an increasing trendp < 0.05
However, the presence of an increasing trend was assessed per pig by ordinary linear regression, showing a statistically significant ( p < 0.05) increase in serum ALT-levels during the period of faecal HEV RNA excretion for one contact-infected pig necropsied 55 days after first faecal HEV RNA excretion and for three iv -pigs (nos. 6, 7 and 9 in Tables 2 and 3 ).