and human sera. Anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence was higher in cattle farmers than in the control group (59.1% vs. 43.9%, p = 0.008) and increased significantly with age. Other risk factors included male gender, close contact with cattle and consumption of undercooked meat. We find that HEV is highly endemic in rural Laos and provide first evidence that HEV circulates in free-roaming ruminants with open access to village water sources. Despite some awareness about hygiene, villagers are likely constantly exposed to zoonotic diseases by dietary and lifestyle habits. Cattle farmers had a higher risk of HEV infection than other villagers. Our study highlights the need to raise the awareness of the rural population about water- and food-borne pathogens, and about the role of cattle as a possible source of infection. The knowledge gained on local risk factors and husbandry conditions should guide future awareness raising campaigns and promote appropriate hygienic measures including handwashing and the consumption of safe food and water.
AB - Although pigs are the main reservoir, ruminants have also been shown to be susceptible to hepatitis E virus (HEV). We investigated zoonotic transmission of HEV in rural settings of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) where humans are in close contacts with ruminants and where pigs are rare. Villagers with (n = 171, risk group) and without (n = 155, control group) cattle were recruited in seven villages in Vientiane Capital. Owners of pigs were excluded. Blood, as well as information on socio-demographics, animal contact, dietary habits and awareness of zoonoses were collected to assess risk factors. Blood and rectal swabs were collected from cattle (n = 173) and other ruminants (27 goat, 5 buffaloes) to measure anti-HEV antibody and virus prevalence. A similar anti-HEV antibody seroprevalence was found in cattle (6.8%) and other ruminants (8%). HEV RNA was detected in none of the animal rectal swabs and human sera. Anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence was higher in cattle farmers than in the control group (59.1% vs. 43.9%, p = 0.008) and increased significantly with age. Other risk factors included male gender, close contact with cattle and consumption of undercooked meat. We find that HEV is highly endemic in rural Laos and provide first evidence that HEV circulates in free-roaming ruminants with open access to village water sources. Despite some awareness about hygiene, villagers are likely constantly exposed to zoonotic diseases by dietary and lifestyle habits. Cattle farmers had a higher risk of HEV infection than other villagers. Our study highlights the need to raise the awareness of the rural population about water- and food-borne pathogens, and about the role of cattle as a possible source of infection. The knowledge gained on local risk factors and husbandry conditions should guide future awareness raising campaigns and promote appropriate hygienic measures including handwashing and the consumption of safe food and water.
KW - Laos
KW - cattle
KW - developing countries
KW - risk analysis
KW - zoonosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051262958&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/zph.12483
DO - 10.1111/zph.12483
M3 - Article
C2 - 29888475
AN - SCOPUS:85051262958
SN - 1863-1959
VL - 65
SP - 690
EP - 701
JO - Zoonoses and Public Health
JF - Zoonoses and Public Health
IS - 6
ER -