Abstract
BackgroundThe role of wildlife as a brucellosis reservoir for humans and domestic livestock remains to be properly established. The aim of this work was to determine the aetiology, apparent prevalence, spatial distribution and risk factors for brucellosis transmission in several Iberian wild ungulates.MethodsA multi-species indirect immunosorbent assay (iELISA) using Brucella S-LPS antigen was developed. In several regions having brucellosis in livestock, individual serum samples were taken between 1999 and 2009 from 2,579 wild bovids, 6,448 wild cervids and4,454 Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), and tested to assess brucellosis apparent prevalence. Strains isolated from wild boar were characterized to identify the presence of markers shared with the strains isolated from domestic pigs.ResultsMean apparent prevalence below 0.5% was identified in chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica), and red deer (Cervus elaphus). Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), mouflon (Ovis aries) and Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) tested were seronegative. Only one red deer and one Iberian wild goat resulted positive in culture, isolating B. abortus biovar 1 and B. melitensis biovar 1, respectively. Apparent prevalence in wild boar ranged from 25% to 46% in the different regions studied, with the highest figures detected in South-Central Spain. The probability of wild boar being positive in the iELISA was also affected by age, age-by-sex interaction, sampling month, and the density of outdoor domestic pigs. A total of 104 bacterial isolates were obtained from wild boar, being all identified as B. suis biovar 2. DNA polymorphisms were similar to those found in domestic pigs.ConclusionsIn conclusion, brucellosis in wild boar is widespread in the Iberian Peninsula, thus representing an important threat for domestic pigs. By contrast, wild ruminants were not identified as a significant brucellosis reservoir for livestock.
Highlights
The role of wildlife as a brucellosis reservoir for humans and domestic livestock remains to be properly established
Results iELISA validation As an example of the iELISA validation procedure followed, the distribution of %OD results obtained with the CP Brucella culture positive domestic goats (n 44)
The relative specificity of the iELISA versus the culture results obtained with the 50 iELISA negative wild ruminants tested (Table 2) was adequate since no positive isolations were obtained in these animals
Summary
The role of wildlife as a brucellosis reservoir for humans and domestic livestock remains to be properly established. Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, characterized by abortion and infertility in several mammal species, and being considered one of the most important zoonosis worldwide [1]. Brucella melitensis, followed by Brucella abortus and Brucella suis, are the main species involved in the infection of human beings, being the main target of eradication campaigns. B. suis infection in both humans and pigs remains an important problem in most countries. Other Brucella species have been isolated in rodents, terrestrial carnivores, and sea mammals, but the relevance of these Brucella species for livestock and human beings is quite limited [3,4,5]
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