| Keywords [eng] |
hepatitas E, Paslahepevirus balayani, zoonozė, hepatito E virusas, RNR, kiaulė, Sus domesticus, šernas, Sus scrofa, Lietuva, hepatitis E, zoonosis, hepatitis E virus, RNA, domestic pig, wild boar, Lithuania |
| Abstract [eng] |
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most prevalent cause of acute viral hepatitis and can be transmitted through foodborne, waterborne, and zoonotic transmission routes. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis E virus in Lithuanian domestic pig (Sus domesticus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations and food products (pork pâtés). Pig blood serum (n=194), pig liver (n=70), effluent water (n=32), wild boar blood serum (n=99) and pork pâté (n=12) samples were collected from different districts of Lithuania during 2024–2025. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine the specific genotype of HEV in samples. HEV prevalence was detected in 7.1% percent of pig liver, 3.1 % of effluent water, 9.1 % of wild boar blood serum samples and 8.3% of pork liver pâtés. The detected infection of pigs and wild boars with HEV showed that these animals can be HEV virus reservoirs in Lithuania. Consumption of pork and game meat products was shown to pose a risk for HEV infection in humans. |
