Cross-species transmission potential between wild pigs, livestock, poultry, wildlife, and humans: implications for disease risk management in North America

Authors

Ryan S. Miller, USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesFollow
Steven J. Sweeney, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
Chris Slootmaker, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
Daniel A. Grear, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Paul A. Di Salvo, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
Deborah Kiser, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
Stephanie A. Shwiff, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2017

Citation

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | 7: 7821 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-07336-z

Comments

Open Access.

Abstract

Cross-species disease transmission between wildlife, domestic animals and humans is an increasing threat to public and veterinary health. Wild pigs are increasingly a potential veterinary and public health threat. Here we investigate 84 pathogens and the host species most at risk for transmission with wild pigs using a network approach. We assess the risk to agricultural and human health by evaluating the status of these pathogens and the co-occurrence of wild pigs, agriculture and humans. We identified 34 (87%) OIE listed swine pathogens that cause clinical disease in livestock, poultry, wildlife, and humans. On average 73% of bacterial, 39% of viral, and 63% of parasitic pathogens caused clinical disease in other species. Non-porcine livestock in the family Bovidae shared the most pathogens with swine (82%). Only 49% of currently listed OIE domestic swine diseases had published wild pig surveillance studies. The co-occurrence of wild pigs and farms increased annually at a rate of 1.2% with as much as 57% of all farms and 77% of all agricultural animals co-occurring with wild pigs. The increasing co-occurrence of wild pigs with livestock and humans along with the large number of pathogens shared is a growing risk for cross-species transmission.