Possible Role of Wild Mammals in Transmission of Pseudorabies to Swine

Abstract

Of 73 wild and domestic mammals tested from an area endemic for pseudorabies in swine, 16 showed natural pseudorabies virus infection, 8 from farms with no pseudorabies history. In transmission experiments with swine and raccoons (Procyon lotor), pseudorabies was not transmitted between raccoons but was transmitted reciprocally between raccoons and swine by contact and when either consumed infected carrion of the other. The fluorescent antibody tissue section test proved valuable in diagnosis of pseudorabies, especially when employed with the virus isolation test.

Serologic Survey for Selected Infectious Disease Agents in Raccoons From Illinois

“…Previous experimental studies have indicated that raccoons can transmit PV to swine (Kirkpatrick et al, 1980). Although a potential role for raccoons in PV transmission has been postulated, previous studies have had difficulty in identifying free-ranging raccoons with positive serum neutralizing titers (Wright and Thawley, 1980).…”

“…These findings suggest that the raccoon may act as a sentinel for PV in certain areas. Raccoons have been found to approach swine farms and feed on assorted feedstuffs, swine carcasses, and garbage, in this and other studies (Kirkpatrick et al, 1980;Thawley and Wright, 1982). The identification of seropositive raccoons could be used to help assess the PV status of a geographic region.…”

“…Raccoons are considered the natural reservoir for the human and animal pathogen, Leptospira interrogans serotype grippotyphosa, and may be infected with other serovars (Prescott et al, 1991;Shotts et al, 1975). Experimentally, infected raccoons are able to transmit pseudorabies virus (PV) to swine (Kirkpatrick et al, 1980). Raccoons may serve as a source of foodborne exposure to Toxoplasma gondii or may be sentinels of environmental exposure potential for humans and domestic animals (Dubey et al, 1993).…”

Presence of Antibodies Against Aujeszky's Disease Virus in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Slovenia

“…Infections in domestic swine can result in fatal encephalitis in newborn pigs, mild or subclinical infections in older animals (Tozzini et al, 1982;Romero et al, 2001), and abortion in pregnant sows (Baskerville, 1981); survivors are latently infected. Feral swine are a recognized reservoir of ADV (Kirkpatrick et al, 1980;Nettles and Erickson, 1984;Van der Leek et al, 1993;Capua et al, 1997;Lipowski, 2003) and thus represent a possible source for infection of domestic swine (Corn et al, 1986;Pirtle et al, 1989;Corn et al, 2004). The importance of this reservoir will increased with the successful eradication of ADV from domestic swine.…”

Detection of antibodies against pathogens in feral and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) at the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

“…Los cerdos juegan un papel muy importante en la ecología de la enfermedad porque varios subtipos de VIP pueden infectar simultáneamente a los cerdos 15 . La enfermedad de Aujeszky es otra infección viral en la que los cerdos son los únicos hospederos naturales y los principales reservorios, sin embargo, también puede afectar a otros mamíferos, incluyendo rumiantes, carnívoros y roedores, entre ellos especies de fauna silvestre como mapaches, zorrillos, zorras, coyotes y grandes felinos 14,16,17 . Además de esta diversidad de virus patógenos, se realizó la detección de anticuerpos frente a enfermedades bacterianas como leptospirosis, salmonelosis y brucelosis, las cuales tienen la capacidad de afectar a una amplia variedad de especies, y tienen potencial zoonótico.…”