Hepatitis E virus exposure across multiple host species in a shared ecosystem in Argentina

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can infect both animals and people and is commonly transmitted through contaminated water or food. Wildlife, particularly wild boar, can help maintain the virus in the environment and create opportunities for infection across species. In a protected area of Argentina where invasive wild boar and deer are managed and their meat is consumed by people and dogs, we investigated exposure to HEV in wildlife, domestic animals, and humans who share the same ecosystem. Antibodies in blood samples showed that exposure to the virus was common in wild boar and less so in humans, dogs, and deer. In wild boar, higher exposure was detected in low-lying areas near water bodies that are prone to flooding, suggesting these environmental conditions can favor virus persistence and transmission. This study provides novel antibody-based evidence of HEV exposure in axis deer and dogs in Argentina and the first report of exposure in wild boar from this protected area. Thus, hunting practices and game meat consumption habits may increase risk of exposure in humans. These findings highlight the importance of integrating wildlife surveillance, environmental factors, and human activities into efforts to reduce the risk of diseases that can be shared between animals and people.