Surveillance of zoonotic and production-limiting pathogens in invasive free-ranging wild pigs in Alberta, Canada.
6 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada. [email protected].
- 2Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T5K 1E7, Canada.
- 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
- 4Animal Health Laboratory, Laboratory Services Division, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
- 5Veterinary Services, Merck Animal Health, Kirkland, QC, Canada.
- 6Wildlife Conservation Society, Health Program, Bronx, NY, USA.
Abstract
Background
The presence of wild pigs across the prairie provinces in Canada, coupled with their potential role as reservoirs for economically significant livestock pathogens, has intensified the need for surveillance. This study provides an overview of swine production-limiting diseases circulating within the invasive wild pig population in Alberta.Results
Between 2018 and 2024, 331 individuals were captured and tested for 17 pathogens. Antibodies to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (120/120; 100%), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2, 38/120; 31.7%), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo, 2/96; 2.1%), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV, 1/96; 1.0%) were detected. Gastrointestinal parasites were identified for Eimeria spp. (76/192; 39.6%); Metastrongylus spp. (49/192; 25.5%); Trichuris spp. (11/192; 5.7%); Ascaris spp. (11/192; 5.7%); and Strongyloides spp. (8/192; 4.2%). Molecular diagnostics confirmed infection with porcine circovirus 1 (PCV1, 1/331; 0.3%), PCV2 (109/331; 32.9%), porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3, 90/331; 27.2%), rotavirus A (RVA, 21/92; 22.8%), rotavirus C (RVC, 5/92; 5.4%), porcine parvovirus (PPV, 18/101; 17.8%), and Salmonella spp. (2/72; 2.8%). Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), Seneca virus A (SVA), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), influenza A virus (IAV), and rotavirus B (RVB) were not detected. Age was significantly associated with PCV2 and PCV3 infection, with mature individuals exhibiting a higher risk (p < 0.001) of being infected. Co-detection of pathogens was common, with 55.9% (38/68) of wild pigs testing positive for two or more pathogens.Conclusion
Overall, wild pigs were infected with pathogens that are significant to the porcine production industry and public health, demonstrating the potential risk of transmission at the wild and domestic pig interface, and highlighting the importance of continued surveillance from a One Health perspective.
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BibTeX
@article{leygarcia2026surveillance,
title = {{Surveillance of zoonotic and production-limiting pathogens in invasive free-ranging wild pigs in Alberta, Canada.}},
author = {Oshin Ley-Garcia and Chunu Mainali and Frank van der Meer and Davor Ojkic and Carolina Malgarin and Bryna Turk and Sylvia L Checkley and Hannah McKenzie and Mathieu Pruvot},
journal = {BMC veterinary research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12917-026-05793-1},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972569},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Surveillance of zoonotic and production-limiting pathogens in invasive free-ranging wild pigs in Alberta, Canada.
AU - Oshin Ley-Garcia
AU - Chunu Mainali
AU - Frank van der Meer
AU - Davor Ojkic
AU - Carolina Malgarin
AU - Bryna Turk
AU - Sylvia L Checkley
AU - Hannah McKenzie
AU - Mathieu Pruvot
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - BMC veterinary research
DO - 10.1186/s12917-026-05793-1
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972569
AB - Background The presence of wild pigs across the prairie provinces in Canada, coupled with their potential role as reservoirs for economically significant livestock pathogens, has intensified the need for surveillance. This study provides an overview of swine production-limiting diseases circulating within the invasive wild pig population in Alberta.Results Between 2018 and 2024, 331 individuals were captured and tested for 17 pathogens. Antibodies to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (120/120; 100%), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2, 38/120; 31.7%), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo, 2/96; 2.1%), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV, 1/96; 1.0%) were detected. Gastrointestinal parasites were identified for Eimeria spp. (76/192; 39.6%); Metastrongylus spp. (49/192; 25.5%); Trichuris spp. (11/192; 5.7%); Ascaris spp. (11/192; 5.7%); and Strongyloides spp. (8/192; 4.2%). Molecular diagnostics confirmed infection with porcine circovirus 1 (PCV1, 1/331; 0.3%), PCV2 (109/331; 32.9%), porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3, 90/331; 27.2%), rotavirus A (RVA, 21/92; 22.8%), rotavirus C (RVC, 5/92; 5.4%), porcine parvovirus (PPV, 18/101; 17.8%), and Salmonella spp. (2/72; 2.8%). Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), Seneca virus A (SVA), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), influenza A virus (IAV), and rotavirus B (RVB) were not detected. Age was significantly associated with PCV2 and PCV3 infection, with mature individuals exhibiting a higher risk (p < 0.001) of being infected. Co-detection of pathogens was common, with 55.9% (38/68) of wild pigs testing positive for two or more pathogens.Conclusion Overall, wild pigs were infected with pathogens that are significant to the porcine production industry and public health, demonstrating the potential risk of transmission at the wild and domestic pig interface, and highlighting the importance of continued surveillance from a One Health perspective.
SN - 1746-6148
ER -