Hepatitis E outbreak linked to the consumption of a spit-roasted piglet, Brittany, 2013
Background: On December 11, 2013, three clustered cases of hepatitis E were reported on an island in Brittany. The patients had consumed a spit-roasted, stuffed piglet at a wedding. The stuffing consisted partly of the animal’s liver. Investigations were conducted to identify the source and vehicle of contamination and to assess the spread of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the environment. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 98 guests who were asked to provide a blood sample. Cases were identified using RT-PCR and anti-HEV serological tests. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 38 guests who provided samples and did not have prior anti-HEV immunity. Relative risks (RR) with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated using univariate and multivariate Poisson regressions for the main foods served at the wedding meal. Human HEV strains were compared with those detected in manure from the farm where the piglet was born and in wastewater samples collected at the inlet of the island’s wastewater treatment plants. Results: Seventeen cases, including 3 confirmed cases, were identified; 70.6% were asymptomatic. Acute HEV infection was significantly associated with the consumption of stuffing (RR=1.69 [1.04–2.73]). The human HEV strains were identical to the veterinary and environmental strains. Discussion: The outbreak was attributed to the consumption of undercooked pork liver stuffing. Following infection, the cases likely became a temporary reservoir for HEV, which was detected in the wastewater.
Author(s): Guillois Y, Abravanel F, Miura T, Pavio N, Vaillant V, Lhomme S, Le Guyader FS, Rose N, Le Saux JC, King LA, Izopet J, Couturier E
Publishing year: 2016
Pages: 444-9
Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2016, n° 26-27, p. 444-9
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