Screening for Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in slaughtered pig for meat in Uyo using both serological and molecular methods and assessing their public health appraisal

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a pathogen that can be transmitted to humans through contaminated meat consumption, posing potential public health risks. This investigation aimed to assess the prevalence of HEV in meat and fecal samples from four animal species using anti-Hepatitis E Virus antibody [5F3] (ab233244) and Nested Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. Almost all samples (n = 44) exhibited significant HEV seroprevalence, with Swine Genotype 3/4 HEV detected in both pig meat and fecal samples. The use of Nested RT-PCR targeting the 3331N/3332N region identified this genotype in 6 pig samples, indicating a prevalence of 66.7%. No HEV was found using a universal nested RT-PCR assay on the primer region 3158/3159N, suggesting the presence of non-typical or novel HEV strains. This emphasizes the need for genotype-specific primers for thorough surveillance. These findings highlight the circulation of the specific genotype in the animal population, underscoring its potential as a source of HEV infections in humans. The positive immunological results in all 3 HEV-positive samples affirm the accuracy of the ELISA technique, crucial for viral diagnostics and surveillance. This study contributes valuable data on HEV prevalence in meat and fecal samples from diverse animal species, providing insights into the zoonotic risks associated with HEV through meat consumption or precooking exposure.