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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Serological survey on Hepatitis E virus in Namibian dogs, ca...
Frontiers in veterinary science2024; 11; 1422001; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1422001

Serological survey on Hepatitis E virus in Namibian dogs, cats, horses, and donkeys.

Abstract: The present study investigated the seropositivity rate of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in domestic and working animals in Namibia, which included dogs, cats, horses, and donkeys. HEV poses a growing threat as a significant cause of human hepatitis globally and has several genotypes of varying zoonotic potential. As epidemiological data on the seroprevalence of HEV in Namibia is scarce, a serosurvey was conducted on archived serum samples of 374 dogs, 238 cats, 98 horses, and 60 donkeys collected between 2018 and 2022 from different regions, to assess the potential of these animals as sources of HEV infection. The findings revealed that 10.43% ( = 39/374) canine and 5.88% ( = 14/238) feline samples tested positive for HEV antibodies, whereas no seropositivity was detected in horses and donkeys. The study further examined the risk factors associated with HEV seropositivity, including animal sex, age, and geographical region, and noted a higher prevalence in dogs living in areas with intensive pig farming. Although there is no direct evidence indicating that these animals served as major reservoirs for HEV transmission to humans, the study underscores the importance of preventive measures to minimize contact exposure with pets considering the potential zoonotic risk, especially for susceptible risk groups. Further research is needed to explore the zoonotic potential of domestic animals and the epidemiological links between animal and human HEV transmissions in Namibia.
Copyright © 2024 Molini, Franzo, de Villiers, van Zyl, de Villiers, Khaiseb, Busch, Knauf, Dietze and Eiden.
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Publication Date: 2024-07-18 PubMed ID: 39091395PubMed Central: PMC11292797DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1422001Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study evaluated the presence of antibodies against Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in various domestic and working animals in Namibia to understand their potential role in the transmission of HEV to humans.
  • The research provides insight into the infection rates in dogs, cats, horses, and donkeys, highlighting potential regional risk factors and the need for further investigation into zoonotic transmission.

Background and Importance

  • Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a growing global health concern as a significant cause of viral hepatitis in humans.
  • HEV has multiple genotypes, some of which have the potential to infect animals and be transmitted to humans (zoonotic potential).
  • Understanding which animal species may act as reservoirs is crucial for controlling the spread of HEV, especially in areas where epidemiological data is scarce, like Namibia.

Study Design and Sample Collection

  • Archived serum samples were collected from domestic and working animals over a 4-year period (2018–2022).
  • The animal species studied included:
    • 374 dogs
    • 238 cats
    • 98 horses
    • 60 donkeys
  • Samples were collected from multiple regions across Namibia to ensure geographic diversity.

Methodology

  • Serological tests were conducted to detect HEV antibodies in the collected serum samples.
  • Antibody presence indicates previous exposure or infection with HEV.
  • The study analyzed risk factors such as:
    • Animal sex
    • Age
    • Geographical region, focusing in particular on areas with intensive pig farming.

Key Findings

  • HEV seropositivity rates measured:
    • Dogs: 10.43% (39 out of 374 samples)
    • Cats: 5.88% (14 out of 238 samples)
    • Horses and donkeys: 0% seropositivity, indicating no detected exposure in these species.
  • Dogs living in regions with intensive pig farming showed higher HEV antibody prevalence, suggesting a potential link to cross-species exposure.
  • No significant correlation was explicitly stated for cats or the other studied factors.

Interpretation and Implications

  • The presence of HEV antibodies in dogs and cats suggests these animals have been exposed to the virus and might play a role in its circulation within Namibia.
  • Despite this, there is no direct evidence from this study that these animals serve as major reservoirs or are a primary source of HEV transmission to humans.
  • The findings emphasize the importance of:
    • Implementing preventive measures to reduce human contact with potentially infected pets, especially for individuals at higher risk (e.g., immunocompromised persons).
    • Considering pets as part of the wider epidemiological context in zoonotic disease management and control programs.

Further Research Directions

  • Additional studies are needed to:
    • Elucidate the zoonotic potential of pets and working animals in Namibia more definitively.
    • Investigate the genetic relationships between HEV strains found in animals and humans to trace transmission pathways.
    • Examine other environmental or ecological factors influencing HEV spread in the region.
  • Longitudinal surveillance and molecular analyses could provide more conclusive evidence about the role of these animals in human HEV infections.

Cite This Article

APA
Molini U, Franzo G, de Villiers L, van Zyl L, de Villiers M, Khaiseb S, Busch F, Knauf S, Dietze K, Eiden M. (2024). Serological survey on Hepatitis E virus in Namibian dogs, cats, horses, and donkeys. Front Vet Sci, 11, 1422001. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1422001

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Pages: 1422001
PII: 1422001

Researcher Affiliations

Molini, Umberto
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
  • Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Windhoek, Namibia.
Franzo, Giovanni
  • Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy.
de Villiers, Lourens
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
van Zyl, Leandra
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
de Villiers, Mari
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
Khaiseb, Siegfried
  • Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Windhoek, Namibia.
Busch, Frank
  • Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
Knauf, Sascha
  • Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
  • One Health/International Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
Dietze, Klaas
  • Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
Eiden, Martin
  • Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Rodrigues S, Dahmane A, Debbous M, Figueiredo R, Houssem S, Reghaissia N, Moreira G, Mesquita JR. Absence of anti-HEV antibodies in donkeys in Algeria: a first serological survey.. Vet Res Commun 2026 Feb 3;50(2):141.
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