The monitors have recently been defined as the organisms in which changes in known characteristics can be measured to assess the extent of the environmental contamination. Among the numerous game ...species, the wild boar as omnivore is characterized as an exceptionally good biomonitor. The concentrations of one heavy metal (Hg) and one metalloid (As) were measured using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer and atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the liver tissue of free-living wild boars. From 11 hunting areas locations that cover the whole territory of North Macedonia in a period of 7 years (2016-2022) a total of 608 wild boar liver samples were harvested during the regular hunting season. The mean concentration of Hg from 11 hunting grounds ranged from 12.7 μg/kg to 68.8 μg/kg, and mean concentration for all was 45.67 μg/kg. The average concentration of As ranged from 22 μg/kg to 55.3 μg/kg, and mean concentration for all was 33.1 μg/kg. For mercury, 6.56% or 40 of the total number of samples (608) exceeded the maximum allowed limits, and for arsenic none of the examined samples exceeded the allowed limit. For both elements a statistically significant difference was determined in relation to the years, with irregular oscillations from year to year. The mean values for mercury and arsenic are encouraging and generally indicate the relatively low contamination in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. However, the statistical differences due to the year as a factor suggest there is the need for the further research.
Monitori su nedavno definirani kao organizmi kod kojih se promjene poznatih karakteristika mogu mjeriti kako bi se procijenio opseg onečišćenja okoliša. Među brojnim vrstama divljači, divlja svinja kao svejed okarakterizirana je kao iznimno dobar biomonitor. Koncentracije jednog teškog metala (Hg) i jednog metaloida (As) izmjerene su pomoću atomskog apsorpcijskog spektrometra s hladnom parom i atomske apsorpcijske spektrofotometrije u tkivu jetre divljih svinja. Iz 11 lovnih područja koja pokrivaju cijeli teritorij Sjeverne Makedonije u razdoblju od 7 godina (2016-2022) uzeto je ukupno 608 uzoraka jetre divlje svinje izlovljene tijekom redovne lovne sezone. Srednja koncentracija Hg iz 11 lovnih područja, kretala se od 12,7 μg/kg do 68,8 μg/kg, a srednja koncentracija za sva je bila 45,67 μg/kg. Prosječna koncentracija As kretala se od 22 μg/kg do 55,3 μg/kg, a srednja koncentracija za sve je bila 33,1 μg/kg. Koncentracija žive je kod 6,56% (40) uzoraka prekoračila dopuštenu granicu, dok za arsen ni jedan ispitani uzorak nije prekoračio dopuštenu granicu. Za oba elementa utvrđena je statistički značajna razlika u odnosu na godine, s nepravilnim oscilacijama iz godine u godinu. Srednje vrijednosti za živu i arsen su ohrabrujuće i općenito ukazuju na relativno nisku kontaminaciju na području Republike Sjeverne Makedonije. Međutim, statističke razlike zbog godine kao faktora ukazuju na potrebu za daljnjim istraživanjem.
In 2007 African swine fever (ASF) arrived at a Black Sea harbour in Georgia and in 2014 the infection reached the European Union (EU), where it still expands its territory. ASF is a fatal viral ...disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boar of all ages with clinical presentations ranging from per-acute to chronic disease, including apparently asymptomatic courses. Until the detection of the first case inside the EU, infections in the current epidemic were mainly seen among pig farms with generally low biosecurity, and with incidental spill over to the wild boar population. In the EU, however, the infection survived locally in the wild boar population independently from outbreaks in domestic pigs, with a steady and low prevalence. Apart from the wild boar population and the habitat, the current epidemic recognizes humans as the main responsible for both long distance transmission and virus introduction in the domestic pig farms. This underlines the importance to include social science when planning ASF-prevention, -control, or -eradication measures. Based on experiences, knowledge and data gained from the current epidemic this review highlights some recent developments in the epidemiological understanding of ASF, especially concerning the role of wild boar and their habitats in ASF epidemiology. In this regard, the qualities of three epidemiological traits: contagiousity, tenacity, and case fatality rate, and their impact on ASF persistence and transmission are especially discussed.
Radionuclide contamination is a serious health issue caused by nuclear experiments and plant accidents, as seen for the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear plants. Italy has been especially interested in ...northwestern alpine regions, as have several other nations. The aim of this work was to indagate .sup.134 Cs and .sup.137 Cs contamination in wild boars, which were considered bioindicators sampled in the Chisone/Germanasca Valley and the Pellice Valley districts (Piedmont, Italy) in two hunting seasons (2014 and 2016). In the 2014 season, only the livers of the animals (n = 48) were sampled, whereas in 2016, five different anatomical sampling sites were sampled for each animal (n = 16). The analyses were conducted in an accredited laboratory (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente-ARPA) by the aid of an HPGe detector (Ortec) with a relative efficiency of 50%. In general, the contamination levels registered in 2014 were under the detection limit for .sup.134 Cs and low for .sup.137 Cs (Chisone/Germanasca valley: min: 0.0, max: 23.9 median 11.0 Bq/kg vs Pellice valley: min 0, max: 31.7, median: 9.6 Bq/kg) and no health concern can be supposed. In the first-year samples, the liver showed a negative correlation between age and contamination level. In the second year of sampling, low levels were confirmed (min: 3.1 Bq/kg, max: 113.3; median 17.7 Bq/kg). Multiple sampling from the same animal showed that the diaphragm (median = 27.7 Bq/kg) kidney (27.4) and tongue (27.6) were more contaminated than the liver (17.7) and spleen (15.3). Moreover, a linear mixed model revealed a negative organ-by-age interaction, meaning that interorgan differences in contamination level were greater in younger (5-11 months) than in older (18-36 months) animals. Different feeding habits can be the explanation. Our paper shows that muscle sites (diaphragm and tongue) can be useful for radionuclide pollution surveillance in wild boar populations and that younger animals show more interorgan variability in contamination levels than older animals. More investigations are needed to confirm this correlation and to fulfill the request for more data to achieve better risk assessment.
Mycobacterium microti is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex that causes pathology in many mammals. M. microti infections have been found in some countries in Europe. We report an ...outbreak of tuberculosis caused by M. microti in wild boars in Spain.
(PCV-3) is a recently described virus belonging to the family
. It represents the third member of genus
able to infect swine, together with PCV-1, considered non-pathogenic, and PCV-2, one of the ...most economically relevant viruses for the swine worldwide industry. PCV-3 was originally found by metagenomics analyses in 2015 in tissues of pigs suffering from porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, reproductive failure, myocarditis and multisystemic inflammation. The lack of other common pathogens as potential infectious agents of these conditions prompted the suspicion that PCV-3 might etiologically be involved in disease occurrence. Subsequently, viral genome was detected in apparently healthy pigs, and retrospective studies indicated that PCV-3 was already present in pigs by early 1990s. In fact, current evidence suggests that PCV-3 is a rather widespread virus worldwide. Recently, the virus DNA has also been found in wild boar, expanding the scope of infection susceptibility among the
family; also, the potential reservoir role of this species for the domestic pig has been proposed. Phylogenetic studies with available PCV-3 partial and complete sequences from around the world have revealed high nucleotide identity (>96%), although two main groups and several subclusters have been described as well. Moreover, it has been proposed the existence of a most common ancestor dated around 50 years ago. Taking into account the economic importance and the well-known effects of PCV-2 on the swine industry, a new member of the same family like PCV-3 should not be neglected. Studies on epidemiology, pathogenesis, immunity and diagnosis are guaranteed in the next few years. Therefore, the present review will update the current knowledge and future trends of research on PCV-3.
The critically low hepatic iron stores of newborn piglets are considered to be a major cause of neonatal iron deficiency in modern breeds of domestic pig (Sus domestica). The main factor believed to ...contribute to this phenomenon is large litter size, which has been an objective of selective breeding of pigs for decades. As consequence, iron transferred from the pregnant sow has to be distributed among a greater number of fetuses.
Here, we investigated whether litter size influences red blood cell (RBC) indices and iron parameters in Polish Large White (PLW) piglets and gilts. Small and large litters were produced by the transfer of different numbers of embryos, derived from the same superovulated donor females, to recipient gilts. Piglets from large litters obtained following routine artificial insemination were also examined. Our results clearly demonstrated that varying the number of piglets in a litter did not affect the RBC and iron status of 1-day-old piglets, with all showing iron deficiency anemia. In contrast, gilts with small litters displayed higher RBC and iron parameters compared to mothers with large litters. A comparative analysis of the RBC status of wild boars (having less than half as many piglets per litter as domestic pigs) and PLW pigs, demonstrated higher RBC count, hemoglobin level and hematocrit value of both wild boar sows and piglets, even compared to small-litter PLW animals.
These findings provide evidence that RBC and iron status in newborn PLW piglets are not primarily determined by litter size, and indicate the need to study the efficiency of iron transport across the placenta in domestic pig and wild boar females.
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•In the populations of pigs, rats and wild boars, T. spiralis is the dominant species.•In the red fox population clear domination of T. britovi is evident.•The dominance of T. ...spiralis in wild boars is mainly marked in the western and central part of the country, while in the northeastern part the ratio of both species (T. spiralis and T. britovi) is almost equal.
Trichinella nematodes still circulate in various hosts in both domestic and sylvatic environments. Recently, in Europe, the transmission of Trichinella spp. to humans has been attributed more to wild animals than to domestic animals. However, domestic animals could still be a source of human infections in some regions. Therefore, our aim was to determine the species composition of Trichinella and the prevalence and intensity of infections in animal populations from the domestic cycle, namely pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica); the synantropic cycle, in the form of rats (Rattus norvegicus); and the sylvatic cycle, namely wild boars (Sus scrofa) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), in Poland.
The findings showed that the nematode prevalence in pigs (0.0002 %) and wild boars (0.3 %) was lower than it was in red foxes (4 %). A very high prevalence was found in rats (23.3 %), but it must be emphasized that the investigated rat samples were collected from farms where pigs were infected with Trichinella spp. The mean larval burden was found to be higher in wild boars and pigs (11.48 lpg and 10.19 lpg) than in red foxes and rats (4.09 and 2.30).
Trichinella spiralis was the predominant species in pigs (98.6 %), wild boars (77.3 %) and rats (100 %), while in red foxes, this species occurred less frequently (15.5 %). The most frequently occurring species in red foxes was Trichinella britovi (73.2 %). Moreover, in wild boar and red fox coinfections, T. spiralis/T. britovi were detected (3.1 and 9.9 %, respectively). In addition, Trichinella pseudospiralis was detected in a few wild boars (0.5 %) and Trichinella nativa was found in one red fox and one wild boar. Furthermore, different T. spiralis and T. britovi prevalence ratios in various geographical regions were found. In the wild boar population, a higher frequency of T. spiralis (70–85 % of infected animals) was observed in the western and central parts of Poland, while in the eastern part, this dominance was not as evident (46–59 %). In the red fox population, T. britovi was abundant throughout the entire territory; however, its highest prevalence was in the east (90–100 %).
To conduct an epidemiological study of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Japanese wild boars, we collected 179 serum and 162 fecal specimens from wild boars in eight Japanese prefectures; 39 of the serum ...samples (21.8%) were positive for anti-HEV IgG antibodies. RT-qPCR revealed HEV RNA in 11 serum samples (6.1%) and 5 fecal samples (3.1%). We obtained 412 bp of the viral genome sequences of ORF2 from five pairs of serum and fecal samples. All strains were subtype b in genotype 3 (HEV-3b) but separated into different clusters. We determined the entire genome sequence of HEV-3b strain WB0567 using a fecal specimen and isolated this strain by cell culture using PLC/PRF/5 cells. Eleven nucleotide mutations had occurred during virus replication. These results suggest that HEV-3b circulated uniformly among wild boars in Japan. Direct sequencing using a suspected animal’s samples is indispensable for predicting original HEV nucleotide sequences.
Throughout recent years, ungulates have experienced significant increases in numbers and geographic range sizes in Europe, becoming locally overabundant populations in some regions. Changes in ...legislation regarding poaching, abandonment of land and re‐naturalisation of habitats, and decreasing numbers of hunters, among other things, have led to alarming scenarios in wild ungulate biology. Although ungulates bring some financial benefits for ecosystems and society through tourism and hunting, the problems associated with populations that are no longer controlled can outweigh the advantages. Damage to forestry and agriculture, ungulate‐vehicle collisions, and diseases are among the most concerning problems related to ungulate overabundance.
To deal with these problems and to decide on the best management strategy to apply, it is essential to have tools available to monitor populations with an integrative approach based on ecological change indicators, and to assess population and ecosystem status. Furthermore, in a globalised world, people’s opinions matter, and sociological studies regarding human perception of wild mammals must take place in order to allow proper management, including consideration of people’s expectations as well as animal and ecosystem needs. Successful and unsuccessful management strategies have already been attempted, and the knowledge of consequences over time enables an adaptive approach.
Management of ungulate populations is a complex subject, and each case should be studied, analysing the cost_performance balance of measures to be taken, and ensuring ongoing financial means to carry out and continue with successful ecosystem management strategies. Multidisciplinary teams should be built, including biologists, veterinarians, stakeholders, sociologists, and others, to deal with the management of European wild ungulate populations.
Ungulates such as red deer and wild boar have been increasing in the past decades in Europe, and so have their consequences. Damage to agriculture and forestry, emerging infectious diseases, and increasing ungulate‐vehicle collisions are only some of the consequences of ungulate populations that are no longer controlled. Ungulate expansion also increases conflicts among humans, and the study of these interactions should be integrated in an holistic perspective of ecosystems. This review gives researchers and the general public a brief summary of the situation of ungulates in Europe, suggests a novel socio‐ecological approach, and provides recommendations for stakeholders on how to deal with this situation, which is likely to intensify in the future.
Salmonella spp. is considered as a high-priority foodborne hazard for control in wild boar meat. This comprehensive study about Salmonella spp. in population of wild boars in Serbia was conducted ...with an aim to assess the influence of hunting and dressing procedures on the spread of Salmonella on wild boar carcasses and to examine the molecular similarities of strains isolated from wild boars. Samples from wild boars from twelve hunting estates in South-West Vojvodina, Serbia, were taken from 425 hunted animals, which was 25.3% of the total wild boar population in all hunting estates. Three samples were taken from each animal’s skin swabs, feces, and carcass meat swabs. A total of 1,275 samples were examined using standard ISO protocols. Subtyping of the isolates was performed and compared using Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Salmonella prevalence was 4.2%, and Salmonella Enteritidis was the dominant serotype (74.5%). Carcass meat contamination originated from the feces of the same animal. Two or more entrance wounds, damage of the abdominal cavity caused by non-expert shooting were factors found to increase Salmonella contamination on the skin and/or on carcass meat. Rain during the hunting and practice of diaphragm and peritoneum removal and the evisceration being performed on the ground/floor or in hanging position did not lead to increase in Salmonella contamination on the meat. Although the determined prevalence was not high in wild boars compared to farm pigs, it is possible that Salmonella entered the food chain through contaminated meat. Therefore, the importance of good hunting and hygiene practice in handling and dressing wild boar carcasses should not be underestimated.
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