High seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in feral swine (Sus Scrofa) from Bahía Samborombón, Argentina: relevance to one health surveillance

Abstract

Objective: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonosis circulating inmultiple wild and domestic mammals. In Argentina, genotype 3 has beendetected in humans, pigs, and environmental water, but the role of feral swine(Sus scrofa) remains underexplored. This study was aimed at investigatingHEV exposure in feral swine from Bahía Samborombón, a high-density coastalpopulation.Methods: Serum samples from 44 feral swine culled during population controlactivities in Campos del Tuyú National Park (Bahía Samborombón, Buenos AiresProvince, Argentina) between 2021 and 2022 were opportunistically collectedand tested with a commercial multi-species ELISA detecting antibodies to HEV(genotypes 1–4).Results: Overall, 54.5% (24/44; 95% CI: 38.8–69.6) of the animals wereseropositive for HEV, and no significant differences were found between malesand females (p = 0.077).Conclusions: The observed high seropositivity exceeding previously reportedlevels in Argentina indicated widespread exposure in this high-density coastalwetland. These findings underscore the need for integrated One Health andmulti-species surveillance to better understand transmission dynamics andinform risk mitigation at the wildlife-livestock-human interface.