2011 Volume 64 Issue 1 Pages 67-70
The prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in wild boars in Gunma Prefecture, Japan was serologically and genetically examined from March 2006 to March 2008. The positive detection rates of IgG antibodies against HEV and HEV RNA in wild boars were 3.4% (3/87) and 2.1% (3/140), respectively. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the HEV ORF1 genes detected in the present study showed the same sequences and belonged to genotype Ⅲ. In addition, in a phylogenetic analysis, HEV genes detected from fattening pigs in the past study in Gunma Prefecture exhibited a significant vicinal character to those from the wild boars in this study that inhabited an area neighboring the HEV RNA-positive pig in the prior study. In Gunma Prefecture, HEV is comparatively widespread in wild boars, and uncooked meat or liver may be a potential vehicle for transmitting HEV to humans.
