Open AccessPrevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies in pigs: implications for human infections in village-based subsistence pig farming in the Lao PDR
Author(s) -
Stuart D. Blacksell,
Khin Saw Aye Myint,
Syseng Khounsy,
M. Phruaravanh,
Mammen P. Mammen,
Nicholas P. J. Day,
Paul N. Newton
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
transactions of the royal society of tropical medicine and hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1878-3503
pISSN - 0035-9203
DOI - 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.05.003
Subject(s) - christian ministry , subsistence agriculture , livestock , agriculture , tropical medicine , medicine , geography , socioeconomics , library science , political science , sociology , forestry , archaeology , computer science , law , pathology
We report a high seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pigs in the Lao PDR. HEV seroprevalence was 51.2% (300/586) amongst abattoir pigs and 15.3% (46/301) amongst village pigs. The age distribution suggested previous in-village HEV pig infections. These findings suggest a zoonotic risk associated with village-based smallholder pig farming.