Detection of swine hepatitis E virus in

the porcine hepatic lesion in Jeju Island

Nonenveloped Fecal-oral route Clinical signs: jaundice, anorexia, nausea,

hepatomegaly Exerts severe effects in pregnant women

Hepatitis E Virus

Zoonotic pigs not obviously ill, display very mild liver

lesions on histopathologic examination widespread throughout the world Antibodies to HEV in pigs from countries

where HEV is endemic and many industrialized countries

Pig as animal reservoir host for HEV

HEV in pigs

19 farms

40 pigs(10-70 days old)

33 pigs(<2 months old)

7 pigs(> 2 months old)

Animal samples

All liver samples were collected from pigs at necropsy

One-third frozen at -70℃ remaining part fixed in 10% neutral buffered

formalin embedded in paraffin wax cut into 3 µm sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin

Tissue processing

40 pigs

22 HEV positive

18 suckling pigs

4 growing pigs

18 HEV negative

RT-PCR findings

Moderate to severe multifocal lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic hepatitis or

portal inflammation

mild hepatic enlargement and scattered yellowish discoloration foci

focal infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages in hepatic sinusoids and the

portal triad

swine HEV infection occurs at a very young age (under 2 months) in Jeju pigs

various hepatitis virus antigens detected in liver tissue

viral markers may not be present during active disease

immunohistochemistry not particularly useful PCR method more sensitive and applicable as a

specific assay for the diagnosis of various infectious diseases

individuals with swine-associated occupations at possible risk of zoonotic infection.

Conclusions