Surveillance of Hepatitis E Virus Contamination in Shellfish in China

Shenyang Gao, Dandan Li, Enhui Zha, Tiezhong Zhou, Shen Wang and Xiqing Yue
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Shenyang Gao: Department of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultral University, Shenyang 110161, China
Dandan Li: Animal Quarantine Lab, Inspection & Quarantine Technology Center of Hainan Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau, Haikou 570000, China
Enhui Zha: Department of Food Science, Liaoning Medical University, No. 5-48 Renmin Street, Jinzhou 121001, China
Tiezhong Zhou: Department of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultral University, Shenyang 110161, China
Shen Wang: Department of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultral University, Shenyang 110161, China
Xiqing Yue: Department of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultral University, Shenyang 110161, China

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: Background : Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been confirmed to be a zoonotic virus of worldwide distribution. HEV contamination in the water environment has not been well examined in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate HEV contamination in shellfish in a coastal area of China. Such contamination would be significant for evaluating public health risks. Method s: samples of three species shellfish were collected from thirteen points of estuarine tidal flats around the Bohai Gulf and screened for HEV RNA using an in-house nested RT-PCR assay. The detected HEV-positive samples were further verified by gene cloning and sequencing analysis. Results : the overall HEV-positive detection rate is approximately 17.5% per kilogram of shellfish. HEV was more common among S. subcrenata (28.2%), followed by A. granosa (14.3%) and R. philippinarum (11.5%). The phylogenetic analysis of the 13 HEV strains detected revealed that gene fragments fell into two known 4 sub-genotypes (4b/4d) groups and another unknown group. Conclusions : 13 different sub-genotype 4 HEVs were found in contaminated shellfish in the Bohai Gulf rim. The findings suggest that a health risk may exist for users of waters in the Bonhai area and to consumers of shellfish. Further research is needed to assess the sources and infectivity of HEV in these settings, and to evaluate additional shellfish harvesting areas.

Keywords: hepatitis E virus; shellfish; sub-genotype 4; Bohai Gulf; RT-PCR (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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