Detection of IgM and IgG Against Hepatitis E Virus in Serum and Meat Juice Samples from Pigs at Slaughter in Bavaria, Germany

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging foodborne pathogen with domestic and wild pigs (and likely other species such as deer or rabbits) recognized as reservoir. Pathogenesis in pigs usually leads to an asymptomatic course of disease. Since there is no enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for the detection of anti-HEV antibodies in pigs commercially available, the objective of this study was to assess the seroprevalence in fattening pigs at slaughter and at herd level using a newly developed ELISA based on genotype (GT) 1 and GT 3 in Bavaria, Germany. Based on 516 serum and 198 meat juice samples collected from different herds at four different Bavarian slaughterhouses, the overall seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in serum and meat juice samples was 68.6% and 67.6%, respectively. Analyzing the serum for the presence of anti-HEV IgM, 36/516 (7%) were positive for anti-HEV IgM. At herd level, most of the herds were seropositive for anti-HEV antibodies. The present study shows that HEV is widespread among the Bavarian pig population and that some pigs might test positive for anti-HEV IgM even at the age of slaughter. Also, meat juice serves as an equivalent matrix to serum to test for anti-HEV antibodies in pigs.