title: Prevalence of Anti-Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies and First Detection of Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar in Slovenia.
abstract: Hepatitis E is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV). In this study, we investigated HEV presence in a wild boar (Sus scrofa) population of Slovenia. A total of 288 wild boar serum samples were collected throughout the country, and HEV infection was investigated by serology, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by HEV RNA detection using a real-time PCR assay. Antibodies against HEV were detected in 30.2% (87/288) of animals tested, whereas HEV RNA was detected in only one sample. This is the first evidence of HEV presence in the wild boar population in Slovenia, and these results suggest that these animals are part of the HEV epidemiological cycle in the country.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute for Breeding and Health Care of Wild Animals, Fishes and Bees, Veterinary Faculty University of Ljubljana , Ljubljana, Slovenia .
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Žele
authors.affiliation: 2 Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre , Lelystad, the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Aline F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: 2 Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre , Lelystad, the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Renate W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hakze-van der Honing
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute for Breeding and Health Care of Wild Animals, Fishes and Bees, Veterinary Faculty University of Ljubljana , Ljubljana, Slovenia .
authors.forename: Gorazd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vengušt
authors.affiliation: 2 Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre , Lelystad, the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Wim H M
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van der Poel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; PCR; Serology; Slovenia; Wild boar