Assessing Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence among Slaughterhouse Workers in Western Saudi Arabia: Zoonotic Threats in Focus

Abstract

HEV, primarily known for its waterborne transmission, is increasingly recognized for its zoonotic potential, raising public health concerns for individuals in close contact with animals or animal products. This study aims to evaluate the seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) among slaughterhouse workers in Saudi Arabia and compare it to a control group of blood donors, emphasizing potential occupational risks and associated factors.This comparative cross-sectional study included 239 slaughterhouse workers (study group) and 250 blood donors (control group). HEV IgG antibodies were detected using an in-house ELISA. Sociodemographic data, occupational exposure duration, and animal contact details were analyzed.The HEV seroprevalence was significantly higher in slaughterhouse workers (49.7%) compared to blood donors (22.1%) (p < 0.0001). Age and duration of occupational exposure were strongly predictive of HEV infection, with workers exposed for over one year showing higher odds of seropositivity. Geographic region and type of animal contact showed no significant associations.The findings suggest that prolonged occupational exposure to animals demonstrated increased the risk of HEV infection among slaughterhouse workers. Public health interventions, including improved hygiene measures, health screenings, and potential vaccination, could mitigate the risk of HEV transmission in high-exposure occupations.

Keywords: ELISA; HEV; Saudi Arabia; Seroprevalence; Slaughterhouse Workers.

Fig. 1

Seroprevalence of HEV IgG among slaughterhouse workers (study group) and blood donors (Control group). 1 A: Pie charts representing the seroprevalence of antibodies in slaughterhouse workers (study group, n = 239) and blood donors (control group, n = 250). The study group showed a significantly higher positivity rate (49.7%) compared to the control group (22.1%) (****p < 0.0001). 1B: Scatter plot showing the optical density (OD₄₅₀) values of all samples obtained from slaughterhouse workers and blood donors. A significantly higher OD₄₅₀ value was observed in the study group compared to the control group (***p < 0.001). The red dashed line indicates the cut-off value (OD₄₅₀ = 0.217). 1 C: Scatter plot showing the OD₄₅₀ values of positive samples (those above the cut-off values OD₄₅₀ = 0.217) obtained from slaughterhouse workers and blood donors. No significant difference was observed (ns = not significant). Statistical significance: ns: not significant, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001

Fig. 2

Assessment of antibody responses in positive slaughterhouse workers. (A) Box plot showing the optical density (OD₄₅₀) values across different age groups of positive slaughterhouse workers (18–25, 26–40, > 40 years). No significant difference was observed among the groups (ns = not significant). (B) Box plot comparing OD₄₅₀ values between positive slaughterhouse workers from Asian and African regions. No significant difference was observed (ns = not significant). (C) Box plot showing the OD₄₅₀ values based on years of exposure (< 5, 5–10, > 10 years) among positive slaughterhouse workers. No significant difference was observed (ns = not significant). (D) Box plot comparing OD₄₅₀ values based on the type of animal primarily slaughtered (sheep, cow, camel, mixed animals, and unknown). No significant difference was observed (ns = not significant). Statistical significance: ns: not significant