Over the last 10 years in Europe an increasing number of autochthonous cases linked to the zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV-3) have been reported. Pigs and wild boars are the main reservoirs. Human cases have been linked to consumption of raw or undercooked pork liver sausages and wild boar meat. In this study, we investigated 116 wild boar paired liver and muscle samples collected in the hunting season 2017-2018 (Viterbo). HEV RNA was detected in 14 (12.1%) livers of animals, 6 of which were also positive in muscles. Sequence analysis showed the presence of the same strains in muscle and liver. HEV strains sequenced clustered within subtypes HEV-3c, HEV-3f and other clusters not assignable to any subtypes described so far. Results obtained may suggest the risk of consuming raw or undercooked wild boar liver and meat. Furthermore, the presence of several HEV strains in the wild boar population investigated highlights the importance of the wild animals as reservoir of the zoonotic HEV-3.
PRESENZA DEL VIRUS DELL’EPATITE E (HEV) IN FEGATI E MUSCOLI DI CINGHIALE
Ostanello F.;
2019
Abstract
Over the last 10 years in Europe an increasing number of autochthonous cases linked to the zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV-3) have been reported. Pigs and wild boars are the main reservoirs. Human cases have been linked to consumption of raw or undercooked pork liver sausages and wild boar meat. In this study, we investigated 116 wild boar paired liver and muscle samples collected in the hunting season 2017-2018 (Viterbo). HEV RNA was detected in 14 (12.1%) livers of animals, 6 of which were also positive in muscles. Sequence analysis showed the presence of the same strains in muscle and liver. HEV strains sequenced clustered within subtypes HEV-3c, HEV-3f and other clusters not assignable to any subtypes described so far. Results obtained may suggest the risk of consuming raw or undercooked wild boar liver and meat. Furthermore, the presence of several HEV strains in the wild boar population investigated highlights the importance of the wild animals as reservoir of the zoonotic HEV-3.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
