Abstract
Understanding the transmission patterns of African swine fever (ASF) among wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an issue of major interest, especially in the wake of the current ASF epidemic. Given the high stability of ASF-virus, there is concern about scavengers spreading infectious carcass material in the environment. Here, we describe scavenging activities on 32 wild boar carcasses in their natural habitat in Germany. Using digital cameras, we detected 22 vertebrates at the study sites, thereof two mammal and three bird species scavenging. The most frequently detected species was the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides (44% of all visits). Raccoon dogs, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and buzzards (Buteo buteo) scavenged in the warm and the cold season, while ravens (Corvus corax) and white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) scavenged only in the cold season. In summer, however, insects removed most of the carcass biomass. Although most of the material was consumed on the spot, foxes, raccoon dogs and ravens left the study sites in rare cases with a small piece of meat in their mouths or beaks. We conclude that scavengers represent a minor risk factor for spreading ASF, but may contribute to reducing local virus persistence by metabolizing infected carcasses.
Highlights
Understanding the transmission patterns of African swine fever (ASF) among wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an issue of major interest, especially in the wake of the current ASF epidemic
A substantial number of wild boar die from infection, becoming available to invertebrate decomposers, vertebrate scavengers and susceptible conspecifics
Carcasses of infected wild boar may be a source of infection for susceptible conspecifics until they are completely decomposed[5]
Summary
Understanding the transmission patterns of African swine fever (ASF) among wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an issue of major interest, especially in the wake of the current ASF epidemic. Wild boar carcass persistence time and ASFV persistence in the soil underneath infected carcasses are still two main sources of uncertainty on ASF epidemiology, fast localization and removal of carcasses is considered as one of the most important disease control measure in affected regions. Some authors consider scavenging activities as a risk factor for pathogen transmission for Tuberculosis and ASF7, especially since canids[8,9] and vultures[10,11] have been observed dispersing small pieces of carcasses. This has raised concern about the role of scavengers in ASF epidemiology.
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