@article{MAKHILLJAVA20212014651,
    title = {Hepatitis E Viral Infection in Pigs from North-Eastern Uganda: A Case Study of Amuria and
Napak Districts},
    journal = {Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances},
    volume = {20},
    number = {1},
    pages = {39-45},
    year = {2021},
    issn = {1680-5593},
    doi = {javaa.2021.39.45},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1680-5593&doi=javaa.2021.39.45},
    author = {Kokas,Pius,Joseph,Francis,Mary,Peter,Charles,Gabriel,Peter,Patrick and},
    keywords = {Sero-prevalence,Risk factors,Hepatitis E virus,Genotype 3,Pigs},
    abstract = {Hepatitis E is a zoonotic viral disease and
swine are regarded as the major reservoirs. The aim of
this study was to find out the sero-prevalence and risk
factors of HEV in pigs from Napak District in Uganda
where an outbreak of human HEV was reported in
2013/2014 and in the neighboring district of Amuria.
Additionally, farmers’ level of awareness and knowledge
about livestock hepatitis was investigated. A total of 352
sera samples were tested; 302 from Amuria and 50 from
Napak using a commercial indirect ELISA kit (ID vet,
France). A pretested structured questionnaire was
administered to a total of 139 respondents at every site of
sample collection. The sero-prevalence was 84% in
Napak and 14.6% in Amuria. Overall prevalence
was 24%. The sero-prevalence was significantly higher
in Napak as compared to Amuria District (p<0.05,
&#967;<sup>2</sup> = 112.0056). Therefore, pigs more likely to be
seropositive were from Napak District (p = 0.000,
OR = 30.334, CI = 11.847-77.672) and those from
households without latrines (p = 0.02, OR = 3.482,
CI = 1.568-7.733). In addition, 8.6% of the respondents
knew of hepatitis in livestock and 7.9% knew that it
spreads to humans. Meanwhile, 1.4% were aware of its
possible control in humans by vaccination. This study
reported a high sero-prevalence of HEV than previously
reported in Uganda and a very low level of awareness
among respondents about hepatitis in livestock. The study
recommends other studies to identify more risk factors of
infection, genotyping of the HEV and sensitizing
communities about viral hepatitis in livestock.}
    }