مشخصات پژوهش

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is recognized as a novel zoonotic agent. Due to lack of data on the presence of HEV in small ruminants in Iran, the study aimed to detect the HEV RNA in goat feces and raw milk samples. To address this gap, 155 pooled samples, including 83 feces and 72 milk samples, were collected from 83 goat farms during December 2022 to December 2023 in Mazandaran province. All samples were screened for HEV RNA by conventional PCR and nested RT-PCR. A total four farms were found positive for HEV RNA, exclusively in feces samples, while all milk samples were negative. These finding propose that fecal-oral transmission still remains as the prevailing route of HEV transmission. Although, all milk samples were negative, we cannot eliminate the potential risk of HEV transmission through dairy products. This data has provided insight into the circulation of HEV in the targeted population and emphasizes the need for comprehensive surveillance and routine diagnostic programs. Furthermore, epidemiological investigations are necessary to evaluate viral dissemination among livestock and to identify potential risk factors to humans.