engleski

Isolation of pseudorabies virus from hunting dogs in Croatia

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is capable of persisting in an infected wild boar herd for years. Therefore, wild boars could present reservoirs of PRV and a health hazard for domestic pigs and other susceptible animals, including hunting dogs. The paper presents a case report of PRV infection in hunting dogs from the two different central Croatian counties after their contact with wild boars. Brain tissue samples from two hunting dogs were homogenized and prepared for DNA extraction. PCR for the detection of gB-gene of PRV was performed on the isolates and the amplification product was sequenced. The sequences were compared to known sequences isolated from wild boars in Croatia (WB_SI, WB_KRK1 and WB_KRK2). The presence of PRV was confirmed in samples originating from both tested animals. PRV sequences of isolates KA_DOG and KR_DOG have shown to be 100% genetically identical to the isolate WB_SI and differed from isolates WB_KRK1 and WB_KRK2 in only one nucleotide (0, 49%).They were clustered together with the referent vaccinal PRV strains. This is the first description of pseudorabies in dogs from Croatia. A full characterisation of isolates has been carried out, and it shows the possibility of PRV spread from wild boars to domestic animals. The study confirms the possibility of PRV spread from infected wild boars to domestic, valuable hunting dogs via direct contact. The clinical findings (typical PRV signs in dogs) were also present. This is an important epidemiological finding which shows the necessity for further surveillance and implementation of efficient preventive measures when possible contact with potential PRV infected wild boars can occur. Continued surveillance is necessary for the prevention of introducing PRV infection into domestic pig farms as well.

PRV; wild boars; hunting dogs; Croatia

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