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First Report of Swinepox in a Wild Boar in Italy: Pathologic and Molecular Findings

Authors :
Lisa Guardone
Katia Varello
Valeria Listorti
Simone Peletto
Lara Wolfsgruber
Roberto Zoccola
Vittoria Montemurro
Erika Messana
Elena Bozzetta
Pierluigi Acutis
Loretta Masoero
Elisabetta Razzuoli
Source :
Pathogens, Vol 12, Iss 3, p 472 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Swinepox virus (SWPV) is responsible for sporadic acute poxvirus infections in swine worldwide, causing a pathognomonic eruptive proliferative dermatitis. Beside direct and congenital transmission, the pig louse Haematopinus suis acts as a mechanical vector and favors virus infection through skin lesions. Infections are generally described in domestic pigs, while only a few cases have been reported in wild boars, in Austria and Germany. In September 2022, SWPV infection was suspected at post-mortem examination of a wild boar piglet with characteristic lesions in Liguria, Northwest Italy. The piglet was heavily parasitized by swine lice (H. suis). SWPV was then confirmed by histological and molecular analyses. Possible viral co-infections were also investigated (African swine fever virus, classical swine fever virus, parvovirus, circovirus, Aujeszky’s disease virus and hepatitis E virus). This article describes gross and histopathologic features of SWPV infection, differential diagnosis, and potential vector-borne transmission to domestic pigs, presenting a brief review of the literature on the topic. SWPV infection is reported in wild boars in Italy for the first time. The finding of SWPV in a wild boar in an area with a very limited pig population may suggest the existence of a “wildlife cycle” in the area. Further investigations are needed to understand the real risk of transmission of SWPV to domestic pigs as well as the role of other arthropod vectors.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20760817
Volume :
12
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Pathogens
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.4f3b0749d3d7440699454c4d8b3d7a7b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12030472