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The comparison of these samples, together with six additional samples from a previous study, has made it possible to establish "a close phylogenetic relationship" -- that is, evolutionary kinship and genetic similarity -- with the HEV strains from blood donors in this area.

Serra-Cobo, a member of the UB's Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, notes that "all the isolated viruses were classified within genotype 3 of HEV."

Moreover, the wild boar samples with the virus belonged to non-adult individuals, which, according to the researchers, indicates the endemic -- that is, habitual and permanent -- maintenance of HEV in the wild boar population of the metropolitan area by young individuals.

In this sense, they explain that "the lack of HEV detection in adult wild boars suggests that young animals are exposed to infection by the virus in the first years of life, while adults have already overcome the infection and are protected from reinfection."

"Given that the synurbization -- the presence and adaptation of wild boar in urbanized environments -- of wild boar is a global phenomenon, which is increasing and expanding, the results of this study should be useful to develop and establish programmes for monitoring, surveillance and, eventually, control of HEV both in the metropolitan area of Barcelona and in other urban areas of the world," says Serra-Cobo.