Search

Abstract Background Pseudorabies is an infection of domestic and wild pigs that has occasionally been reported in dogs with fatal encephalitis. Hunting dogs are predisposed to pseudorabies exposure due to incorrect practices (administration of raw infected meat) or close contact with infected wild boars. This study described an outbreak of pseudorabies in two hunting dogs in the Campania region, southern Italy. Case presentation Two hunting dogs were hospitalized after a hunting trip, with fever, itching, and self-inflicted lesions. Laboratory tests showed mild anemia and marked leukocytosis. Despite conservative therapy, both animals died 48 h after the presentation of symptoms. One of the carcasses was sent to the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production in Naples to confirm the suspicion of pseudorabies. DNA was extracted from different matrices and used as a template for real-time PCR to detect PRV. Several samples (brain, cerebellum, brainstem, lung, and liver) tested positive. Subsequent sequence analyses of glycoprotein E from DNA extracted from the brain stem revealed a sequence similarity to those described in previous cases of pseudorabies in dogs in Italy, France and Belgium. One month after the outbreak, blood samples were collected from 42 dogs belonging to the same hunting team and from 245 dogs (cohort population) living in the Campania region. All samples were tested with two commercial ELISAs to detect seroconversion against glycoproteins B and E. A seroprevalence of 19% was observed in the hunting team affected by the outbreak, while only 0.8% was observed in the regional dog population. Conclusions The data reported in this study demonstrate potential exposure to PRV by dead-end hosts, particularly hunting dogs. The sequencing results indicated the homogeneity of PRV strains circulating in the different Italian regions.

Abstract Background The only natural hosts of Pseudorabies virus (PRV) are members of the family Suidae (Sus scrofa scrofa). In mammals, the infection is usually fatal and typically causes serious neurologic disease. This study describes four Aujeszky’s disease cases in free-ranging Italian wolves (Canis lupus italicus). In Italy, the wolf is a strictly protected species and is in demographic expansion. Case presentation Three wolves (Wolf A, B, and C) were found in a regional park in Northern Italy, and one (Wolf D) was found in Central Italy. Wolf A and D were alive at the time of the finding and exhibited a fatal infection with epileptic seizures and dyspnoea, dying after a few hours. Wolf B presented scratching lesions under the chin and a detachment of the right earlobe, whilst Wolf C was partially eaten. The wolves showed hepatic congestion, diffuse enteritis, moderate pericardial effusion, severe bilateral pneumonia, and diffuse hyperaemia in the brain. The diagnostic examinations included virological analyses and detection of toxic molecules able to cause serious neurological signs. All four wolves tested positive for pseudorabies virus (PrV). The analysed sequences were placed in Italian clade 1, which is divided into two subclades, “a” and “b”. The sequences of Wolf A, B, and C were closely related to other Italian sequences in the subclade b, originally obtained from wild boars and hunting dogs. The sequence from Wolf D was located within the same clade and was closely related to the French hunting dog sequences belonging to group 4. Conclusion Results showed the presence of PrV strains currently circulating in wild boars and free-ranging Italian wolves. The genetic characterisation of the PrV UL44 sequences from the four wolves confirmed the close relationship with the sequences from wild boars and hunting dogs. This fact supports a possible epidemiological link with the high PrV presence in wild boars and the possibility of infection in wolves through consumption of infected wild boar carcasses or indirect transmission. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first detection of Pseudorabies virus in free-ranging Italian wolves in northern and central Italy.

Background: The only natural hosts of Pseudorabies virus (PRV) are members of the family Suidae (Sus scrofa scrofa). In mammals, the infection is usually fatal and typically causes serious neurologic disease. This study describes four Aujeszky's disease cases in free-ranging Italian wolves (Canis lupus italicus). In Italy, the wolf is a strictly protected species and is in demographic expansion. Case presentation: Three wolves (Wolf A, B, and C) were found in a regional park in Northern Italy, and one (Wolf D) was found in Central Italy. Wolf A and D were alive at the time of the finding and exhibited a fatal infection with epileptic seizures and dyspnoea, dying after a few hours. Wolf B presented scratching lesions under the chin and a detachment of the right earlobe, whilst Wolf C was partially eaten. The wolves showed hepatic congestion, diffuse enteritis, moderate pericardial effusion, severe bilateral pneumonia, and diffuse hyperaemia in the brain. The diagnostic examinations included virological analyses and detection of toxic molecules able to cause serious neurological signs. All four wolves tested positive for pseudorabies virus (PrV). The analysed sequences were placed in Italian clade 1, which is divided into two subclades, "a" and "b". The sequences of Wolf A, B, and C were closely related to other Italian sequences in the subclade b, originally obtained from wild boars and hunting dogs. The sequence from Wolf D was located within the same clade and was closely related to the French hunting dog sequences belonging to group 4. Conclusion: Results showed the presence of PrV strains currently circulating in wild boars and free-ranging Italian wolves. The genetic characterisation of the PrV UL44 sequences from the four wolves confirmed the close relationship with the sequences from wild boars and hunting dogs. This fact supports a possible epidemiological link with the high PrV presence in wild boars and the possibility of infection in wolves through consumption of infected wild boar carcasses or indirect transmission. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first detection of Pseudorabies virus in free-ranging Italian wolves in northern and central Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudorabies virus (PRV)—the causative agent of Aujeszky’s disease—was eliminated from commercial pig production herds in the United States (US) in 2004; however, PRV remains endemic among invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa). The circulation of PRV among abundant, widespread feral swine populations poses a sustained risk for disease spillover to production herds. Risk–based surveillance has been successfully implemented for PRV in feral swine populations in the US. However, understanding the role of host genetics in infection status may offer new insights into the epidemiology and disease dynamics of PRV that can be applied to management strategies. Genetic mechanisms underlying host susceptibility to PRV are relatively unknown; therefore, we sought to identify genomic regions associated with PRV infection status among naturally infected feral swine using genome–wide association studies (GWAS) and gene set enrichment analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism data (GSEA–SNP). Paired serological and genotypic data were collected from 6,081 feral swine distributed across the invaded range within the contiguous US. Three complementary study populations were developed for GWAS: 1) comprehensive population consisting of feral swine throughout the invaded range within the contiguous US; 2) population of feral swine under high, but temporally variable PRV infection pressure; and 3) population of feral swine under temporally stable, high PRV infection pressure. We identified one intronic SNP associated with PRV infection status within candidate gene AKAP6 on autosome 7. Various gene sets linked to metabolic pathways were enriched in the GSEA–SNP. Ultimately, improving disease surveillance efforts in feral swine will be critical to further understanding of the role host genetics play in PRV infection status, helping secure the health of commercial pork production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Infectious diseases are considered one of the main challenges to pig production despite continuous health management and biosecurity improvement. Hard to control, backyard farms are considered a high-risk infection source for commercial farms. However, as some consumers are concerned about animal welfare in intensive production systems, backyard farms are becoming popular as they respect environmental protection and animal welfare more than commercial farms. Though we discovered that Porcine Parvovirus and Aujeszky's disease are widely present in backyard pigs from Serbia, almost half are free from the four tested diseases. Being the mirror of wild boar health and the link between wild boars and commercial farms, backyard farms must be controlled as they can interfere with countries' eradication programs. Contrary to pig farming in developed Western countries, in a large part of the world, pigs are still traditionally kept in small backyard farms, usually for family needs. Their main characteristics are low biosecurity, swill feeding, natural breeding and uncontrolled trade. Given the high number of backyard farms in Serbia and the risk they are thought to pose to intensive pig farming, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of major viral diseases of swine among traditionally kept pigs in small holdings with low biosecurity. For this investigation, 222 serum samples from 69 backyard holdings were randomly selected and tested for antibodies to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), Porcine Parvovirus (PPV) and Swine influenza Virus (SIV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The herd-level seroprevalence of PRRS, Aujeszky's disease and PPV was 2.9%, 27.5% and 37.7%, respectively. Swine influenza seroconversion was not confirmed in any of the tested holdings. Despite widely distributed PPV and AD in backyard farms in Serbia, almost 50% of them are still negative for all the tested diseases. The backyard farms must be monitored, and owners must be educated as their role in eradication programs and obtaining country-free status may be crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aujeszky's disease is mainly a swine disease, still endemic worldwide. It can infect other mammalians, including human beings, and it is usually fatal with nervous symptoms. Since the disease was detected in 1988 in Argentina, many outbreaks have been reported, involving both feral swine and dogs. Aim: At present, in Argentina, PRV cases are sporadically reported, however clinical cases are informed. The purpose of this study is to obtain information about the seroprevalence of PRV in wild boar and to isolate and characterize PRV from clinical samples. Methods: From 2018 to 2019, 78 wild boars serum samples from Bahía de Samborombón natural reserve were analyzed for antibodies to PRV using a virus neutralization test. Clinical samples from 17 pigs, 2 wild boar, one dog and 1 cat were collected from 2013 to 2019 for viral isolation and detecting the presence of the gD gene by PCR. For sequence analysis, the gC partial gene was amplified. Results: Five strains were isolated from the dog, cat and swine samples. The new PRV strains identified were confirmed by BLAST analysis, which revealed between 99.74 to 100% of similarity to the NIA-3 strain and phylogenetic analysis of the partial gene encoding the gC protein revealed that the PRV strains have divided into two main clades, clade 1 and clade 2. Conclusion: This report informed that most new cases of PRV were detected in the central regions of Argentina, where the pig production is concentrated. The study in Bahía de Samborombón revealed a high percentage of detection but the sampling is not representative of that of the rest of the country. Therefore, a systematic sampling effort of wild boar throughout the country should be included in the national program control. Although in Argentina only the inactivated Bartha vaccine is allowed, recombination risk should not be ignored if attenuated vaccines are incorporated into the National control plan. The two strains, one from the cat and one from the dog sample, are directly related to infected swine. The information about clinical cases and molecular characterization of new strains are important for a better understanding of the dynamics of PRV and to promote preventive measures. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(4.000): 419-426]

Abstract Background The high susceptibility of carnivores to Suid Alphaherpesvirus 1 [SuAHV1, synonymous pseudorabies virus (PrV)], renders them inadvertent sentinels for the possible occurrence of Aujeszky’s disease (AD) in domestic and wild swine populations. The aim of this study was to epidemiologically analyse the occurrence of PrV infections in domestic and wild animals in Germany during the last three decades and to genetically characterise the causative PrV isolates. Methods PrV in dogs was detected using standard virological techniques including conventional and real time PCR, virus isolation or by immunohistochemistry. Available PrV isolates were characterized by partial sequencing of the open gC reading frame and the genetic traits were compared with those of archived PrV isolates from carnivores and domestic pigs from Germany before the elimination of AD in the domestic pig population. Results During 1995 and 2022, a total of 38 cases of AD in carnivores, e.g. dogs and red foxes, were laboratory confirmed. Sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis of PrV isolates established a strong connection between AD cases in carnivores and the occurrence of PrV infections in European wild boars in the end phase of and after elimination of AD from the domestic pig population. While PrV infections occur at low numbers but regularly in hunting dogs, interestingly, PrV was not observed in grey wolves in Germany. In none of 682 dead-found grey wolves and wolf-dog hybrids tested from Germany during 2006–2022 could PrV infection be detected by molecular means. Conclusions Although PrV has been eliminated from domestic pigs, spillover infections in domestic and wild carnivores should always be expected given the endemic presence of PrV in wild pig populations. Since detection of PrV DNA and virus in carnivores is sporadic even in areas with high seroprevalence of PrV in wild pigs, it may not reflect the full diversity of PrV.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV)—the causative agent of Aujeszky’s disease—was eliminated from commercial pig production herds in the United States (US) in 2004; however, PRV remains endemic among invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa). The circulation of PRV among abundant, widespread feral swine populations poses a sustained risk for disease spillover to production herds. Risk–based surveillance has been successfully implemented for PRV in feral swine populations in the US. However, understanding the role of host genetics in infection status may offer new insights into the epidemiology and disease dynamics of PRV that can be applied to management strategies. Genetic mechanisms underlying host susceptibility to PRV are relatively unknown; therefore, we sought to identify genomic regions associated with PRV infection status among naturally infected feral swine using genome–wide association studies (GWAS) and gene set enrichment analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism data (GSEA–SNP). Paired serological and genotypic data were collected from 6,081 feral swine distributed across the invaded range within the contiguous US. Three complementary study populations were developed for GWAS: 1) comprehensive population consisting of feral swine throughout the invaded range within the contiguous US; 2) population of feral swine under high, but temporally variable PRV infection pressure; and 3) population of feral swine under temporally stable, high PRV infection pressure. We identified one intronic SNP associated with PRV infection status within candidate gene AKAP6 on autosome 7. Various gene sets linked to metabolic pathways were enriched in the GSEA–SNP. Ultimately, improving disease surveillance efforts in feral swine will be critical to further understanding of the role host genetics play in PRV infection status, helping secure the health of commercial pork production.

Copyright of Veterinarska Stanica is the property of Croatian Veterinary Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Aujeszky's disease is mainly a swine disease, still endemic worldwide. It can infect other mammalians, including human beings, and it is usually fatal with nervous symptoms. Ever since the disease was detected in 1988 in Argentina, many outbreaks have been reported involving both feral swine and dogs. Aim: At present, in Argentina, Pseudorabies virus (PRV) cases are sporadically reported; however, clinical cases are informed. This study aims to obtain information about the seroprevalence of PRV in wild boars and to isolate and characterize PRV from clinical samples. Methods: From 2018 to 2019, 78 wild boars' serum samples from Bahía de Samborombón natural reserve were analyzed for antibodies to PRV using a virus neutralization test. Clinical samples from 17 pigs, 2 wild boars, 1 dog, and 1 cat were collected from 2013 to 2019 for viral isolation and detection of the presence of the gD gene by PCR. For sequence analysis, the gC partial gene was amplified. Results: Five strains were isolated from the dog, cat, and swine samples. The new PRV strains identified were confirmed by BLAST analysis, which revealed between 99.74% and 100% of similarity to the NIA-3 strain and phylogenetic analysis of the partial gene encoding the gC protein revealed that the PRV strains have divided into two main clades, clade 1 and clade 2. Conclusion: This report informed that most new cases of PRV were detected in the central regions of Argentina, where pig production is concentrated. The study in Bahía de Samborombón revealed a high percentage of detection but, the sampling is not representative of that of the rest of the country. Therefore, a systematic sampling effort of wild boar throughout the country should be included in the national program control. Although in Argentina only the inactivated Bartha vaccine is allowed, recombination risk should not be ignored if attenuated vaccines are incorporated into the National control plan. The two strains, one from the cat and one from the dog sample, are directly related to infected swine. The information about clinical cases and molecular characterization of new strains is important for a better understanding of the dynamics of PRV and to promote preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wildlife monitoring plans are not uniformly applied in all European countries, even if the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) identified passive surveillance of wildlife as the strategy of choice to investigate the health status of wild animals. The plan in use in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) for the past 11 years has allowed for the collection of a large amount of data on the wild boar population. Research has been conducted on diseases for which the wild boar could be a reservoir and/or source of infection for domestic pigs due to their increasingly frequent interfaces (trichinellosis, tuberculosis, brucellosis, african swine fever, classical swine fever, Aujeszky's disease, swine vesicular disease, and swine influenza A). Although the results do not allow us to make inferences about the resident population due to the sampling method and sample size, they still give us some indications about the strengths and weaknesses of the plan itself. For instance, an active search for carcasses on the territory should be implemented. In order to improve surveillance activities, it would also be desirable to increase the harmonization of sample collection schemes and data organization from a One Health perspective, as recommended by the WOAH. In recent years, the growth of wild ungulates has increased the focus on their health monitoring. In particular, the health status of wild boars is relevant for the economic impact on the pig industry. The Emilia-Romagna region activated a wildlife monitoring plan to better evaluate the health status of the wild boar population. Between 2011 and 2021, samples of found dead and hunted wild boar have been examined for trichinellosis, tuberculosis, brucellosis, african swine fever, classical swine fever, Aujeszky's disease, swine vesicular disease, and swine influenza A. Trichinella britovi was identified in 0.001% of the examined wild boars; neither M. bovis nor M. tuberculosis were found in M. tuberculosis complex positive samples; 2.3% were positive for Brucella suis; 29.4% of the sera were positive for Aujeszky's disease virus; and 0.9% of the samples were positive for swine influenza A virus. With an uncertain population estimate, the number of animals tested, the number of positives, and the sampling method do not allow us to make many inferences but suggest the need to implement and strengthen the existing surveillance activity, as it seems to be the only viable alternative for safeguarding animal and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The high susceptibility of carnivores to Suid Alphaherpesvirus 1 [SuAHV1, synonymous pseudorabies virus (PrV)], renders them inadvertent sentinels for the possible occurrence of Aujeszky's disease (AD) in domestic and wild swine populations. The aim of this study was to epidemiologically analyse the occurrence of PrV infections in domestic and wild animals in Germany during the last three decades and to genetically characterise the causative PrV isolates. Methods: PrV in dogs was detected using standard virological techniques including conventional and real time PCR, virus isolation or by immunohistochemistry. Available PrV isolates were characterized by partial sequencing of the open gC reading frame and the genetic traits were compared with those of archived PrV isolates from carnivores and domestic pigs from Germany before the elimination of AD in the domestic pig population. Results: During 1995 and 2022, a total of 38 cases of AD in carnivores, e.g. dogs and red foxes, were laboratory confirmed. Sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis of PrV isolates established a strong connection between AD cases in carnivores and the occurrence of PrV infections in European wild boars in the end phase of and after elimination of AD from the domestic pig population. While PrV infections occur at low numbers but regularly in hunting dogs, interestingly, PrV was not observed in grey wolves in Germany. In none of 682 dead-found grey wolves and wolf-dog hybrids tested from Germany during 2006–2022 could PrV infection be detected by molecular means. Conclusions: Although PrV has been eliminated from domestic pigs, spillover infections in domestic and wild carnivores should always be expected given the endemic presence of PrV in wild pig populations. Since detection of PrV DNA and virus in carnivores is sporadic even in areas with high seroprevalence of PrV in wild pigs, it may not reflect the full diversity of PrV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to pig farming in developed Western countries, in a large part of the world, pigs are still traditionally kept in small backyard farms, usually for family needs. Their main characteristics are low biosecurity, swill feeding, natural breeding and uncontrolled trade. Given the high number of backyard farms in Serbia and the risk they are thought to pose to intensive pig farming, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of major viral diseases of swine among traditionally kept pigs in small holdings with low biosecurity. For this investigation, 222 serum samples from 69 backyard holdings were randomly selected and tested for antibodies to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV), Porcine Parvovirus (PPV) and Swine influenza Virus (SIV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The herd-level seroprevalence of PRRS, Aujeszky’s disease and PPV was 2.9%, 27.5% and 37.7%, respectively. Swine influenza seroconversion was not confirmed in any of the tested holdings. Despite widely distributed PPV and AD in backyard farms in Serbia, almost 50% of them are still negative for all the tested diseases. The backyard farms must be monitored, and owners must be educated as their role in eradication programs and obtaining country-free status may be crucial.

Abstract The present study investigates the pathogenicity of two recently isolated strains of Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV1), the Greek strain Hercules and the Chinese strain HeN1, in unvaccinated pigs and in pigs vaccinated with a Bartha-K61 strain. In an experiment performed in negative pressure kiosks (isolators), 45-day old seronegative pigs previously oronasally /intramuscularly vaccinated with the Bartha-K61 vaccine strain, along with unvaccinated controls, were challenged either with the Hercules strain or the HeN1 strain of SuHV1. All animals were observed daily for clinical signs and body temperature and nasal swabs, faeces, blood and bodyweight were collected up to a maximum period of 20 days post-challenge (dpc). The results showed that, in the unvaccinated pigs, HeN1 strain was more virulent than the Hercules strain, with increased mortality, shorter time to death and higher group clinical score (p

Wild pigs in North America carry multiple pathogens capable of causing diseases in wildlife, people, and domestic animals. Wild pigs are the reservoir host of pseudorabies virus (PrV) which is a fatal infection in wild carnivores. We previously conducted surveillance for PrV in wild pigs from Kern County, California where the distribution of wild pigs overlaps with native mountain lion. We found that 100% of wild pigs were exposed to PrV, and 6% were shedding the virus. Black bears and pumas have been observed preying on wild pigs in the region suggesting that they are vulnerable to exposure to PrV from pigs. We conducted retrospective, post-mortem surveillance for PrV on 16 pumas from five counties in south central California. None of the pumas tested positive for PrV. In Florida, PrV is attributed to one-third of the deaths in Florida panthers. Wild pigs are a large portion of the diet of panthers in Florida, but studies in California suggest pigs may not be utilized as frequently. This difference in diet could account for the lack of evidence that PrV causes measurable mortality in California pumas. Nonetheless, in management areas with carnivores, wild pig management should be carefully considered.

In late 2011, severe pseudorabies (PR) outbreaks occurred among swine herds vaccinated with the Bartha-K61 vaccine in many provinces of China, causing enormous economic losses for the pork industry. To understand the epidemic profile and genetic characteristics of the pseudorabies virus (PRV), a total of 35,796 serum samples were collected from 1090 pig farms of different breeding scales between 2019 and 2021 in the Henan province where swine had been immunized with the Bartha-K61 vaccine, and PRV glycoprotein E (gE)-specific antibodies were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results reveal that the overall positive rate for PRV gE antibodies was 20.33% (7276/35,796), which decreased from 25.00% (2596/10,385) in 2019 to 16.69% (2222/13,315) in 2021, demonstrating that PR still existed widely in pig herds in the Henan province but displayed a decreasing trend. Further analysis suggested that the PRV-seropositive rate may be associated with farm size, farm category, quarter, region and the cross-regional transportation of livestock. Moreover, the gE gene complete sequences of 18 PRV isolates were obtained, and they shared a high identity (97.1–100.0%) with reference strains at the nucleotide level. Interestingly, the phylogenetic analysis based on the gE complete sequences found that there were both classical strains and variant strains in pig herds. The deduced amino acid sequence analysis of the gE gene showed that there were unique amino acids in the classical strains, the variant strains and genotype Ⅱ strains. This study provides epidemiological data that could be useful in the prevention of pseudorabies in Henan, China, and this finding contributed to our understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of PRV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pseudorabies is an infection of domestic and wild pigs that has occasionally been reported in dogs with fatal encephalitis. Hunting dogs are predisposed to pseudorabies exposure due to incorrect practices (administration of raw infected meat) or close contact with infected wild boars. This study described an outbreak of pseudorabies in two hunting dogs in the Campania region, southern Italy., Case Presentation: Two hunting dogs were hospitalized after a hunting trip, with fever, itching, and self-inflicted lesions. Laboratory tests showed mild anemia and marked leukocytosis. Despite conservative therapy, both animals died 48 h after the presentation of symptoms. One of the carcasses was sent to the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production in Naples to confirm the suspicion of pseudorabies. DNA was extracted from different matrices and used as a template for real-time PCR to detect PRV. Several samples (brain, cerebellum, brainstem, lung, and liver) tested positive. Subsequent sequence analyses of glycoprotein E from DNA extracted from the brain stem revealed a sequence similarity to those described in previous cases of pseudorabies in dogs in Italy, France and Belgium. One month after the outbreak, blood samples were collected from 42 dogs belonging to the same hunting team and from 245 dogs (cohort population) living in the Campania region. All samples were tested with two commercial ELISAs to detect seroconversion against glycoproteins B and E. A seroprevalence of 19% was observed in the hunting team affected by the outbreak, while only 0.8% was observed in the regional dog population., Conclusions: The data reported in this study demonstrate potential exposure to PRV by dead-end hosts, particularly hunting dogs. The sequencing results indicated the homogeneity of PRV strains circulating in the different Italian regions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The results of the studies of cytomorphological, karyological, cultural properties of continuous suspension ВНК-21/SUSP/ARRIAH subline of newborn Syrian hamster kidney cells intended for foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, bovine parainfluenza-3, Aujeszky’s disease virus reproduction, as well as for production of diagnostic veterinary biologicals are presented. When cultured in suspension, BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cell subline undergoes selection towards hypoploidy: modal class is represented by cells with 41 chromosomes (32–40% of cells); the share of cells containing 40–42 chromosomes is 78–80%; the share of polyploids averages around 1%; the range of variation in the number of chromosomes is from 36 to 54. BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cell subline cultured in suspension with cell seeding concentration of 0.6–0.8 million cells/cm3 demonstrates growth rate of 6.67–11.00 and 96–99% cell viability. After 48 hours, G1-phase (diploid-2n) cells prevail in the cell population of the new subline (30.0–75.0% of cells); cells that undergo preparation for mitosis (S-phase) and mitosis (G2+M-phase) account for 3.0 to 20.0% of the entire population; the number of meganucleated and multinucleated cells (>4n) at the beginning and at the end of the logarithmic phase increases to 2%. BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cells recover rapidly after cryopreservation and demonstrate 95–99% viability and growth rate of 3.36–5.88 at passages 1 to 3 and 6.85–10.95 at passages 4 to 12. Continuous suspension BHK-21/SUSP/ARRIAH cell line ensures virus accumulation at the following titres: FMD virus – 7.30– 8.00 lg TCID50/cm3, rabies virus – 7.25–8.00 lg CCID50/cm3, bovine parainflunza-3 virus – at least 6.00 lg TCID50/cm3, Aujeszky’s disease virus – 7.50–7.80 lg TCID50/cm3.

In recent years, the growth of wild ungulates has increased the focus on their health monitoring. In particular, the health status of wild boars is relevant for the economic impact on the pig industry. The Emilia-Romagna region activated a wildlife monitoring plan to better evaluate the health status of the wild boar population. Between 2011 and 2021, samples of found dead and hunted wild boar have been examined for trichinellosis, tuberculosis, brucellosis, african swine fever, classical swine fever, Aujeszky’s disease, swine vesicular disease, and swine influenza A. Trichinella britovi was identified in 0.001% of the examined wild boars; neither M. bovis nor M. tuberculosis were found in M. tuberculosis complex positive samples; 2.3% were positive for Brucella suis; 29.4% of the sera were positive for Aujeszky’s disease virus; and 0.9% of the samples were positive for swine influenza A virus. With an uncertain population estimate, the number of animals tested, the number of positives, and the sampling method do not allow us to make many inferences but suggest the need to implement and strengthen the existing surveillance activity, as it seems to be the only viable alternative for safeguarding animal and human health.

The present study investigates the pathogenicity of two recently isolated strains of Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV1), the Greek strain Hercules and the Chinese strain HeN1, in unvaccinated pigs and in pigs vaccinated with a Bartha-K61 strain. In an experiment performed in negative pressure kiosks (isolators), 45-day old seronegative pigs previously oronasally /intramuscularly vaccinated with the Bartha-K61 vaccine strain, along with unvaccinated controls, were challenged either with the Hercules strain or the HeN1 strain of SuHV1. All animals were observed daily for clinical signs and body temperature and nasal swabs, faeces, blood and bodyweight were collected up to a maximum period of 20 days post-challenge (dpc). The results showed that, in the unvaccinated pigs, HeN1 strain was more virulent than the Hercules strain, with increased mortality, shorter time to death and higher group clinical score (p < 0.05). However, after vaccination with the Bartha-K61 vaccine, there was a drastic reduction in morbidity, mortality, bodyweight loss and virus excretion to almost a similar extent in both strains (p < 0.05). No significant differences were seen among the pigs of the two vaccinated groups compared to unvaccinated unchallenged controls, except a slight elevation in body temperature and in clinical score in the HeN1 vaccinees at 2 and 3 dpc, while bodyweight gain was similar to that of the negative control pigs. Our study showed that despite differences in virulence, the standard vaccination scheme with the Bartha-K61 strain could equally protect nursery pigs against both the European and Chinese strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) captured or found dead in Nagano Prefecture were surveyed for antibodies to Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and Toxoplasma gondii. While all 168 samples tested were negative for anti-ADV antibodies and all 140 samples tested were negative for anti-PRRSV antibodies, all 190 samples tested were positive for anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibodies and 12 of 180 samples were positive for anti-toxoplasma antibodies. These results suggest that since E. rhusiopathiae and T. gondii cause zoonotic diseases, in addition to wild boars being a potential source of infection for domestic pigs, caution should be taken when handling wild boars or eating wild boar meat because of the possibility of human infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aujeszky's disease (AD) is endemic in Argentina. In 2016, an inactivated gE- negative marker Bartha K61 vaccine (AUSKIPRA® BK) was launched for use, making Argentina the only country to carry out a control strategy plan with it. In the present article, we describe the results of a control program in a farrow-to-finishing farm with high initial AD prevalence (33% in sows), based on the systematic vaccination, detection, and elimination of seropositive pigs, the replacement of sows with vaccinated gilts, and the instauration of artificial insemination. The program was suitable for diminishing the incidence and the prevalence at levels consistent with virus eradication. This situation has been sustained over time. This is the first report of AUSKIPRA® BK efficacy under field conditions.

Aujeszky’s disease, also known as pseudorabies is an acute infectious viral disease in a variety of mammals caused by Suid herpesvirus 1, a member ofthe subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae and the family Herpesviridae. This virus causes significant economic losses in agriculture of numerous countries. In particular, in pig farming, the main losses are currently associated with restrictions of international trade, as well as the cost of vaccination or slaughter of infected animals. The main reservoirs species of this disease are considered to be wild boars and domestic pigs. So, in this article the authors performed a comparative retrospective analysis of the prevalence of Aujeszky’s disease among these species in Ukraine over 2009–2020 by systematizing and analyzing the epizootic data and results of serological studies. As a result of the conducted research, there is a clear trend that shows the reduction in the number of locations in Ukraine (farms, households, etc.) with domestic pigs affected by Aujeszky’s disease. Thus, in 2009 four such farms were found, and in 2018 – only one. During 2014–2016 and 2019–2020, affected farms and locations were not registered for this disease. In total, 21 such points with infected pigs were registered during the analyzed period. As for wild boars, during the analyzed 12 years, locations with animals affected by Aujeszky’s disease were registered only in 2013 and 2014 (two and one, respectively). It should be noted that all of those with infected wild boars were found in the AR Crimea. For the twelve years, the number of tested sera samples from domestic pigs amounted to 378,678 (7.4% were positive) and from wild boars – 9,052 (19.8% were positive). As a result of comparative geographical analysis of the obtained data on the detection of specific humoral antibodies to the Aujeszky’s disease virus among both species for 12 years in the regions of Ukraine, there is no established clear correlation between the spread of the disease among wild boars and domestic pigs. Thus, the highest seroprevalence rates among wild boars were observed in the northern and northeastern parts of Ukraine, and in domestic pigs, on the contrary, in the southern and central parts of this country. It should be noted, that since 2014 the number of serological tests among both species for carriers of Aujeszky’s disease has significantly decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current question of today is the formation of effective immune protection in young pigs against infectious diseases, achieved by piglets vaccination in the first weeks of their life. It is known that one of the factors influencing the quality of vaccination is colostral antibodies, which are able to deactivate the vaccine antigen. Considering this, it is important to determine the duration of colostral immunity of piglets to antigens of the Aujeszky’s disease virus during active sows immunization. For this, was formed a group of sows of 2nd-3rd gestation periods with 25 animals in each. Sows were immunized parenterally against Aujeszky’s disease with the «Adivak» vaccine at a dose of 2 ml, by mass vaccination, three times per year. The level of specific antibodies to glycoproteins E (gE) and B (gB) was determined in the blood serum of piglets before sucking colostrum and every 7 days of life until 77 days from birth by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It was revealed that before consuming colostrum, piglets did not have specific antibodies to the antigens of the Aujeszky disease virus. From 7th till 70th days of life, all piglets had specific IgG to the antigens gB and gE of the Aujeszky disease virus, and by the seventy-seventh day, 29% of the animals were seronegative. Thus, newborn piglets before colostrum suckling do not have specific immune protection against the Aujeszky disease virus against the background of sow immunization. Consumption of colostrum by piglets promotes their formation of colostral immunity, specific to the antigens of the Aujeszky disease virus. The duration of colostral antibodies’ circulation specific to the antigens of the Aujeszky disease virus in the piglets peripheral blood is 70 days. On the seventy-seventh day from birth, the level of colostral immunoglobulins decreased sharply, which contributed to the appearance of seronegative animals and an increase in their sensitivity to the action of an epizootic strain of the virus.

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) is the etiological agent of Aujeszky's disease, a viral infection that causes neurological lethal illness in mammals other than swine. Herein, we describe the occurrence of PrV infection in a hunting dog that had been bitten by an infected wild boar in Sicily, reporting for the first time genetic and phylogenetic data on the virus strain isolated in a dog in this Italian region. The dog was referred for severe neurological signs, respiratory distress, and intense itch around the muzzle. Death occurred within 48 h to the onset of clinical signs. On gross examination, self-induced skin lesions to the head due to intense itching and diffuse cerebral congestion were observed, whereas mild, aspecific, nonsuppurative meningitis was histologically diagnosed. Diffuse PrV positivity in neurons of the brainstem was observed by immunohistochemistry. PrV DNA was isolated and amplified from olfactory bulbs by nested PCR, targeting the viral glycoprotein G gene, and the sequence obtained matched with sequences of PrV isolates from dogs and wild boar. Isolation of PrV in the dog herein analysed denotes the spread of the virus in wild boar populations in Sicily and provides a proof of direct interspecies transmission. Thus, there is an urgent need to increase our understanding of the epidemiology of the PrV infection in wildlife to provide tools to trace possible spill over into domestic pigs or other livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feral swine (Sus scrofa), an important prey species for the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), is the natural host for pseudorabies virus (PRV). Prior to this study, PRV had been detected in just three panthers. To determine the effect of PRV on the panther population, we prospectively necropsied 199 panthers and retrospectively reviewed necropsy and laboratory findings, reexamined histology, and tested archived tissues using real-time PCR from 46 undiagnosed panther mortalities. Seven additional infections (two prospective, five retrospective) were detected for a total of 10 confirmed panther mortalities due to PRV. To further evaluate the effect of PRV, we categorized radio-collared (n=168) and uncollared panther mortalities (n=367) sampled from 1981 to 2018 based on the likelihood of PRV infection as confirmed, probable, suspected, possible, or unlikely/negative. Of 168 radio-collared panthers necropsied, PRV was the cause of death for between eight (confirmed; 4.8%) and 32 (combined confirmed, probable, suspected, and possible categories; 19.0%) panthers. The number of radio-collared panther mortalities due to PRV was estimated to be 15 (95% empirical limits: 12–19), representing 8.9% (confidence interval: 4.6–13.2%) of mortalities. Gross necropsy findings in 10 confirmed cases were nonspecific. Microscopic changes included slight to mild perivascular cuffing and gliosis (primarily in the brain stem), lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis (cerebral cortex), and intranuclear inclusion bodies (adrenal medulla). The PRV glycoprotein C gene sequences from three positive panthers grouped with the sequence from a Florida feral swine. Our findings indicate that PRV may be an important and underdiagnosed cause of death in Florida panthers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the rising population of wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) in Slovakia, a higher rate of exposition to Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) was noted. The high density of animals is one of the main influencing factors of ADV persistence. Wild boar tissue samples were obtained by local hunters from different locations of Central and Eastern Slovakia. In total, muscle tissue samples from 139 individual wild boars were collected. Muscle fluid was obtained from these samples and subjected to serological analysis; a commercial ADV Ab-ELISA kit was used. In total, 53 samples were proved to be seropositive; out of these 19 samples of piglets, 13 samples of juveniles and 21 samples of adults. Out of 139 samples tested by ELISA, 53 were seropositive, which represents 38.12 % of positive samples. No significant difference was found between the two sexes; however, piglets have shown to have a significantly higher occurrence compared to adults. Our study confirmed the presence of ADV antibodies in the wild boar population in central and eastern Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aujeszky's disease (AD, pseudorabies) eradication programs in domestic pigs are implemented in several European countries where AD virus (ADV) circulates in local wild boar (Sus scrofa), making studies on ADV infection dynamics in wild boar increasingly relevant. The objective of our study was to characterize ADV dynamics in wild boar at a site in central Portugal and compare this site to three enzootic sites in central Spain. A total of 235 wild boar were sampled during the hunting season 2014–15. We collected serum, tissues (oropharyngeal tonsils and trigeminal and sacral ganglia), and swabs (oral, nasal, and genital) and analyzed these samples to detect ADV antibodies (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and DNA (PCR). An overall seroprevalence of 42.6% was found (range 12.7–57.7%), being highest in adults (54.1%; 72/133). Overall, 2.8% (3/108) oral, 6.4% (7/109) nasal, and 12.8% (12/94) genital swabs were PCR positive. We found 20.4% (20/98) of the wild boar had at least one positive swab and were considered shedders. We found ADV in tissues of five animals; of 111 tonsils, three (2.7%) were PCR positive. Trigeminal (2/48; 4%) and sacral (2/53; 4%) ganglia collected in central Portugal, pertaining to three animals, were positive for ADV DNA. Logistic regression models showed that seroprevalence was influenced by site and age, whereas ADV shedding was influenced by site. Our study describes patterns of ADV infection in wild boar in Portugal and shows that wild boar also pose a risk, albeit lower than that in central Spain, for the eradication of AD from extensively managed domestic pigs in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late 2011, severe pseudorabies (PR) outbreaks occurred among swine herds vaccinated with the Bartha-K61 vaccine in many provinces of China, causing enormous economic losses for the pork industry. To understand the epidemic profile and genetic characteristics of the pseudorabies virus (PRV), a total of 35,796 serum samples were collected from 1090 pig farms of different breeding scales between 2019 and 2021 in the Henan province where swine had been immunized with the Bartha-K61 vaccine, and PRV glycoprotein E (gE)-specific antibodies were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results reveal that the overall positive rate for PRV gE antibodies was 20.33% (7276/35,796), which decreased from 25.00% (2596/10,385) in 2019 to 16.69% (2222/13,315) in 2021, demonstrating that PR still existed widely in pig herds in the Henan province but displayed a decreasing trend. Further analysis suggested that the PRV-seropositive rate may be associated with farm size, farm category, quarter, region and the cross-regional transportation of livestock. Moreover, the gE gene complete sequences of 18 PRV isolates were obtained, and they shared a high identity (97.1–100.0%) with reference strains at the nucleotide level. Interestingly, the phylogenetic analysis based on the gE complete sequences found that there were both classical strains and variant strains in pig herds. The deduced amino acid sequence analysis of the gE gene showed that there were unique amino acids in the classical strains, the variant strains and genotype Ⅱ strains. This study provides epidemiological data that could be useful in the prevention of pseudorabies in Henan, China, and this finding contributed to our understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of PRV.

Abstract Background Pigs (Sus scrofa) are the natural hosts of pseudorabies virus (PRV), also known as Aujeszky’s disease. Infection in mammals, with the exception of humans, typically causes extreme itching, facial swelling, and excessive salivation, followed by death in non-suid species. The risk to susceptible mammals was assumed to decrease when PRV was eliminated from U.S. commercial swine in 2004, though the virus remains endemic in feral swine. Infected feral swine pose a threat to the disease-free status of the commercial swine industry, and to other animals, including dogs, that come in direct or indirect contact with them. Since dogs are commonly used for hunting feral swine, they are at high risk of exposure. Case presentation The following report describes the progression of pseudorabies infection in dogs in two states after exposure to feral swine. The first case occurred in a dog in Alabama after participation in a competitive wild hog rodeo. The second case occurred in multiple dogs in Arkansas after hunting feral swine, and subsequent consumption of the offal. The antibody prevalence of feral swine in the two states where the dogs were exposed is also examined. Conclusions Dogs that are used for hunting feral swine are at high risk of exposure to pseudorabies because the disease is considered endemic in feral swine in the U.S.

Herpesviruses are DNA viruses that cause serious latent infections in humans and animals. These pathogens significantly influence the animal health and economy of animal husbandry. The reduction of production parameters, abortions, birth of weak individuals and by costs associated with the elimination and monitoring of herpesvirus diseases are among the most serious harms caused by herpesviruses. In our review we focused mainly on herpesvirus diseases in pigs and cattle (Aujeszky's disease, bovine infectious pustular vulvovaginitis and balanoposthitis, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis) and herpesvirus diseases in red deer, dogs, and carps. In the past, these herpesvirus diseases have caused considerable economic losses in livestock. At present, several of these diseases are eliminated in the Slovak territory. Currently, a continuous monitoring is carried out not only in populations of domestic animals, but also in wild animals, which are the main reservoirs of the mentioned herpesviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrospective analysis of laboratory diagnostics carried out in Russia for dangerous viral swine diseases demonstrated that during the last seven years (the period when the Rosselkhoznadzor orders to implement National Monitoring Plans were executed) the amount of performed tests had increased. But it is not always possible to read the test results unambiguously and that requires the improvement of diagnostic practices supported by established rules of sampling, laboratory tests and obtained result submission. It means random tests shall be representative for tested populations, correlate with the prevalence of concerned infection and meet the required certainty. It is also needed to establish the techniques of primary and confirmation tests, regulate the use of test kits (validated) preferring the use of the most effective and cheapest. Appropriately planned and implemented surveillance activities (including national monitoring) will contribute to minimization of financial expenses and improve their effectiveness at the same time.

The paper demonstrates dependence of virus-neutralizing antibody production and emulsion FMD vaccine immunogenicity on administration of vaccines against different infectious porcine diseases. Optimum interval between the administrations of the emulsion FMD vaccine and vaccines against other porcine diseases was determined.

The results of comparative testing of the following two vaccines produced by the FGBI "ARRIAH": inactivated emulsion marked-strain based vaccine against Aujeszky's disease in pigs and dry cultural marked-BK strain virus vaccine against Aujeszky's disease in pigs and sheep are presented.The results of immunogenic property study after challenge are given.

Aujeszky’s disease (AD, pseudorabies) is a viral disease of suids caused by Suid Herpesvirus 1 (SHV-1) also referred as Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) or Pseudorabies virus (ADV). Domestic pig and Wild boar (Sus scrofa) are the natural host, but many species can be infected with ADV. The aim of our study was to evaluate seroprevalence of AD in wild boar hunted in the Campania Region, during the 2016–2017 hunting season. A total of 503 serum samples from wild boars hunted in the provinces of Campania Region (Southern Italy) were collected and were tested for antibody against ADV using an AD, blocking ELISA assay. A Seroprevalence of 23.85% (120/503, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 20.15–27.55) was found. Gender was not significantly associated with of ADV seropositivity (p > 0.05), while the presence of ADV antibodies was statistically associated with age (>36-month, p < 0.0001) and location (Avellino, p = 0.0161). Our prevalence values are like those obtained in 2010 in our laboratory (30.7%), demonstrating a constant circulation of ADV in the area.

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) is the etiological agent of Aujeszky’s disease, a viral infection that causes neurological lethal illness in mammals other than swine. Herein, we describe the occurrence of PrV infection in a hunting dog that had been bitten by an infected wild boar in Sicily, reporting for the first time genetic and phylogenetic data on the virus strain isolated in a dog in this Italian region. The dog was referred for severe neurological signs, respiratory distress, and intense itch around the muzzle. Death occurred within 48 h to the onset of clinical signs. On gross examination, self-induced skin lesions to the head due to intense itching and diffuse cerebral congestion were observed, whereas mild, aspecific, nonsuppurative meningitis was histologically diagnosed. Diffuse PrV positivity in neurons of the brainstem was observed by immunohistochemistry. PrV DNA was isolated and amplified from olfactory bulbs by nested PCR, targeting the viral glycoprotein G gene, and the sequence obtained matched with sequences of PrV isolates from dogs and wild boar. Isolation of PrV in the dog herein analysed denotes the spread of the virus in wild boar populations in Sicily and provides a proof of direct interspecies transmission. Thus, there is an urgent need to increase our understanding of the epidemiology of the PrV infection in wildlife to provide tools to trace possible spill over into domestic pigs or other livestock.

Introduction: Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) infects a wide range of animals, including members of the Suidae family, i.e. domestic and wild pigs, as well as wild boar. Since wild boar are a potential ADV reservoir and a source of infection for domestic pigs, the aim of the study was to evaluate ADV antibody prevalence in the Polish wild boar population, during the years 2011 to 2014.