Prevalence and Molecular Analysis of Hepatitis E Virus in Pork and Meat Products Distributed in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Pattranuch Chusri

Authors

Pattranuch Chusri Division of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100 Thailand

Keywords:

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), Pork, Chiang Rai

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a global disease responsible for causing acute icteric hepatitis. HEV-3 and HEV-4 are considered zoonotic and have been detected in various animal species. The primary reservoirs for HEV include swine, wild boars, and deer. This study aims to determine the prevalence of HEV in food products derived from swine in Chiang Rai, Thailand. A total of 540 pork products were collected from fresh markets between January 2020 and December 2022. The pork products, including meat, liver, and intestine, were screened for HEV RNA using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The results revealed that 4.63% of the samples were positive for HEV, with pork meat (1.30%), pork liver (2.59%), and pork intestine (0.74%) testing positive. Sequence analysis revealed that all HEV sequences obtained in this study were classified as genotype 3 (HEV-3). Additionally, the data showed that the distribution of HEV in pork products peaked during the winter period in Thailand. Therefore, the prevalence of HEV may be influenced by seasonal patterns. These results suggest that pork products could play a significant role in the transmission of HEV to humans, and swine should be considered a reservoir for HEV in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

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