Detection of Hepatitis E Virus Infections in Wild Boars in Southwest Germany Using a Stepwise Laboratory Diagnostic Approach

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the main cause of enterically transmitted hepatitis in humans worldwide. Among HEV, genotypes 3 and 4 are considered zoonotic agents associated with domestic pigs wild boars, showing an increasing trend Europe. The aim this study to contribute data on prevalence HEV boars Southwest Germany present a time cost-effective two-step laboratory diagnostic approach for serological monitoring blood samples. This method uses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), followed by testing RNA reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). A total 2295 samples were collected 234 municipalities 12 counties period from 2016 2020. There was overall seroprevalence 10.8%, ranging 3.6% 17.5% per county 7.5% 14% year. Retesting these revealed 15.7% viremic originating 30 11 counties. Viremic found seven regional clusters, including 84% animals that tested positive HEV. Seropositive <1 year age significantly more likely be than those >1 Further characterization resulted identification genotype 3. Altogether, samples, complemented successive targeted investigations into presence based provide reliable information load which proved relevant persistent sylvatic reservoir