{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T00:48:06Z","timestamp":1792198086119,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]],"date-time":"2023-09-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1695686400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>Paslahepevirus balayani<\/jats:italic> (Hepatitis E virus; HEV) is an emerging virus that poses as a public health threat. The virus is now reported to be the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis, with a unique impact on African settings. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for HEV infection in three cohorts (animal handlers, villagers, and students).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 752 subjects from southwestern Nigeria. In all individuals, anti-HEV IgG and anti-HEV IgM antibodies were evaluated by using ELISA (confirming positive results via immunoblotting), and serum viral RNA was evaluated by using two RT-PCR assays.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The overall seroprevalence of HEV IgG and HEV IgM was 14.9% (95% CI: 12.5\u201317.6%) and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.7\u20132.5%), respectively. We observed the highest seroprevalence among animal contact individuals, with butchers being the population with the highest HEV IgG seroprevalence (31.1%). Similarly, HEV IgM was higher in the animal contact group (2.2%) than in the non-animal contact cohort (0%).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Viral RNA was not detected in any of the samples. Butchering was significantly associated with higher HEV prevalence. Although all efforts to prevent HEV in Africa have focused on the chlorination of water, our study suggests that most new infections could currently be linked to animal manipulation. Therefore, education and guidelines must be provided in southwest Nigeria to ensure that animal handling and processing methods are safe.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2023.1247467","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,27]],"date-time":"2023-09-27T06:53:55Z","timestamp":1695797635000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Butchering activity is the main risk factor for hepatitis E virus (Paslahepevirus balayani) infection in southwestern Nigeria: a prospective cohort study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Adeolu S.","family":"Oluremi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Casares-Jimenez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Oluyinka O.","family":"Opaleye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Javier","family":"Caballero-Gomez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David Olusoga","family":"Ogbolu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pedro","family":"Lopez-Lopez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Diana","family":"Corona-Mata","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonio","family":"Rivero-Juarez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonio","family":"Rivero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"200","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.22-0268","article-title":"Assessment of food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices among meat handlers in Bishoftu City Ethiopia","volume":"108","author":"Abunna","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.4314\/eamj.v86i8.54155","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus infection among pig handlers in Accra Ghana","volume":"86","author":"Adjei","year":"2009","journal-title":"East Afr. Med. J."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1914","DOI":"10.4314\/ahs.v21i4.50","article-title":"Hygiene practices in abattoir and slaughter slab, determinants and assessment of abattoir and slaughter slab facilities in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state south-East Nigeria","volume":"21","author":"Agu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Afr. Health Sci."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1080\/15321819.2018.1514507","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus infection seroprevalence and the associated risk factors in animals raised in Ibadan, Nigeria","volume":"39","author":"Antia","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Immunoass. Immunochem."},{"key":"ref501","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-022-07127-6","article-title":"Hepatitis E seroprevalence and risk factors in humans and pig in Ghana","volume":"22","author":"Bagulo","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100186","DOI":"10.1016\/j.onehlt.2020.100186","article-title":"Hepatitis E in sub Saharan Africa - a significant emerging disease","volume":"11","author":"Bagulo","year":"2020","journal-title":"One Health"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13050891","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus (HEV) spreads from pigs and sheep in Mongolia","volume":"13","author":"Batmagnai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"785","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jix610","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus Seroprevalence and correlates of anti-HEV IgG antibodies in the Rakai District Uganda","volume":"217","author":"Boon","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Infect Dis."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-016-3923-y","article-title":"Working conditions and public health risks in slaughterhouses in western Kenya","volume":"17","author":"Cook","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1074","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2805.212546","article-title":"Viral hepatitis E outbreaks in refugees and internally displaced populations, sub-Saharan Africa, 2010-2020","volume":"28","author":"Desai","year":"2022","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e4886","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2017.4886","article-title":"Scientific opinion on the public health risksassociated with hepatitis E virus (HEV) as a food-borne pathogen","volume":"15","author":"Ricci","year":"2017","journal-title":"EFSA J."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcv.2013.05.004","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus infections in HIV-infected patients in Ghana and Cameroon","volume":"58","author":"Feldt","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Clin. Virol."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9979","DOI":"10.4081\/ijfs.2022.9979","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus detection in hunted wild boar (Sus scrofa) livers in Central Italy","volume":"11","author":"Ferri","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ital. J. Food Saf."},{"key":"ref120","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1110","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.02075-20","article-title":"Development and clinical validation of a pangenotypic PCR-based assay for the detection and quantification of hepatitis E virus (Orthohepevirus A genus)","volume":"59","author":"Fr\u00edas","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0010460","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0010460","article-title":"Exploring potential risk pathways with high risk groups for urban Rift Valley fever virus introduction, transmission, and persistence in two urban centers of Kenya","volume":"17","author":"Gerken","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1345","DOI":"10.3390\/life13061345","article-title":"Age and gender trends in the prevalence of markers for hepatitis E virus exposure in the heterogeneous Bulgarian population","volume":"13","author":"Golkocheva-Markova","year":"2023","journal-title":"Life"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1111\/liv.13237","article-title":"The global burden of hepatitis E outbreaks: a systematic review","volume":"37","author":"Hakim","year":"2017","journal-title":"Liver Int."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1237","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMra1204512","article-title":"Hepatitis E","volume":"367","author":"Hoofnagle","year":"2012","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4067108","DOI":"10.1155\/2017\/4067108","article-title":"Acute hepatitis E virus infection in two geographical regions of Nigeria","volume":"4067108","author":"Ifeorah","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Pathog."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.3390\/v8090253","article-title":"Transmission of hepatitis E virus in developing countries","volume":"8","author":"Khuroo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Viruses"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-021-11702-y","article-title":"Hepatitis e prevalence, knowledge, and practice of preventive measures among secondary school adolescents in rural Nigeria: a cross-sectional study","volume":"21","author":"Mbachu","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-021-02749-5","article-title":"Epidemiology of hepatitis E virus infection in animals in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"17","author":"Modiyinji","year":"","journal-title":"BMC Vet. Res."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4018","DOI":"10.1002\/jmv.26277","article-title":"First molecular characterization of the hepatitis E virus in humans in Cameroon: confirmation of the HEV outbreak in Touboro North-Cameroon","volume":"93","author":"Modiyinji","year":"","journal-title":"J. Med. Virol."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcpa.2015.04.006","article-title":"Viral and antibody prevalence of hepatitis E in European wild boars (Sus scrofa) and hunters at zoonotic risk in the Latium region","volume":"153","author":"Montagnaro","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Comp. Pathol."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"581376","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.581376","article-title":"The Nairobi pork value chain: mapping and assessment of governance, challenges, and food safety issues","volume":"8","author":"Murungi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1038\/nrgastro.2017.150","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus: advances and challenges","volume":"15","author":"Nimgaonkar","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0010729","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0010729","article-title":"One health risk challenges and preparedness regarding bovine tuberculosis at abattoirs in north-Central Nigeria: associated drivers and health belief","volume":"16","author":"Odetokun","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1719","DOI":"10.3889\/oamjms.2019.143","article-title":"Hepatitis E infection in Nigeria: a systematic review","volume":"7","author":"Okagbue","year":"2019","journal-title":"Open Access Maced. J. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"875","DOI":"10.1080\/15321819.2020.1804933","article-title":"A possible risk of environmental exposure to HEV in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria","volume":"41","author":"Olayinka","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Immunoassay Immunochem."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1080\/15321819.2020.1814810","article-title":"High seroprevalence of viral hepatitis among animal handlers in Abeokuta, Ogun state Nigeria","volume":"42","author":"Oluremi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Immunoassay Immunochem."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.53328\/MUNM8683","volume-title":"Water security in Africa: a preliminary assessment","author":"Oluwasanya","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100256","DOI":"10.1016\/j.onehlt.2021.100256","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus infection in high-risk populations in Osun state Nigeria","volume":"13","author":"Osundare","year":"2021","journal-title":"One Health"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100059","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vas.2019.100059","article-title":"Prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus antibodies in domestic animal from three representative provinces of Burkina Faso","volume":"1","author":"Ouoba","year":"2019","journal-title":"Vet. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"893","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2007.77.893","article-title":"Autochthonous hepatitis E infection in a slaughterhouse worker","volume":"77","author":"P\u00e9rez-Gracia","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1082","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2016.11.016","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus: infection beyond the liver?","volume":"66","author":"Pischke","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Hepatol."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"737","DOI":"10.3855\/jidc.15701","article-title":"The burden of hepatitis E virus in the Middle East and North Africa region: a systematic review","volume":"16","author":"Saade","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dev. Ctries."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"692","DOI":"10.1099\/jgv.0.001435","article-title":"Update: proposed reference sequences for subtypes of hepatitis E virus (species Orthohepevirus A)","volume":"101","author":"Smith","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Gen. Virol."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2012.12-0615","article-title":"High prevalence of hepatitis E in humans and pigs and evidence of genotype-3 virus in swine Madagascar","volume":"88","author":"Temmam","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1356","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.15-0321","article-title":"Hepatitis E virus exposure is increased in pork butchers from Burkina Faso","volume":"93","author":"Traor\u00e9","year":"2015","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1007\/s12560-021-09461-5","article-title":"The foodborne transmission of hepatitis E virus to humans","volume":"13","author":"Treagus","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Environ. Virol."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2049936119837162","DOI":"10.1177\/2049936119837162","article-title":"Hepatitis E: an underestimated emerging threat","volume":"6","author":"Webb","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ther Adv. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref40","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref41","year":"2017"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2023.1247467\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,27]],"date-time":"2023-09-27T06:53:59Z","timestamp":1695797639000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2023.1247467\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]]},"references-count":43,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmicb.2023.1247467"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2023.1247467","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-302X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-302X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]]},"article-number":"1247467"}}