Alexandra Laubschat (Berlin / DE), Dr. Nina Langkabel (Berlin / DE), Prof.Dr. Diana Meemken (Berlin / DE), Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Susanne Hartmann (Berlin / DE), Dr. Josephine Schlosser-Brandenburg (Berlin / DE)
Abstract text
A.Laubschat1, N. Langkabel2, D. Meemken2, S. Hartmann1, J. Schlosser-Brandenburg1
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Centre for Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
2Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Section Meat Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Introduction: Ascaris suum is one of the most important and prevalent helminths in pigs and causes high economic losses due to weight loss in fattening pigs and liver discard at the slaughterhouse. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus of the Hepeviridae family and is of considerable public health interest since domestic pigs and wild boars are the major reservoir hosts for the zoonotic genotypes HEV-3 and HEV-4. The Therefore, consumption of raw or inadequately cooked pork/liver or contact with virus-containing feces may pose a risk for human infection. Despite the frequent occurrence of both zoonotic agents in pigs, there are no studies on the prevalence of coinfection in pig herds and its impact on virus replication and shedding. Pigs have few- to no clinical symptoms which is why infections in farms remain undetected. Although both pathogens are prevalent in domestic pigs and considerable interested of public health there is no investigation yet about the effects of a Co-infection of both pathogens.
Objectives: Our hypothesis is that pig herds in which A. suum is prevalent have an increased HEV prevalence and are therefore at higher risk for zoonotic transmission. Here we assume that Th2 immunity induced by migratory worm larvae counteracts the antiviral Th1-mediated immune response in the liver. Material and Methods: To determine the prevalence of coinfections in German pig herds, slaughterhouse samples from fattening pigs (n=500) are serologically examined by ELISA and screened for viral RNA by qRT-PCR. Acute worm infestation of the liver is pathognomically diagnosed on the basis of milk spots. Conclusion: This study will provide a first insight into the prevalence of coinfection in German fattening pigs. Based on our data, new approaches could be developed to reduce HEV transmission through targeted Ascaris control strategies. This is highly relevant for the food safety of pork/liver, as well as for the exposure of veterinarians, slaughterhouse personnel and farmers.