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.