First Serological Evidence of Exposure to Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Feral Pigs and Sentinel Chickens in Western Australia.
7 affiliations
- 1Environmental Health Directorate, Western Australia Department of Health, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia.
- 2PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
- 3Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
- 4Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
- 5School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
- 6Diagnostic and Laboratory Services (DDLS), Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
- 7Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, VC 3220, Australia.
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) emerged across mainland Australia in 2022, causing substantial impacts on public health and the pig industry. Its emergence raised concerns regarding potential spread into Western Australia (WA). This study aimed to determine JEV activity in WA with a focus on the Kimberley region between 2022 and 2024. It also examined potential pathways of JEV introduction into the state and the challenges associated with flavivirus serology. An integrated surveillance program comprising targeted feral pig surveillance and sentinel chicken monitoring was implemented across northern WA. Sera were screened using flavivirus ELISAs and confirmatory plaque reduction neutralisation tests (PRNT), while feral pig tonsils were tested by RT-qPCR. Evidence of JEV activity was detected in WA between 2022 and 2024. Serological findings from two feral pigs sampled in October 2022 provided the earliest indication of JEV transmission in the Kimberley region. Sentinel chicken surveillance subsequently identified JEV activity in Kununurra, Wyndham, Halls Creek and Newman during 2023 and Derby in 2024. These results provide the first published evidence of JEV activity in WA and highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance, vaccination, mosquito control and preparedness activities in northern Australia.
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BibTeX
@article{potter2026first,
title = {{First Serological Evidence of Exposure to Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Feral Pigs and Sentinel Chickens in Western Australia.}},
author = {Abbey Potter and Craig Brockway and Kimberly L Miller and Avram Levy and Yi-Horng Ler and Yee Yang Khor and Michael D A Lindsay and Tamara Falkingham and Andrew Jardine and Jay Nicholson and Chisha Sikazwe and David W Smith and Kritu Panta and David J Speers and John S Mackenzie and Mark O'Dea and Antonio Di Rubbo and Kalpana Agnihotri and David T Williams},
journal = {Tropical medicine and infectious disease},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/tropicalmed11100285},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931470},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - First Serological Evidence of Exposure to Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Feral Pigs and Sentinel Chickens in Western Australia.
AU - Abbey Potter
AU - Craig Brockway
AU - Kimberly L Miller
AU - Avram Levy
AU - Yi-Horng Ler
AU - Yee Yang Khor
AU - Michael D A Lindsay
AU - Tamara Falkingham
AU - Andrew Jardine
AU - Jay Nicholson
AU - Chisha Sikazwe
AU - David W Smith
AU - Kritu Panta
AU - David J Speers
AU - John S Mackenzie
AU - Mark O'Dea
AU - Antonio Di Rubbo
AU - Kalpana Agnihotri
AU - David T Williams
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - Tropical medicine and infectious disease
DO - 10.3390/tropicalmed11100285
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931470
AB - Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) emerged across mainland Australia in 2022, causing substantial impacts on public health and the pig industry. Its emergence raised concerns regarding potential spread into Western Australia (WA). This study aimed to determine JEV activity in WA with a focus on the Kimberley region between 2022 and 2024. It also examined potential pathways of JEV introduction into the state and the challenges associated with flavivirus serology. An integrated surveillance program comprising targeted feral pig surveillance and sentinel chicken monitoring was implemented across northern WA. Sera were screened using flavivirus ELISAs and confirmatory plaque reduction neutralisation tests (PRNT), while feral pig tonsils were tested by RT-qPCR. Evidence of JEV activity was detected in WA between 2022 and 2024. Serological findings from two feral pigs sampled in October 2022 provided the earliest indication of JEV transmission in the Kimberley region. Sentinel chicken surveillance subsequently identified JEV activity in Kununurra, Wyndham, Halls Creek and Newman during 2023 and Derby in 2024. These results provide the first published evidence of JEV activity in WA and highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance, vaccination, mosquito control and preparedness activities in northern Australia.
SN - 2414-6366
ER -