title: Detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in a demographic managed wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) population in Italy.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of Hepatitis E. Swine and human HEV strains are genetically related, suggesting the occurrence of zoonotic transmission. Recently, in Japan, cases of food-borne HEV transmission have been described in people after consuming raw or undercooked meat from wild boars or pigs. Although, swine HEV strains have been detected in pig herds in many European countries, only minimal information is presently available about the circulation and the prevalence of HEV in wild boars in Europe. In this study, we investigated the presence of HEV in a demographic managed wild boar population in Italy. Detection of HEV RNA was accomplished using a nested reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction on bile samples from 88 shot animals. HEV RNA was detected in 22 out of 88 animals tested (25%). Phylogenetic analysis on the nucleotide sequences obtained from 10 positive PCR products indicated that only one HEV strain was circulating in the wild boar population considered, and that this strain was closer to human and swine HEV strains circulating in Europe than to wild boar Japanese strains.
authors: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bologna University, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy. fabio.ostanello@unibo.it
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Martelli
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Caprioli
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Zengarini
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Marata
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Fiegna
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Di Bartolo
authors: Franco Maria
authors: FM
authors: Ruggeri
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Delogu
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Ostanello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*