Serological anthrax surveillance in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Ukraine

• Published in: Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) Vol. 14; no. 8; p. 618
• Main Authors: Bagamian, Karoun H, Skrypnyk, Artem, Rodina, Yana, Bezymennyi, Maksym, Nevolko, Oleg, Skrypnyk, Valeriy, Blackburn, Jason K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Anthrax - blood; Anthrax - diagnosis; Anthrax - epidemiology; Anthrax - microbiology; Bacillus anthracis - isolation & purification; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epidemiological Monitoring; Livestock - microbiology; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sus scrofa - microbiology; Swine - microbiology; Swine Diseases - epidemiology; Swine Diseases - microbiology; Ukraine - epidemiology; Ukraine; Bacillus anthracis; Anthrax; Wild boar; Serological surveillance; Biosentinel; Ukrainian wildlife; Sus scrofa
• ISSN: 1557-7759
• DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1521

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, is an acute disease affecting wildlife, livestock, and humans worldwide, although its impact on these populations is underappreciated. In Ukraine, surveillance is passive, and anthrax is often detected in livestock. However, wildlife is not subject to surveillance, although anthrax deaths (such as in wild boar, Sus scrofa) have been documented. The wild boar is a plentiful and widespread species in Ukraine and is frequently hunted. We initiated a screening study testing Ukrainian wild boar blood samples for antibodies to B. anthracis. We mapped results relative to known livestock anthrax hotspots. We discovered evidence of exposure in wild boar up to 35 km from livestock anthrax hotspots and over 400 km from previous anthrax reports in boars. We make recommendations about using wildlife species as biosentinels for anthrax in Ukraine.