THE PUBLIC-HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WILD AND FERAL SWINE

Wild swine populations (Sus scrofa) are present in many regions of the world. Large feral populations in North America and Australia are pri ncipally derived from introduced domestic pigs. In Europe, most wild b oar are found in Germany and Poland. While wild swine are certainly a significant reservoir of infection for domestic swine diseases (for ex ample, African swine fever virus in wild boar in Sardinia), these swin e generally do not constitute a major public health risk. Brucella sui s infections and trichinellosis are the most important zoonotic threat s to public health.