Detection of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Pigs and in the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Population of Chieti Province, Abruzzo Region, Italy

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen, causing infectious hepatitis in man. Pigs and wild boars are the natural asymptomatic reservoirs, while disease humans could be either or evolve hepatitis. In Europe, an increasing number of human infections from HEV have been reported over last few years. The main route transmission through contaminated food, by direct indirect consumption raw undercooked pork boar meat products. Up to now, prevalence Italian northern regions has extensively determined pigs, less data collected southern ones. There need report more about pigs Italy consideration potential risk posed some specific traditional food products manufactured these areas produced pig livers (e.g., sausages salami). aim this study was demonstrate circulation population province Chieti, Abruzzo Region, Central Italy. Moreover, seroprevalence hunters that area also assessed. overall RNA 9.5% (CI 5.4–16.2%), but no detected samples pigs.