Pseudorabies in Feral Swine in the United States, 2009–2012

Authors

Kerri Pedersen, US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceFollow
Sarah N. Bevins, US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceFollow
John A. Baroch, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
James C. Cumbee Jr., US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Shannon C. Chandler, US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Billy S. Woodruff, US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Troy T. Bigelow, US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Thomas J. DeLiberto, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Pedersen, K. S.N. Bevins, J.A. Baroch, J.C. Cumbee, Jr., S.C. Chandler, B.S. Woodruff, T.T. Bigelow, and T.J. DeLiberto. 2013. Pseudorabies in feral swine in the United States, 2009-2012. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 49(3):709-713. doi: 10.7589/2012-12-314.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

Although pseudorabies virus can affect a wide range of mammalian and avian hosts, swine are the only natural hosts of the virus. The US commercial swine industry obtained pseudorabies-free status in 2004, which was important because of the economic value of domestic swine production; however, feral swine remain competent hosts and represent a constant threat for reintroducing the virus into the commercial industry. To better assess feral swine infection status, we collected 8,498 serum samples from feral swine across the United States between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2012. Of these, 18% were antibody positive in 25 of 35 states where samples were collected, indicating that transmission risk is widespread.