Familial Hepatitis E Outbreak Linked to Wild Boar Meat Consumption.

Area of Science:

• * Virology
• * Epidemiology
• * Public Health

Background:

• * Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant cause of acute hepatitis globally.
• * Zoonotic transmission of HEV, particularly genotype 3, is increasingly recognized.
• * Wild boar are known reservoirs for HEV, posing a potential risk to humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the route of transmission of acute hepatitis E in an HIV-infected patient.
• * To determine the role of wild boar meat consumption in HEV infection.
• * To assess the prevalence and genetic characteristics of HEV in wild boar populations.

Main Methods:

• * Epidemiological inquiry including demographic and exposure data.
• * HEV RNA detection and phylogenetic analysis in patient's family members, consumed wild boar meat, and hunted wild boar.
• * Comparison of HEV sequences from human and animal sources.

Main Results:

• * HEV RNA was detected in all eight family members, confirming HEV infection.
• * HEV was identified in wild boar meat slices consumed by the family.
• * HEV genotype 3 was isolated from family members, meat, and nine wild boar, showing 100% homology.

Conclusions:

• * Zoonotic transmission of HEV occurred through consumption of contaminated wild boar meat.
• * Wild boar in the studied area are highly prevalent for HEV genotype 3.
• * Wild boar represent a significant source of HEV infection for humans.