Hepatitis E virus research in wild boars during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 hunting season.

Chiara Masotti; Roberta Battistini; Walter Mignone; Enrica Berio; Monica Dellepiane; Tiziana Andreoli; Elisabetta Razzuoli; Simone Peletto; Chiara Beltramo; Pierluigi Acutis; Paola Modesto; Valeria Listorti; Carlo Ercolini; Laura Serracca

Chiara Masotti Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta
Roberta Battistini
Walter Mignone
Enrica Berio
Monica Dellepiane
Tiziana Andreoli
Elisabetta Razzuoli
Simone Peletto
Chiara Beltramo
Pierluigi Acutis
Paola Modesto
Valeria Listorti
Carlo Ercolini
Laura Serracca

Keywords: Hepatitis E Virus, wild boar, foodborne transmission, prevalence

Abstract

An increasing number of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) cases are currently recognized in many European countries. HEV is an emerging disease in industrialized countries. HEV is an important cause of human acute viral hepatitis worldwide, where the infection is acquired probably through ingestion of contaminated food, in addition to travel-related cases. In Europe, outbreaks have been reported linked to the consumption of pork liver sausages and wild boar meat. It has been shown that wildlife can serve as natural reservoirs of HEV. In Europe, especially in region where game meat is widely consumed, wild boars (Sus scrofa) are considered as the main wildlife reservoir of zoonotic hepatitis E virus genotypes. HEV is classified into eight genotypes. Genotypes 3 and 4 are considered zoonotic and are responsible for sporadic cases of food-borne disease due to the consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked meat. Genotypes 3 mainly circulates in domestic pigs and wild boars, which are the main sources of infection for humans. To assess the potential risk of zoonotic transmission of HEV from wild boars, an epidemiological survey has been conducted during the 2017-2018 e 2018-2019 hunting seasons in the Liguria region. Liver samples of 560 wild boars were analyzed for HEV RNA by realtime RT-PCR; positive samples were then sequenced and submitted to phylogenetic analysis. The results of the survey revealed the presence of HEV in 4.4% (25/560) of the examined wild boar’s livers. Phylogenetic analysis classified the isolates as HEV genotype 3, highlighting the risk related to the consumption of wild boar-derived products for humans. HEV sequences belonged to HEV subtypes 3a, 3chi, 3c, and 3f. Our results indicate that HEV is circulating in wild boars among the considered game species in north-western Italy and suggest a potential zoonotic risk related to handling and/or consumption of raw or undercooked meat and products made of the liver from this species.