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Public health risks associated with hepatitis E virus (HEV) as a food-borne pathogen
- Source :
- EFSA Journal, Vol. 15, no.7, p. 4886 [1-89] (2017), EFSA Journal, Dipòsit Digital de la UB, Universidad de Barcelona, EFSA Journal, Vol 15, Iss 7, Pp n/a-n/a (2017)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important infection in humans in EU/EEA countries, and over the last 10 years more than 21,000 acute clinical cases with 28 fatalities have been notified with an overall 10‐fold increase in reported HEV cases; the majority (80%) of cases were reported from France, Germany and the UK. However, as infection in humans is not notifiable in all Member States, and surveillance differs between countries, the number of reported cases is not comparable and the true number of cases would probably be higher. Food‐borne transmission of HEV appears to be a major route in Europe; pigs and wild boars are the main source of HEV. Outbreaks and sporadic cases have been identified in immune‐competent persons as well as in recognised risk groups such as those with pre‐existing liver damage, immunosuppressive illness or receiving immunosuppressive treatments. The opinion reviews current methods for the detection, identification, characterisation and tracing of HEV in food‐producing animals and foods, reviews literature on HEV reservoirs and food‐borne pathways, examines information on the epidemiology of HEV and its occurrence and persistence in foods, and investigates possible control measures along the food chain. Presently, the only efficient control option for HEV infection from consumption of meat, liver and products derived from animal reservoirs is sufficient heat treatment. The development of validated quantitative and qualitative detection methods, including infectivity assays and consensus molecular typing protocols, is required for the development of quantitative microbial risk assessments and efficient control measures. More research on the epidemiology and control of HEV in pig herds is required in order to minimise the proportion of pigs that remain viraemic or carry high levels of virus in intestinal contents at the time of slaughter. Consumption of raw pig, wild boar and deer meat products should be avoided.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
medicine.medical_specialty
Veterinary (miscellaneous)
030106 microbiology
pork
Food-borne
TP1-1185
hepatitis E virus
Plant Science
liver
medicine.disease_cause
Wild boar
Microbiology
Virus
03 medical and health sciences
Hepatitis E virus
biology.animal
Epidemiology
medicine
TX341-641
Pork
Infectivity
Public health
biology
Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Transmission (medicine)
Chemical technology
food‐borne
Outbreak
Salut pública
Virology
Diet
Alimentació
Scientific Opinion
Liver
HEV
Herd
Animal Science and Zoology
Parasitology
Virus de l'hepatitis E
wild boar
Food Science
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- EFSA Journal, Vol. 15, no.7, p. 4886 [1-89] (2017), EFSA Journal, Dipòsit Digital de la UB, Universidad de Barcelona, EFSA Journal, Vol 15, Iss 7, Pp n/a-n/a (2017)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d4eb026d23d09627727820ed0f874ede