Epidemiologic Survey for Brucella suis Biovar 2 in a Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Population in Northwest Italy

Abstract

In 2001, antibodies to Brucella spp. were detected in the wild boar (Sus scrofa) population of Regional Park in the Piedmont, northwest Italy. This was the first report of swine brucellosis in Italian wildlife, and in response, we conducted a survey on wild boars culled in the park to evaluate the presence and epidemiologic pattern of Brucella. In total, 2,267 serum samples and 1,841 tissue samples were collected and tested from 2001 to 2007. Differences in antibody and infection prevalence among sampling years were statistically significant (chi(2)=28.2, P<0.0001 and chi(2)=27.8, P<0.0001, respectively). Serologic and culture results also differed between gender and age groups, and for serology, a positive age trend was observed in both male and female age classes (chi(2(trend))=90.9, P<0.00005 OR: 1, 2.5, 4.9, 7.5; chi(2(trend))=43.1, P<0.00002, OR: 1, 2.5, 2.9, 4.8, respectively).