Molecular Investigation on the Presence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Wild Game in North-Western Italy

Serracca, Laura; Battistini, Roberta; Rossini, Irene; Mignone, Walter; Peletto, Simone; Boin, C.; Pistone, Giancarlo; Ercolini, Riccardo; Ercolini, Carlo

doi:10.1007/s12560-015-9201-9

Cited by 56 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Our and previous findings indicate that the same HEV subtypes circulate within the pig and wild boar populations in the same geographic area (Piedmont and Liguria regions, north‐western Italy) (Caruso et al., ,b; Serracca et al., ). This may be not surprising given the cross‐species transmission ability of HEV (Meng et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…Orthohepevirus A is subsequently divided into at least six genotypes (from HEV‐1 to HEV‐6). HEV‐1 and HEV‐2 include exclusively human strains, whereas HEV‐3 and HEV‐4 also infect other animal species, particularly domestic pigs, wild boar and rabbit (de Deus et al., ; Di Bartolo et al., ; Caruso et al., ,b; Serracca et al., ). HEV‐1 can be found in Asia and Africa, and HEV‐2 was first isolated in Mexico and later in Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hepatitis E Virus: A Cross-Sectional Serological and Virological Study in Pigs and Humans at Zoonotic Risk within a High-Density Pig Farming Area

Caruso

Peletto

Rosamilia

et al. 2016

Transbound Emerg Dis

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An increase in autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections has been recorded in Italy suspected to be zoonotically transmitted from pigs; this study was carried out to determinate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with hepatitis HEV exposition, both in swine and humans working in pig farms, located within a high-density pig farming area in Piedmont region, north-western Italy. The presence of viral RNA in human and swine samples was also evaluated, and phylogenetic analysis was performed on HEV-positive samples. Forty-two swine farms were sampled; 142 workers were enrolled in the study and classified into two groups: (i) 69 workers with occupational contact with swine (including veterinarians and farmers) recruited in the 42 sampled farms; (ii) 73 without occupational contact with swine. Forty-one of 42 (97%) swine farms resulted positive to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for HEV antibodies (Abs). Overall seroprevalence in swine was 50% (441/879), with seropositivity rate higher in sows (333/469, 71%). HEV RNA in stool samples was detected in animals from 13 of 42 tested farms (31%), and a higher positivity resulted in weaners (40/246, 16.3%). Phylogenetic analysis classified all HEV isolates within genotype 3 (subtypes 3f, 3e, 3c). All humans were negative for HEV viral genome in blood. Five of 142 sera were positive for IgG anti-HEV with an overall prevalence of 3.52% with no statistically significant differences in prevalence rates between workers at zoonotic risk and the control group (5.7% versus 1.3%). In contrast, a significant difference (OR 10.1) was observed within the subgroup including subjects exposed for short periods (veterinarians) compared with those who worked for long periods (farmers) suggesting a correlation between the time of exposure and the likelihood of HEV infection. Reporting HEV infection is not mandatory in Italy, but a constant epidemiological surveillance should be ensured to clarify the epidemiology of this disease.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis E Virus: A Cross-Sectional Serological and Virological Study in Pigs and Humans at Zoonotic Risk within a High-Density Pig Farming Area

Caruso

Peletto

Rosamilia

et al. 2016

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…However, eating raw‐dried wild boar sausage was nearly significant ( P = 0.06). This finding was in agreement with the subtype 3c detection in the viremic incident case, since this subtype has often been detected in wild boar meat samples in Italy …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Incidence of hepatitis E virus infection among blood donors in a high endemic area of Central Italy

Marcantonio¹,

Pezzotti²,

Bruni³

et al. 2019

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

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Summary In Europe, autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is mainly a foodborne zoonosis, but it is also transmitted by blood transfusion. Despite the numerous prevalence surveys, only a few studies have investigated HEV incidence. We aimed to determine HEV incidence and risk factors among blood donors in a hyperendemic area in Central Italy. Of 296 blood donors who had tested HEV negative in two previous seroprevalence surveys in L'Aquila, 198 agreed to undergo at least another blood sampling for estimating HEV incidence nearly 2 years after the prevalence surveys. Ten newly acquired infections were detected, yielding an overall incidence of 2.1/100 person‐years (95%CI: 1.0‐3.9), with an estimated participant's cumulative probability of becoming HEV infected of 6.5% (95%CI: 3.5‐12.0) at 4 years after enrolment. Seven newly infected blood donors were IgG positive only, two were IgM positive (one also IgG positive) and one was HEV RNA positive only, harbouring subtype 3c. Incident infection was most strongly associated with eating game meat, raw‐dried pork liver sausage and raw‐dried wild boar sausage. None of these exposures was statistically significant, even if eating raw‐dried wild boar sausage approached significance (P = 0.06). The HEV incidence we found was considerable compared with other similar studies. The nearly significant association of incident infection with wild boar and other game meat consumption was in agreement with the 3c subtype isolation in the viremic donor. However, beyond eating habits, also other exposure sources are likely important in hyperendemic areas, where incidence and risk exposure studies need to be undertaken for effectively preventing HEV transmission.

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“…In this study, we investigated the presence of HEV in 291 liver samples from wild boars caught in parks in three regions of south‐central Italy. The data on the occurrence of HEV in wild boars in Italy vary, ranging between 1.9% in northwestern Italy (Serracca et al., ) and 33.5% in central Italy (Montagnaro et al., ). The mean prevalence of HEV observed in our study was 14% (95% CI: 10.3–18.2), consistent with the previous finding of a greater presence of HEV in wild boars in south‐central Italy than in those in the north (Di Profio et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis E virus strains circulating in wild boars in south-central Italy

Aprea

Amoroso

Bartolo

et al. 2017

Transbound Emerg Dis

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SummaryHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen with a worldwide distribution, and infects several mammalian species, including pigs and wild boars, which are recognized as its natural reservoirs. The virus causes a usually self-limiting liver disease with a mortality rate generally below 1%, although mortality rates of 15%-25% have been recorded in pregnant woman. Chronic infections can also occur. The prevalence of HEV has been extensively studied in wild boars and pigs in northern Italy, where intensive pig herds are predominantly located. In contrast, few data have been collected in south-central Italy, where small pig herds are surrounded by large regional parks populated with heterogeneous wild fauna. In this study, 291 liver samples from wild boars caught in south-central Italy were analysed with the molecular detection of viral RNA. Our results confirm the circulation of HEV in these animals, with a mean prevalence of 13.7% (40 of 291). A nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the HEV strains were highly conserved within the same geographic areas. The wild boar HEV strains belonged to the HEV-3c subtype, which is frequently described in wild boars, and to an uncommon undefined subtype (HEV-3j-like).The viral prevalence detected is concerning because it could represent a potential risk to hunters, meat workers and consumers of wild boar liver and derivative products. The hypothesized inter-species transmission of HEV to pigs and the possibility that the virus maintains its virulence in the environment and the meat chain also present potential risks to human health, and warrant further investigations in the near future.

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Molecular Investigation on the Presence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Wild Game in North-Western Italy

Cited by 56 publications

References 53 publications

Hepatitis E Virus: A Cross-Sectional Serological and Virological Study in Pigs and Humans at Zoonotic Risk within a High-Density Pig Farming Area

Hepatitis E Virus: A Cross-Sectional Serological and Virological Study in Pigs and Humans at Zoonotic Risk within a High-Density Pig Farming Area

Incidence of hepatitis E virus infection among blood donors in a high endemic area of Central Italy

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis E virus strains circulating in wild boars in south-central Italy

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