Detection of antibodies against pathogens in feral and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) at the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Abstract

Veterinaria México OA
ISSN: 2448-6760

Cite this as:

• Pérez Rivera CM, López MS, Arnaud Franco G, Carreón Nápoles R. Detection of antibodies against pathogens in feral and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) at the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Veterinaria México OA. 2017;4(1). doi: 10.21753/vmoa.4.1.378

Several diseases that were believed to be controlled or eradicated have reappeared and have had catastrophic effects on humans and on domestic and wild animals. Approximately 60 % of recently registered disease outbeaks are caused by zoonotic agents, and 72 % of these originated in a wild species. Swine (Sus scrofa) is a species that favors the propagation of pathogens, and they can be a reservoir of many diseases. Thus, the objective of this study was to detect the presence of viral and bacterial diseases that could impair the health of wild animals and humans in both feral and domesticated pigs at the Sierra La LagunaBiosphere Reserve. Diagnosis was performed with serological tests on 70 animals to detect antibodies against swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine respiratory reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV), leptospirosis (Lp), salmonellosis (Sal), and brucellosis (Br). No antibodies were detected against PRRS or AD, whereas the seropositivity was 30.7 % for SI, 25.9 % for Lp, 87.1 % for Sal, and 14.3 % for Br. This evidence supports the presence of these pathogens in Sierra Laguna, and implies that swine could be an important factor for transmission to other wild species, as well as to people who have had contact with or consumed these animals. Thus, developing management and epidemiological surveillance plans for the animals inhabiting the region is of paramount importance.

Figure 1. Percentage of positivity per serovariety and sampling group