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With a seroprevalence of up to 96%Hepatitis E virus (HEV)shows a wide distribution among fattening pigs in Germany. The consumption of raw or undercooked pork products represent a potential risk for HEV infection in humans.
Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the risk of HEV entering the food chain via pork products based on serological tests comparing with the detection rate of HEV RNA in pork liver and muscle samples from the same pig.
A total of 250 fattening pigs from 25 farms were sampled in an abattoir in North-West Germany.Per pig, one sample of ham muscle and one sample of liver tissuewere collectedin order to test these tissues for the presence of HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR. A sample of the muscle of the diaphragm pillar from the same pig was collected to gain meat juice and to determine the HEV seroprevalence.In total, 62% (155/250) of the meat juice samples were positive for antibodies against HEV at a single animal basis.So far, HEV RNA could be detected in 14% (18/126) of the liver samples, which came from HEV seropositive pigs.
These results mayindicate the possibility of serological tests to assessthe risk of the occurrence ofHEV RNA in the liver of fattening pigs and to preselect meat and liver from animals from seronegative herds for sensitive meat products.