Wild Boar as a Sylvatic Reservoir of Hepatitis E Virus in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Population Study

Kozyra, Iwona; Jabłoński, Artur; Bigoraj, Ewelina; Rzeżutka, Artur

doi:10.3390/v12101113

Cited by 17 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Overall, the SH value (46.72%) is higher than those obtained in the majority of European studies, mostly ranging from 4.9% to 34% [ 6 , 14 , 56 , 57 ], and concurs with some values detected in Spain in woodland (mainly hunting areas [ 12 ], and urban environments [ 58 ]). Occasionally, similar values have been previously reported in wild boar populations over European countries, such as Poland or Italy [ 22 , 59 , 60 ]. The high seroprevalence obtained, despite the absence of contact with domestic free-ranging pigs, suggests the capability of wild boar to maintain a constant exposure to HEV within this host community.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Long-Term Determinants of the Seroprevalence of the Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Barroso

Risalde

García‐Bocanegra

et al. 2021

Animals

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The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen whose main reservoir is suids. Most of the ecological and epidemiological aspects of its sylvatic cycle remain unknown. Thus, in this work, we study the drivers of HEV exposure in the wild boar population of Doñana National Park (DNP, southwest Spain) operating in the medium and long-term (2005–2018). Anti-HEV antibodies are widely distributed throughout the wild boar (46.7 ± 3.8%, 327 out of 700 sampled), showing a statistically significant age-increasing pattern. The temporal pattern displayed important interannual fluctuations. This could be mediated by marked variations in the population control of the wild boar, and subsequent changes in abundance rates, and its interplay with climatic conditions; as wet years together with a low abundance of wild boar led to the lowest seroprevalence. The fact that seroprevalence is high during conditions of high abundance, and not affected by rainfall level, is probably due to the increased interactions among the animals, and possibly, the subsequent higher environmental contamination with HEV particles. The proximity to the marshland (the main water body of the study area) is associated with a higher risk of testing positive, which is probably mediated by the preferential use of this area during the dry season and the favourable environmental conditions for the survival of HEV particles. A deeper understanding of the epidemiology of HEV in host communities deserves future research concerning other susceptible species. Most importantly, wild boar population control remains a challenge at the international level, and an increase of shared pathogen-related conflicts associated with this species is expected, as exemplified by HEV. Therefore, surveillance of wild boar diseases, including integrated population monitoring and sustainable population control programmes, will be essential to control the associated risks.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Long-Term Determinants of the Seroprevalence of the Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Barroso

Risalde

García‐Bocanegra

et al. 2021

Animals

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“…Moreover, dedicated equipment and utensils, particularly knives, should be used only for their specific operations [8]. Several studies indicate that wild boar could play an important epidemiological role as a reservoir of HEV and that the consumption of undercooked or raw wild boar meat could be responsible for HEV infection in humans [8,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Indeed, in developed countries, autochthonous HEV infections are largely due to contact with infected animals, in particular pig and wild boar, and to ingestion of contaminated raw or undercooked meat and seafood [6,8,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Epidemiological studies conducted in wild boar populations across Europe countries, including Italy, recorded molecular prevalences ranging from 0.3% to 68.2% and seroprevalences ranging from 12.5% to 57.4%, confirming the wide diffusion of HEV [6,7,22,23,27,29,30]. No specific microbiological criteria for game meat exist as yet in the EU legislation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis E Virus RNA Presence in Wild Boar Carcasses at Slaughterhouses in Italy

Forzan

Pacini

Periccioli³

et al. 2021

Animals

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Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a waterborne and foodborne pathogen largely spread around the world. HEV is responsible for acute hepatitis in humans and it is also diffused in domestic and wild animals. In particular, domestic pigs represent the main reservoir of the infection and particular attention should be paid to the consumption of raw and undercooked meat as a possible zoonotic vehicle of the pathogen. Several studies have reported the presence of HEV in wild boar circulating in European countries with similar prevalence rates. In this study, we evaluated the occurrence of HEV in wild boar hunted in specific areas of Tuscany. Sampling was performed by collecting liver samples and also by swabbing the carcasses at the slaughterhouses following hunting activities. Our data indicated that 8/67 (12%) of liver samples and 4/67 (6%) of swabs were positive for HEV RNA. The presence of HEV genome on swabs indicates the possible cross-contamination of carcass surfaces during slaughtering procedures. Altogether, our data indicated that it is essential to promote health education programmes for hunters and consumers to limit the diffusion of the pathogen to humans.

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“…Wild boar liver homogenates derived from 57 samples positive for HEV in a real-time RT-PCR [ 28 ] targeting the virus ORF3 genome fragment [ 29 ] were used in the study. The livers were collected from juvenile and adult wild boars hunted in Poland for the purpose of a cross-sectional population study on HEV occurrence in this animal species [ 1 ]. The number of sampled animals comprised regional quotas proportional to the boar population size inhabiting each of 51 forest territories under the jurisdiction of 17 Regional Directorates of State Forests (RDSF) across Poland ( Table 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most important wildlife species in the epidemiology of HEV infections in the sylvatic environment in Poland is the wild boar [ 1 ]. In the population of this animal in Europe, HEV-3 strains representing 10 virus subtypes (a–c, e, f, and h–m) have been detected so far [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Diversity and Epidemiological Significance of Wild Boar HEV-3 Strains Circulating in Poland

Kozyra

Bigoraj

Jabłoński

et al. 2021

Viruses

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The wild boar is the most important reservoir of zoonotic HEV-3 strains among different wildlife species. The aim of the study was subtype identification of wild boar HEV-3 strains circulating in Poland. Wild boar liver was used in the study in the form of homogenates prepared from 57 samples positive for HEV in a real-time RT-PCR. These samples were collected from juvenile and adult wild boars hunted in the jurisdictions of different Regional Directorates of State Forests (RDSF) across Poland. Subtype identification of detected HEV strains was based on a phylogenetic analysis of the most conserved HEV ORF2 genome fragment. Out of 57 tested samples, consensus HEV ORF2 sequences of 348 bp were obtained for 45 strains. Nineteen strains were identified and belonged to the HEV gt 3a and 3i subtypes, whereas 26 were not assigned to any virus subtype. HEV gt 3i strains prevailed in the Polish wild boar population, 16 of such were identified, and they were significantly more often observed in the RDSF Katowice area (χ2 = 28.6, p = 0.027 (<0.05)) compared to other regions of the country. Circulation of 3a strains was limited only to the RDSF Gdańsk territory (χ2 = 48, p = 0.000 (<0.05)). The virus strains detected in the Polish population of wild boars representing previously identified HEV subtypes in wild boars, pigs, or humans in Europe are of epidemiological importance for public health.

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Wild Boar as a Sylvatic Reservoir of Hepatitis E Virus in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Population Study

Cited by 17 publications

References 41 publications

Long-Term Determinants of the Seroprevalence of the Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Long-Term Determinants of the Seroprevalence of the Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Hepatitis E Virus RNA Presence in Wild Boar Carcasses at Slaughterhouses in Italy

Genetic Diversity and Epidemiological Significance of Wild Boar HEV-3 Strains Circulating in Poland

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