Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Wild Boars in Western Bulgaria

Scientific evidence indicates that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a zoonotic disease. Domestic pigs and wild boars are the main animal reservoir for HEV worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of HEV infection among wild boars in western Bulgaria. Serum samples from 240 wild boars from two regions of the country (northwestern and southwestern) were tested for anti-HEV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. The overall HEV seroprevalence was 40.8% (98/240); northwestern region 40.0% (48/120); southwestern region 41.7% (50/120). HEV seropositivity in the southwestern region was higher than in the northwestern region: odds ratio = 1.071 (95% confidence interval: 0.640-1.793). This research provided the first seroprevalence study to HEV in wild boars from western Bulgaria.

Automated summary

The seroprevalence study of HEV in wild boars in western Bulgaria revealed an overall seroprevalence of 40.8%, with a slightly higher seroprevalence observed in the southwestern region compared to the northwestern region. This research provides valuable information for understanding the prevalence of HEV in wild boars in the region.