Hepatitis E vírus causes acute hepatitis in human. Virus strains belonging to genotype 3 and 4 are zoonotic: main reservoir species are swine, wild boar and wild ruminants, however seroconversion was also detected in cattle, small ruminants and rabbit. The infection is asymptomatic in animals, therefore means food-safety risk.

The project (titled: Animal health and food hygiene significance of hepatitis E virus in swine and rabbits) is supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) between 2014 and 2017.