Detection of the Hepatitis E virus in fresh sausage in the city of São Paulo

Abstract

Hepatitis E is an emerging zoonosis that can be transmitted by contaminated food and water. It is caused by an RNA virus (HEV) that can be divided into 8 genotypes. The presence of HEV-3 antibodies and / or genetic material has been described in humans, domestic animals, wild animals and food in several Brazilian states. Pigs are the main reservoirs of HEV-3. The immunosuppressed human being when infected can present fulminant or, eventually, chronic disease. Descriptions of extrahepatic disease are also observed. In the state of São Paulo, studies on hepatitis E are conducted more frequently in the human population than in the animal population or in food. Therefore, the objective of this work will be to study the distribution of the Hepatitis E virus in fresh sausages in the city of São Paulo. A sampling of convenience will be performed. Twenty-five samples of fresh sausages from open markets and "mercadões" in the municipality of São Paulo in each region (South, East, West and North) will be collected, making a total of 100 samples. After extraction of genetic material and transcription, PCR will be performed for two different regions of the viral genome. Genotyping of HEV positive samples will be performed by Sanger-type sequencing.