Nearly 30% of wild boars tested in the Czech Republic have shown positive results for Aujeszky’s disease, a virus that is fatal to dogs, according to recent monitoring by the State Veterinary Administration.
As of this year, approximately 600 wild boars have been examined at state veterinary institutes across the country, with 28% of the tests coming back positive, said Petr Vorlíček, a spokesperson for the State Veterinary Administration.
Veterinarians say the results are not cause for alarm, mirroring findings from previous years. In 2017, 21% of samples tested positive, even as monitoring between 2011 and 2013 revealed that a third of samples were positive.
The disease has not been detected in domestic animals for several years, with the last confirmed case in a dog occurring in 2022, Vorlíček added.
Authorities are urging owners of hunting dogs, who frequently come into contact with wild boar and other wildlife, to be cautious. The State Veterinary Administration warns that the greatest risk comes from dogs coming into contact with wild boar blood during hunts. Feeding dogs and other animals raw meat and offal from wild boar is also considered high-risk.
Not Every Positive Animal is Infectious
The presence of antibodies in tested samples confirms the virus is present in the wild boar population, indicating that a portion of the population has been exposed during their lifetime. However, a positive test does not necessarily mean the animal is currently sick or infectious.
The State Veterinary Administration does not implement any extraordinary veterinary measures when positive serological results are detected, nor are there any restrictions on handling game meat.
Aujeszky’s disease is an infectious disease affecting a wide range of livestock and wild animals, according to the veterinary administration. Pigs are the natural host and the only species that survives infection. The virus can then infect almost all mammals except humans and primates.
The disease primarily manifests with neurological and respiratory symptoms, with the most severe cases occurring in piglets. Other animal species typically exhibit neurological symptoms accompanied by intense itching. The disease is always fatal in all species except pigs.
