Characterizing the antibiotic resistance genes in a river catchment: Influence of anthropogenic activities

Previous studies on environmental antibiotics resistance genes(ARGs) have focused on the pollution sources such as wastewater treatment plants, aquaculture and livestock farms,etc. Few of them had addressed this issue in a regional scale such as river catchment. Hence,the occurrence and abundances of 23 ARGs were investigated in surface water samples collected from 38 sites which located from the river source to estuary of the Beijiang River.Among them, 11 ARGs were frequently detected in this region and 5 ARGs(sul I, sul II, tet B,tet C, and tet W) were selected for their distribution pattern analysis. The abundances of the selected ARGs were higher in the upstream(8.70 × 10~6 copies/ng DNA) and downstream areas(3.17 × 10~6 copies/ng DNA) than those in the midstream areas(1.23 × 10~6 copies/ng DNA), which was positively correlated to the population density and number of pollution sources. Pollution sources of ARGs along the Beijiang River not only had a great impact on the abundances and diversity, but also on the distribution of specific ARGs in the water samples. Both sul I and sul II were likely originated from aquaculture farms and animal farms,tet W gene was possibly associated with the mining/metal melting industry and the electric waste disposal and tet C gene was commonly found in the area with multiple pollution sources.However, the abundance of tet B was not particularly related to anthropogenic impacts. These findings highlight the influence of pollution sources and density of population on the distribution and dissemination of ARGs at a regional scale.     

A preliminary investigation on the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in the Beijiang River, South China

The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was investigated and quantified in 20 water samples collected in the Beijiang River, South China. Sulfonamide- and tetracycline-resistant bacteria were present in 17 and 14 of the collected 20 samples. For sulfonamide ARGs, sulI and sulII were frequently observed in the Beijiang River. The levels of sulI were higher than sulII (p < 0.05), with the mean values of (1.41 ± 1.12) × 10-2 and (1.58 ± 1.71) × 10-3 copies/16S rDNA, respectively. For tetracycline ARGs, tetG had the highest frequency, 100%, followed by tetA (85%), tetO (85%), tetC (70%), tetX (60%), tetM (40%) and tetQ (20%), while tetE and tetS were not detected in all the samples from the Beijiang River. On the other hand, tetC had the highest concentration, ranging from 8.30 × 10-2 to 13.20 copies/16S rDNA. The poor correlation between ARGs and antibiotic concentrations revealed that the self-amplification and persistence of ARGs were the reasons that made ARGs exist in the water environment even though the antibiotic selecting pressure was absent. Because so few field measurements have been conducted for investigating the levels of ARGs in rivers in South China, this study provides an important insight on better understanding the occurrence and spread of ARGs in such an ecosystem.     

南京地区污水厂、自来水厂及长江中抗性基因MCR-1和NDM-1的污染特征

近年来,新型抗性基因以其易传播和耐药广等特性,展现出比传统抗性基因更严峻的健康风险,在临床卫生领域受到广泛关注,但目前对其在环境中的行为和风险研究很少.为此,考察了2种有代表性的新型抗性基因MCR-1和NDM-1的污染特征,并借助荧光定量PCR探索了长江下游（南京段）及附近污水厂和自来水厂中MCR-1和NDM-1的分布特征,进而采用RDA（冗余性分析）评价了分布特征受水质指标的影响效果.结果表明:①污水厂进水中MCR-1和NDM-1绝对丰度较高,且随处理流程呈下降趋势,总去除率分别为92.5%和92.7%,但出水中MCR-1和NDM-1绝对丰度仍分别达2.5×108和7.0×106 copies/L.②长江下游（南京段）各采样点MCR-1和NDM-1绝对丰度的范围分别为8.5×107~3.5×109和4.3×105~2.1×107 copies/L,随水流方向呈降低趋势,但在个别采样点出现异常升高的情况,主要受该区域人为污染的影响.③自来水厂处理工艺对MCR-1和NDM-1去除率分别为75.0%和70.6%,但出水中存留的MCR-1和NDM-1绝对丰度分别达1.4×107和6.3×104 copies/L,且MCR-1和NDM-1在排泥水中大量富集.④MCR-1绝对丰度与ρ（COD_Cr）、ρ（NH₃-N）、电导率呈正相关,而NDM-1绝对丰度仅和浊度存在弱相关关系,与其他水质指标无明显相关性.研究显示,污水处理工艺无法有效去除MCR-1和NDM-1,大量抗性基因通过污水厂出水排入长江,同时自来水厂以含有较高绝对丰度抗性基因的长江水作为水源水,最终自来水厂出水中残存的抗性基因可能进入人体,生态健康风险较大.      

尾矿库水体环境抗生素抗性基因的分布特征

抗生素抗性基因是近年来人们普遍关注的新型环境生物污染物,也是科学家们研究的热点.为了探究尾矿库水体环境抗生素抗性基因的污染特征,揭示尾矿库水体环境抗生素抗性基因的影响因素,本文采用超高通量定量PCR技术（HT-qPCR）,研究了某尾矿库的4个点位的水体抗生素抗性基因的多样性、丰度和驱动机制.结果表明,尾矿库水体环境具有种类多样的抗生素抗性基因,库区水体（WK0）、主坝排渗水（WK1）、副坝排渗水（WK2）和河水（HS）分别检测出抗生素抗性基因97、52、44和56种,可移动遗传元件分别检测到11、6、3和6种;在绝对丰度水平上,库区水体（WK0）、主坝排渗水（WK1）、副坝排渗水（WK2）和河水（HS）分别有1.75×10⁸、6.39×10⁷、9.90×10⁷和7.37×10⁷ copies·L^-1,库区水体的抗性基因丰度最高,表明库区是一个潜在的抗性基因存储库;冗余分析（RDA）表明,铜Cu、总有机碳TOC和可移动遗传元件（MGEs）与抗生素抗性基因呈显著正相关的关系,这3个因素对抗生素抗性基因变化的解释量达到了61.64%（前两轴）,因此Cu、TOC和MGEs对尾矿库水体环境抗生素抗性基因的赋存和演变可能具有重要作用.     

微塑料对海水抗生素抗性基因的影响

水环境中的微塑料和微生物抗生素抗性基因复合污染已经发展成为全球性的重大环境问题,给人类健康和生态环境带来新的挑战.海水中的微塑料残留日益增加,但是不同种类微塑料对海水抗生素抗性基因的干扰和影响还不是很清楚.选择了聚乙烯（PE）、聚氯乙烯（PVC）和具有一定水溶性的聚乙烯醇（PVA）这3种乙烯基微塑料,采集海水并添加微塑料进行了曝气培养实验（49 d）,利用高通量定量PCR技术,研究微塑料对海水抗生素抗性基因的影响.结果表明,空白对照海水、添加PE海水、添加PVC海水和添加PVA海水抗生素抗性基因的种类分别为20、35、42和64种,微塑料使得海水中的抗生素抗性基因种类显著增多;在丰度水平上,空白对照海水、添加PE海水、添加PVC海水和添加PVA海水抗生素抗性基因的丰度分别为4.01×10⁶、2.75×10⁷、4.54×10⁷和1.05×10⁸ copies·L^-1,微塑料显著增加了海水中抗生素抗性基因的丰度.因此,相较于空白对照海水,微塑料显著增加了海水抗生素抗性基因多样性和丰度水平;OLS回归分析显示,抗生素抗性基因与16S rRNA基因和可移动遗传元件有着显著正相关关系,说明微生物的丰度和基因水平转移机制能够影响海水抗生素抗性基因的分布、存续和演变.     

华东地区某饮用水源地中磺胺类抗性基因的分布特征

饮用水源中检测到的抗生素抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)对饮用水质安全和人体健康产生的潜在威胁受到广泛关注.在掌握了华东地区某饮用水源地13种磺胺类抗生素的污染特征基础上,进一步采用定性PCR和荧光定量PCR解析该饮用水源水和底泥中磺胺类ARGs(sul1、sul2)以及抗性基因可转移元件Ⅰ型整合酶基因(int I1)的分布特征.结果表明,3种基因在该饮用水源水和底泥中均100%检出,sul1基因是该饮用水源地中检出含量最高的磺胺类ARGs,在水源水中含量范围为1.5×104~6.4×105copies·mL~(-1),底泥中则高达1.6×108copies·g~(-1),较sul2、int I1基因分别高0.6~2.2、0.5~1.9个数量级.sul1、sul2和int I1基因在该水源地入水口和出水口处的绝对含量无显著差别,而在底泥中sul1、sul2和int I1基因的绝对含量则是出水口高于入水口.sul1在夏季水源地出水口的检出含量最高,为6.4×105copies·mL~(-1);int I1基因在冬季的检出含量高于其他季节.sul1基因与13种磺胺类抗生素具有相关性(r=0.69,P0.05),其中与磺胺甲唑的含量显著相关(r=0.79,P0.01);int I1与sul1、sul2的相对含量之间也存在正相关关系(r为0.80和0.73,P0.05),这表明int I1在磺胺类ARGs的水平转移过程中起到了重要作用.本研究为典型饮用水源地中ARGs的污染现状提供基础数据,也为管控饮用水环境的抗性基因污染和制定管理决策提供依据.     

Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis A Virus and Norovirus in Mussels from Galicia (NW Spain)

Shellfish are recognized as a potential vehicle of viral disease and despite the control measures for shellfish safety there is periodic emergence of viral outbreaks associated with shellfish consumption. In this study a total of 81 mussel samples from Ría do Burgo, A Coruña (NW Spain) were analysed. Samples were collected in seven different harvesting areas with the aim to establish a correlation between the prevalence of norovirus (NoV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in mussel samples and the water quality. In addition, the genogroup of the detected HAV and NoV strains was also determined. The HAV presence was detected in 18.5 % of the samples. Contamination levels for this virus ranged from 1.1 × 10² to 4.1 × 10⁶ RNA copies/g digestive tissue. NoV were detected in 49.4 % of the cases reaching contamination levels from 5.9 × 10³ to 1.6 × 10⁹ RNA copies/g digestive tissue for NoV GI and from 6.1 × 10³ to 5.4 × 10⁶ RNA copies/g digestive tissue for NoV GII. The χ²-test showed no statistical correlation between the number of positive samples and the classification of molluscan harvesting area based on the E. coli number. All the detected HAV strains belong to genogroup IB. NoV strains were assigned to genotype I.4, II.4 and II.6.     

NirS-type denitrifying bacteria in aerobic water layers of two drinking water reservoirs: Insights into the abundance, community diversity and co-existence model

The nirS-type denitrifying bacterial community is the main drivers of the nitrogen loss process in drinking water reservoir ecosystems.The temporal patterns in nirS gene abundance and nirS-type denitrifying bacterial community harbored in aerobic water layers of drinking water reservoirs have not been studied well.In this study,quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Illumina Miseq sequencing were employed to explore the nirS gene abundance and denitrifying bacterial community structur...     

渔业复垦塌陷地抗生素抗性基因与微生物群落

水产养殖行业抗生素的广泛使用引起了抗生素抗性基因（antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs）污染问题.为探究渔业复垦塌陷地ARGs污染特征,利用宏基因组学技术检测分析了渔业复垦塌陷地ARGs的相对丰度和微生物群落结构.研究区域共检测出29种ARGs,bacA在所有样品中相对丰度最高,达1.96×10^-5~1.19×10^-4.沉积物中磺胺类和四环素类ARGs相对丰度较高,井水中多药类ARGs相对丰度较高.微生物群落结构表明变形菌门（Proteobacteria）在所有样品中为最优势细菌门,沉积物中绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）和广古菌门（Euryarchaeota）较为优势.属水平上,硫杆菌属（Thiobacillus）为沉积物中最优势细菌属,不动杆菌属（Acinetobacter）和假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）为井水中优势细菌属.ARGs与微生物相关性分析表明,菌属与ARGs间主要呈中度相关,多种菌属与ARGs显著正相关,ARGs的分布受微生物群落结构的重要影响.渔业复垦塌陷地沉积物与井水均受到ARGs污染,应加强相应控制措施保护区域环境.     

再生水补给型城市景观水体中抗生素抗性基因的污染特征——以圆明园为例

由于抗生素抗性基因(Antibiotic Resistance Genes,ARGs)对环境和人类健康存在潜在威胁而逐渐受到人们的重视,高人口密度城市中典型景观水体是ARGs储存库和传播媒介.本研究采用实时荧光定量PCR技术,研究了圆明园不同点位的ARGs污染情况和分布特征.结果表明:园区中ARGs的绝对丰度范围在n.d.(未检出)～1.08×10~9copies·L~(-1)之间;园区进水口目标ARGs的丰度低于末端,表明封闭的水体可能为ARGs的积累提供了理想培养基.在所检测基因中,磺胺类ARGs占主导,ARGs的绝对丰度依次为:sulIIsulImefAtetQtetMermB.磺胺类ARGs与指示微生物粪大肠菌群和大肠杆菌间存在显著相关性,表明指示微生物在ARGs的传播中可能起着关键作用.     

Quantification and Genetic Analysis of Salivirus/Klassevirus in Wastewater in Arizona,USA

Salivirus/klassevirus sequences were identified in 7 (15 %) wastewater samples collected in Arizona monthly for a year, with the highest concentration of 2.28 × 10⁵ and 2.46 × 10⁴ copies/L in influent and effluent, respectively. This is the first report of quantification and genetic analysis of salivirus/klassevirus in water samples in the United States.     

Environmental Surveillance for Noroviruses in Selected South African Wastewaters 2015–2016: Emergence of the Novel GII.17

Norovirus (NoV) GII.4 is the predominant genotype associated with gastroenteritis pandemics and new strains emerge every 2–3 years. Between 2008 and 2011, environmental studies in South Africa (SA) reported NoVs in 63% of the sewage-polluted river water samples. The aim of this study was to assess whether wastewater samples could be used for routine surveillance of NoVs, including GII.4 variants. From April 2015 to March 2016, raw sewage and effluent water samples were collected monthly from five wastewater treatment plants in SA. A total of 108 samples were screened for NoV GI and GII using real-time RT-qPCR. Overall 72.2% (78/108) of samples tested positive for NoVs with 4.6% (5/108) GI, 31.5% (34/108) GII and 36.1% (39/108) GI + GII strains being detected. Norovirus concentrations ranged from 1.02 × 10² to 3.41 × 10⁶ genome copies/litre for GI and 5.00 × 10³ to 1.31 × 10⁶ genome copies/litre for GII. Sixteen NoV genotypes (GI.2, GI.3, GI.4, GI.5, GI.6, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.7, GII.9, GII.10, GII.14, GII.16, GII.17, GII.20, and GII.21) were identified. Norovirus GII.2 and GII.17 co-dominated and the majority of GII.17 strains clustered with the novel Kawasaki 2014 variant. Sewage surveillance facilitated detection of Kawasaki 2014 in SA, which to date has not been detected with surveillance in children with gastroenteritis <5 years of age. Combined surveillance in the clinical setting and environment appears to be a valuable strategy to monitor emergence of NoV strains in countries that lack NoV outbreak surveillance.     

Quantification and Genotyping of Aichi Virus 1 in Water Samples in the Kathmandu Valley,Nepal

Aichi virus 1 genomes were detected by quantitative PCR in groundwater from shallow dug (10/22) and tube wells (1/15), river water (14/14), and sewage (1/1), with the maximum concentration of 4.0 × 10⁹ copies/l. Nucleotide sequencing analysis demonstrated the prevalence of genotype B in the virus positive samples.     

布吉河丰水期总细菌和氨氧化细菌的定性和定量研究

河流中微生物的数量和群落结构能在一定程度上反映水环境状况.氨氧化细菌驱动的硝化作用是氮素转化的主要机制,为了解氮素污染河流中氨氧化细菌的群落组成及数量,采用变性梯度凝胶电泳(denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)和Real-time PCR技术分析了布吉河丰水期不同断面水样中总细菌和氨氧化细菌的群落结构以及数量变化.结果表明,水样中总细菌(16S rRNA)和氨氧化细菌(16S rRNA)数量变化范围分别为4.73×1010～3.90×1011copies.L-1和5.44×106～5.96×108copies.L-1.冗余度分析表明影响微生物数量和群落结构的水环境因子不同:对于总细菌,与其数量显著相关的环境因子是硝氮(P<0.05),与其群落结构显著相关的环境因子是氮素(三氮)和金属(Mn和Zn)(P<0.05);对于氨氧化细菌(ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AOB),与其数量显著相关的是氨氮和Zn(P<0.05),与其群落组成显著相关的是氨氮、Mn和Zn(P<0.05).测序结果表明在布吉河水样中微生物属于变形菌门(Proteobacterium)的Epsilon-Proteobacteria、Gamma-Proteobacteria、Beta-Proteobacteria和Delta-Proteobacteria这4个纲,氨氧化细菌与Nitrosomonas sp.和Nitrosospira sp.属的细菌相似度较高,且Nitrosospira sp.为优势菌属.由于污染影响,布吉河上游和下游微生物群落结构明显不同.     

环境中抗生素抗性基因丰度与抗生素和重金属含量的相关性分析:基于Web of Science数据库检索

抗生素和重金属是两种重要的环境污染物和耐药性选择压力源,但低含量水平下其对环境微生物种群耐药性水平的影响尚不明确.本文全面检索了截至2020年1月1日发表在Web of Science数据库中同时监测了抗生素抗性基因（ARGs）丰度、抗生素含量或重金属含量的研究文献,提取相关数据,利用统计回归方法调查环境介质中3个参数的相关关系.结果表明,除废水外,地表水、沉积物和土壤等环境介质中,即使在非常低的抗生素含量水平下,抗生素选择压力也会对ARGs丰度的增加产生显著的统计效应（P<0.05）.不同类别抗生素对耐药基因表现出不同程度的选择和富集作用.重金属含量以及抗生素含量和重金属含量的交互作用对ARGs的传播也具有显著影响（P<0.05）.水相和固相环境样本的多变量统计回归模型的最终R²分别为0.482和0.707,比单变量回归的R²更高,能更好地解释ARGs丰度的差异,但环境中还存在其他可能影响ARGs丰度的因素.本文的研究结果可为环境中抗生素耐药性风险评估及传播控制提供支撑.     

Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pepper Mild Mottle Virus</Emphasis> (PMMoV) in Groundwater from a Karst Aquifer System in the Yucatan Peninsula,Mexico

The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico hosts a karst aquifer system that is the only source of freshwater for the area; however, it is vulnerable to human-mediated contamination. Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is one of the most abundant RNA viruses associated with human feces, making it a viable indicator for tracking fecal pollution in aquatic environments, including groundwater. In this study, groundwater samples collected from a karst aquifer from fresh and brackish water locations were analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria, somatic and male F+ specific coliphages, and PMMoV during the rainy and dry seasons. Total coliform bacteria were detected at all sites, whereas Escherichia coli were found at relatively low levels <40 MPN/100 ml. The highest average concentrations of somatic and male F+ specific coliphages were 920 and 330 plaque forming units per 100 ml, respectively, detected in freshwater during the rainy season. PMMoV RNA was detected in 85% of the samples with gene sequences sharing 99–100% of nucleotide identity with PMMoV sequences available in GenBank. Quantification of PMMoV genome copies (GC) by quantitative real-time PCR indicated concentrations ranging from 1.7 × 10¹ to 1.0 × 10⁴ GC/L, with the highest number of GC detected during the rainy season. No significant correlation was observed between PMMoV occurrence by season or water type (p > 0.05). Physicochemical and indicator bacteria were not correlated with PMMoV concentrations. The abundance and prevalence of PMMoV in the karst aquifer may reflect its environmental persistence and its potential as a fecal indicator in this karst aquifer system.     

江苏省代表性水源地抗生素及抗性基因赋存现状

抗生素和抗生素抗性基因（antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs）是环境中重要的新兴污染物,为探明江苏省代表性水源地多种环境介质中抗生素和ARGs的污染水平及影响因素,于2018年12月和2019年6月采集苏北、苏中和苏南的5处代表性集中式饮用水水源地取水口处水体、表层沉积物和石相附着生物膜样品,对3种介质中10种代表性抗生素浓度、1类整合子酶基因intl1和7种代表性ARGs的绝对丰度进行检测分析.结果表明,5处水源地中目标抗生素和ARGs处于较低赋存水平.磺胺类抗生素在水体、表层沉积物和附着生物膜中的赋存量分别为NF（未检出）~37.4 ng·L^-1,NF~47.3 ng·g^-1和NF~3759.1 ng·g^-1.喹诺酮类抗生素在3种介质中的浓度和含量分别为NF~5.3 ng·L^-1、0.4~32.5 ng·g^-1和NF~4220.9 ng·g^-1.目的ARGs中,sul1、sul2、tetW和tetQ的检出率为100%,其中磺胺类抗生素ARGs,即sul1和sul2基因丰度最高.表层沉积物和附着生物膜中的ARGs丰度相当,高于水体中ARGs的丰度.网络分析结果表明,所属拟杆菌门、变形菌门、厚壁菌门、疣微菌门和放线菌门的细菌最有可能成为代表性水源地中ARGs的潜在宿主,在ARGs的扩散和转移过程中起重要作用.研究结果对于江苏省集中式饮用水源地水环境质量状况评估和水质安全保障具有一定的科学指导意义.     

铜对蚯蚓转化牛粪过程抗生素抗性基因的影响

以赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia fetida）为试验蚓种,设定不同Cu浓度梯度,研究蚯蚓转化牛粪过程中Cu对ARGs消长的影响.结果表明,不同Cu浓度处理下,ARGs累积总丰度呈现出CF （未添加Cu）-1降低至4.33×10^-1copies/16S copies.低、中浓度Cu的添加显著提高了样品中ARGs的总丰度水平（P<0.05）.通过研究不同类型ARGs在不同时间阶段的变化,发现低、高浓度Cu处理组（T1、T3）在蚯蚓转化过程中提高了tet-ARGs、erm-ARGs和str-ARGs的丰度,而中浓度Cu处理组（T2）中tet-ARGs和str-ARGs丰度降低.冗余分析（RDA）得出pH值显著影响蚯蚓转化过程中ARGs相对丰度的变化（P<0.05）,且TOC、TN和Cu对ARGs的消长也发挥着重要作用.蚯蚓转化可加速牛粪中ARGs丰度的削减,一定程度上能够减少其环境风险,但牛粪中Cu的残留可导致蚯蚓转化过程中部分ARGs的富集,因此亟需进一步优化蚯蚓转化处理工艺.     

微塑料对河口沉积物抗生素抗性基因的影响

微塑料和抗生素抗性基因都是环境中的新兴污染物,也是近年来的研究热点.为探究微塑料对河口沉积物抗生素抗性基因的影响,在沉积物中添加3种不同的微塑料进行培养实验,主要采用高通量定量PCR方法研究河口沉积物抗性基因种类、丰度、多样性及其变化情况.结果表明,微塑料显著改变了沉积物中抗生素抗性基因结构组成,两种难降解微塑料PVC和PE使得沉积物抗生素抗性基因组成结构显著改变,而可溶性微塑料PVA使得沉积物抗生素抗性基因种类数显著减少;添加PVC、PE和PVA微塑料的沉积物抗生素抗性基因的绝对丰度显著增加,分别为4. 1×10~9、8. 1×10~9和2. 0×10~9copies·g~(-1),添加PE微塑料的沉积物抗生素抗性基因丰度增加了近一个数量级,微塑料显著增加了沉积物抗生素抗性基因的绝对丰度; OLS回归分析显示,抗生素抗性基因丰度与转座子、整合子基因显著正相关,表明可移动遗传元件可能促进了抗生素抗性基因的迁移、传播和扩散.     

Screening of Ready-to-Eat Meat Products for Hepatitis E Virus in Switzerland

Seroprevalence data for pig herds suggested that there must be a relevant reservoir for hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Switzerland. To know more about the viral presence in ready-to-eat meat products, we screened pork liver sausages and raw meat sausages from the Swiss retail market for the presence of HEV. Testing was performed with a detection method where the virus extraction step was optimized. As for the performance of the improved method, the mean recovery rate for the mengovirus process control was 24.4%, whereas for HEV-inoculated sample matrices between 10.4 and 100% were achieved. The limit of detection was about 1.56 × 10³ and 1.56 × 10² genome copies per gram for liver sausages and raw meat sausages, respectively. In the screening programme, HEV-RNA was detected in 10 of total 90 (11.1%) meat products, 7 of 37 (18.9%) liver sausages, and 3 of 53 (5.7%) raw meat sausages. Virus loads of up to 5.54 log₁₀ HEV genome copies per gram were measured. All sequences retrieved from positive samples belonged to HEV genotype 3. The significance of the presented work was a current overview of the HEV prevalence in ready-to-eat meat products on the Swiss retail marked and an improvement of the extraction efficiency of the HEV detection method.