Serological investigations regarding the effect of infection with swine influenza virus H1N1 on the evolution of enzootic pneumonia in wild boars from western Romania

Abstract

Abstract The transmission of infectious diseases between wild animals and domestic animals is becoming a global issue of growing interest for the pig producing industry and human public health. In medical literature, that are several reports that wild boars may act as a reservoir for economically important infectious diseases that endemically affect domestic pigs, such as enzootic pneumonia and swine influenza. Although the risk of transmission of these diseases between wild boars and domestic pigs is likely to increase in Western Romania, there is very few data on the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and swine influenza virus in wild boar populations. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of infection caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in wild boar populations from Western Romania in order to contribute to the information necessary for the control of the disease. Also, in order to determine the effect of infection with swine influenza virus H1N1 on the evolution of enzootic pneumonia, the value of seroprevalence for both types of infections was compared. The seroprevalence of infection with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, reported to the total number of samples tested on nine hunting grounds (which belong to Caraș-Severin County, Timiș County, and Bihor County) was 66.67%. The seroprevalence of swine influenza virus infection, reported to the total number of samples tested on 25 hunting grounds (which belong to Caraș-Severin County, Timiș County, and Bihor County) was 11.80%. Mixed infections with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and swine influenza virus subtype H1N1 were detected in two out of the three counties included in the study (Timiș County and Bihor County), with a substantial increase in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae seropositivity. The results obtained in this study provide information on the disease exposure and health status of wild boars suggesting that Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and swine influenza virus are widespread in wild boar populations from Western Romania and that these pathogens represent a source of infection for domestic pigs, as well as humans.