Detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in a demographic managed wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) population in Italy.
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.
Martelli
Francesca
F
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
Caprioli
Andrea
A
Zengarini
Martina
M
Marata
Andrea
A
Fiegna
Caterina
C
Di Bartolo
Ilaria
I
Ruggeri
Franco Maria
FM
Delogu
Mauro
M
Ostanello
Fabio
F
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*