Wild boar as the reservoir of pathogens, pathogenic for swine, other species of animals and for humans

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the current knowledge on wild boar as a reservoir of viruses, bacteria and parasites being pathogenic also to other species of animals, and for humans, but particularly to pigs belonging to the same species, Sus scrofa, as the wild boar. Since wild boar and domestic pigs belong to the same taxonomic species they are susceptible to the same pathogens and can infect each other. Therefore free – ranging wild boar are increasingly considered to be a threat to the pig industry and the international movement of pigs and swine products. Particularly African swine fever, classical swine fever, and foot and mouth disease are those OIE-listed diseases, discussed in the paper. Additionally, domestic pigs can be infected from wild boar by PPV, PCV2, TGE and ADV. The last mentioned microorganism is causing infection and disease also in other species of animals. The wild boar is participating, by carriership, of infecting several species of animals and human by Leptospira serotypes, Brucella suis, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella spp., pathogenic serovars of Escherichia coli. The same relates to bovine tuberculosis, Japanase encephalitis virus and influenza A typ viruses. Finally trichinellosis transfer from wild boar to humans with not cooked meat containing larves of Trichinella spp. is mentioned. In general remarks it is noted that to prevent pathogen introduction from wild boar to domestic animals particularly to pigs, but also other species and to humans the surveillance of the wild boar behaviour in their living conditions and environment is recommended...