Nguyen Ha Thi Thanh, Lee Hu Suk, Bett Bernard, Ling Jiaxin, Nguyen-Tien Thang, Dang-Xuan Sinh, Nguyen-Viet Hung, Unger Fred, Lâm Steven, Bui Vuong Nghia, Dao Tung Duy, Lundkvist Åke, Cattell Genevieve, Lindahl Johanna F
Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
International Livestock Research Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam.
PLoS One. 2025 Aug 7;20(8):e0329570. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329570. eCollection 2025.
Wildlife farming is a growing industry, but it poses substantial risks for zoonotic disease transmission, including infections caused by hantaviruses and hepatitis E virus (HEV). This study aimed to determine seroprevalences of these viruses among wildlife farmers and identify associated risk factors.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 wildlife farmers in Lao Cai and Dong Nai provinces in Vietnam who raised bats, bamboo rats, civets, and wild boars. Of these, 207 provided serum samples for serological testing for hantavirus and HEV antibodies. Apparent (AP) and true (TP) prevalences were estimated, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors.
The AP of hantavirus IgG was 8.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.4-13.6 (TP: 4.7%, 95% credible interval (CrI): 0.2-11.1). HEV IgG AP was 26.7%, 95%CI: 20.8-33.2 (TP: 27.1%, 95%CrI: 21.3-33.4). Hantavirus IgM testing was also performed due to higher IgG seroprevalence compared to earlier studies, detecting IgM antibodies in 1.9% of samples (95%CI: 0.6-5.2) (TP: 1.7%, 95%CrI: 0.1-4.7). Hantavirus seropositivity was significantly associated with engaging only in wildlife farming, and not participating in other activities such as hunting, trading, slaughtering, processing, guano collection, or consumption (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-6.9). HEV seropositivity was significantly associated with men gender (OR = 3.1, 95%CI: 1.4-7.3), older age (OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.0-1.1), raw meat consumption (OR = 6.8, 95%CI: 1.6-31.8), residing at higher altitudes (OR = 31.6, 95%CI: 5.5-204.4), and reporting use of protective clothing (OR = 4.0, 95%CI: 1.4-11.2), although their proper use was not assessed.
This study highlights behavioural and environmental risk factors associated with wildlife farming and zoonotic pathogens exposure. Public health interventions should focus on biosecurity, proper hygiene practices, and risk communication to reduce the transmission in wildlife farming settings.
野生动物养殖是一个不断发展的产业，但它给人畜共患病传播带来了重大风险，包括由汉坦病毒和戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）引起的感染。本研究旨在确定这些病毒在野生动物养殖者中的血清流行率，并确定相关风险因素。
在越南老街省和同奈省的210名养殖蝙蝠、竹鼠、果子狸和野猪的野生动物养殖者中进行了一项横断面研究。其中，207人提供了血清样本，用于检测汉坦病毒和戊型肝炎病毒抗体。估计了表观（AP）和真实（TP）流行率，并进行多变量逻辑回归以确定风险因素。
汉坦病毒IgG的AP为8.7%，95%置信区间（CI）：5.4-13.6（TP：4.7%，95%可信区间（CrI）：0.2-11.1）。戊型肝炎病毒IgG的AP为26.7%，95%CI：20.8-33.2（TP：27.1%，95%CrI：21.3-33.4）。由于与早期研究相比IgG血清流行率较高，还进行了汉坦病毒IgM检测，在1.9%的样本中检测到IgM抗体（95%CI：0.6-5.2）（TP：1.7%，95%CrI：0.1-4.7）。汉坦病毒血清阳性与仅从事野生动物养殖且不参与狩猎、交易、屠宰、加工、粪便收集或消费等其他活动显著相关（OR = 2.7，95%CI：1.1-6.9）。戊型肝炎病毒血清阳性与男性性别（OR = 3.1，95%CI：1.4-7.3）、年龄较大（OR = 1.03，95%CI：1.0-1.1）、食用生肉（OR = 6.8，95%CI：1.6-31.8）、居住在海拔较高地区（OR = 31.6，95%CI：5.5-204.4）以及报告使用防护服（OR = 4.0，95%CI：1.4-11.2）显著相关，尽管未评估其正确使用情况。
本研究强调了与野生动物养殖和人畜共患病原体暴露相关的行为和环境风险因素。公共卫生干预应侧重于生物安全、适当的卫生习惯和风险沟通，以减少野生动物养殖环境中的传播。
