Hepatitis E Virus Detection in Hunted Wild Boar Liver and Muscle Tissues in Central Italy

Abstract

In different European countries, including Italy, hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been recognized as an emerging public health concern. Humans are infected through the orofecal route by the ingestion of contaminated uncooked or undercooked animal-origin foodstuffs. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) have gained a crucial role as viral reservoirs. HEV-3 is the most frequently identified genotype from hunted wild boar liver and muscle tissues. The Marche region, more specifically Ascoli Piceno province, is characterized by a rooted hunting tradition and related product consumption. In this research study, 312 liver and 296 muscle specimens were screened using biomolecular assays, and HEV RNA was detected from 5.45% and 1.35% of liver and muscle samples, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that positive animals were infected by genotype 3 subtype c. Based on the environmental pathogen characteristics, HEV has also evolved to guarantee its survival in a wild environment. Therefore, wild boars and ruminants have a key role in its persistence. Epidemiological data regarding HEV circulation have resulted as necessary, and biomolecular analysis represents an important means of monitoring and establishing preventive measures. A multidisciplinary approach could provide a wide perspective regarding HEV and infectious implications on human, animal, and environmental health.

Keywords: RNA; food-chain; hepatitis E virus; liver; muscle; one-health; wild boar.

Figure 1

Positive animal samples: hunting localization. Red circles identify where animals were hunted.

Figure 2

Neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed on the fragment of 145 bp, referring to the ORF2 from liver and muscle tissue samples and realized through the usage of p-distance model with bootstrapping of 1000 replicates. Sequence ON364349 was identified from muscle tissue (diaphragm) and the other ones ON364350, ON364351 and ON364352 from liver aliquots.