Zoonotic pathogens from feral swine that pose a significant threat to public health

Abstract

The natural fecundity of suids, great ability to adapt to new habitats and desire for local hunting opportunities leading to translocation of feral pigs to regions where they are not yet established have all been instrumental in the home range expansion of feral swine. Feral swine populations in the United States continue to expand, wreaking havoc on agricultural lands, further compromising threatened and endangered species, and posing a microbiological threat to humans, domestic livestock and companion animals. This manuscript thoroughly reviews zoonotic diseases of concern including brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, leptospirosis, enteric pathogens, both Salmonella spp. and shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and hepatitis E. These pathogens are not a comprehensive list of microbes that are capable of infecting both humans and feral swine, but rather have been selected as they are known to infect US feral swine, direct transmission between wild suids and humans has previously been documented, or they have been shown to be readily transmitted during processing or consumption of feral swine pork. Humans that interact directly or indirectly with feral swine are at much higher risk for the development of a number of zoonotic pathogens. Numerous case reports document transmission events from feral swine and wild boar to humans, and the resulting diseases may be mild and self-limiting, chronic or fatal. Individuals that interact with feral swine should take preventative measures to minimize the risk of disease transmission and all meat should be thoroughly cooked. Additionally, public health campaigns to increase knowledge of the risks associated with feral swine are imperative.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of osteoarticular brucellosis

“…This result indicates that the prevalence of OAB is not dependent on the endemicity of brucellosis in a region, and that brucellosis patients have at least a 27% chance of developing osteoarticular disease. In addition, the result also suggests that brucellosis remains an important public health concern in both high-risk [74,75], and low-risk regions [42,43,76]. Therefore, early pathogen detection using sensitive and specific validated diagnostic techniques as well as treatment of the disease to stop disease manifestation are paramount in the control of OAB.…”

New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) myiasis in feral swine of Uruguay: One Health and transboundary disease implications

“…One such interaction that has not been explored is that between feral swine (Sus scrofa) and screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax). Feral swine are highly invasive and threaten animal and human public health because they host parasites and vectors of zoonotic importance in the Americas [3]. Screwworm is listed by the World Organization for Animal Health as a notifiable infestation because myiasis cases affect livestock and other domestic animal species, wildlife, and humans in endemic areas [4].…”

New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) myiasis in feral swine of Uruguay: One Health and transboundary disease implications

“…Interactions between invasive wildlife species and high consequence zoonotic parasites and vectors can have One Health and transboundary disease implications because of their multiplier effects on the health of human, domestic animal, and wildlife populations as well as the environment [1,2]. For example, feral swine (Sus scrofa) are highly invasive and threaten animal and public health in the Americas [3]. New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is listed by the World Organization for Animal Health as a noti able infestation because myasis cases affect livestock and other domestic animal species, wildlife, and humans in endemic areas, and outbreaks can be of high socioeconomic consequence in regions of the American continent where this ectoparasite of warm blooded animals was eradicated [4,5].…”