Occurrence of Aujeszky’s disease in wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) in Slovakia

Along with the rising population of wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) in Slovakia, a higher rate of exposition to Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) was noted. The high density of animals is one of the main influencing factors of ADV persistence. Wild boar tissue samples were obtained by local hunters from different locations of Central and Eastern Slovakia. In total, muscle tissue samples from 139 individual wild boars were collected. Muscle fluid was obtained from these samples and subjected to serological analysis; a commercial ADV Ab-ELISA kit was used. In total, 53 samples were proved to be seropositive; out of these 19 samples of piglets, 13 samples of juveniles and 21 samples of adults. Out of 139 samples tested by ELISA, 53 were seropositive, which represents 38.12 % of positive samples. No significant difference was found between the two sexes; however, piglets have shown to have a significantly higher occurrence compared to adults. Our study confirmed the presence of ADV antibodies in the wild boar population in central and eastern Slovakia.