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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Isolation and characterisation of an Aujeszky's disease virus naturally infecting a wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Journal:
Veterinary microbiology
Year:
1997
Authors:
Capua, I et al.
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale · Italy

Plain-English summary

Researchers found the Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), which can affect animals like dogs and cats, in a female wild boar that had been shot by hunters near Abruzzo National Park. The boar was injured, and after several pets that had eaten its meat became sick, scientists tested its brain for the virus. They successfully isolated the virus from the brain and identified it as a specific type. The study also discusses how stress might trigger the virus in wild boars and raises concerns about the potential for the virus to spread to endangered animals in the park, such as bears, wolves, wild cats, and lynx. Overall, the findings suggest that wild boars could be a source of ADV infection.

Abstract

Isolation of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) from an injured, female wild boar (Sus scrofa), shot dead by hunters, in an area adjacent to the Abruzzo National Park is reported. The brain was submitted for attempted virus isolation following episodes of mortality in several dogs and cats fed with meat from the wild boar. Virus was isolated on first passage from the brain of the wild boar. The restriction fragment length polymorphism profile of the isolate was assessed as a type I. The role of stress in reactivating latent ADV in wild boars, the possibility of transmitting infection to endangered species such as bears (Ursus arctos), wolves (Canis lupus), wild cats (Felis silvestris) and lynx (Lynx lynx), present in the Abruzzo National Park and the possible role of wild boars as reservoirs for ADV is discussed.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9220606/