Active surveillance of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) among wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations of Andalusia (Spain)
Supporting Agencies
- La toma de muestras ha sido posible gracias a la participación y colaboración de titulares, representantes, gestores y guardas de caza de los cotos colaboradores con el PVE, además del personal adscrito al Espacio Natural de Doñana y a las Resevas Andaluzas de Caza (RACs) existentes en Andalucía.
Abstract
The wild boar is considered one of the most important game species in Spain and in recent decades hassignificantly increased population density. Epidemiological Surveillance Program of wildlife in Andalusia(PVE) was launched in September 2009, in order to determine the health status of wild species and theoccurrence of diseases. Bovine tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, is a widespread infectious diseaseworldwide, affecting a wide range of hosts (humans, domestic animals and wildlife) and wild boar has beenconsidered a natural reservoir of tuberculosis. The objectives of the present study were as it follows: (1)determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in wild boar populations in Andalusia and (2) recognizethe main risk factors associated with M. bovis infection in this species. 190 specimens of shot down wildboar (Sus scrofa) in 11 hunting areas of Andalusia from 2009 to 2011 were analyzed. In the retrospectiveserological study we used indirect ELISA technique (Vacunek®). A high overall prevalence has beendetected (38%, 72/190) and seropositive individuals sampled have been found in all hunting areas and in allAndalusian provinces, indicating that M. bovis infection is endemic in wild boar populations of Andalucía.Statistically significant differences were found between different hunting areas, detecting higher prevalencein Sierras Sur de Jaén (55%, 10/18) and Marisma (51%, 17/33). The high prevalence of wild boars fromprivate hunting reserves detected in the hunting area Sierras Sur de Jaén might reflect current huntingmanagement systems. In the hunting area Marisma, included in the P.N.S Doñana, it was observed thatthe prevalence is higher in the north, where the wild boar population density is higher, and decreases inthe south. Young wild board showed a significant (p<0.05) higher prevalence (62%, 10/16) of tuberculosisthan adults (29%, 38/128) and sub-adults (52%, 24/46). Gender did not present statistically significantdifferences, although, higher prevalence was detected in females (41%, 39/95) than in males (34%, 33/95).The estimated prevalence in 2010 (42%, 30/71) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in 2009 (7%, 1/15)and was slightly lower in 2011 (39%, 41/104). The high seroprevalence of Mycobacterium bovis, andthe increasing population densities in recent decades indicate that the wild boar plays an important roleas a natural reservoir of tuberculosis in the Andalusian Mediterranean ecosystems which will hinder thefavorable progress of eradication programs in domestic animals.Keywords: tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, wild boar, Andalusia, hunting area.
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