PSEUDORABIES IN THE EUROPEAN WILD BOAR FROM EASTERN GERMANY

Sera collected from European wild boar (Sus scrofa) shot in Eastern Ge rmany between January 1991 and December 1994 were tested for antibodie s to pseudorabies virus (PRV). Of 3,143 sera tested, 281 (8.9%) and 13 (0.4%) were positive and suspect in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent as say (ELISA), respectively. The specificity of the reactions was confir med by detection of neutralizing antibodies in 220 sera (74.8%) and by immunoblotting. Analysis of host age and sex of the animals, temporal and spatial factors showed significantly higher seroprevalences in ol der animals than in younger individuals, but no differences between ma les and females. Pseudorabies virus infections have been endemic in th is wild boar population for several years and the extreme eastern part of the study area had significantly higher seroprevalences (less than or equal to 22%) than other areas. In the area covered by this study, pseudorabies virus was eradicated in the domestic animal populations in 1985. Thus, the infections in the wild boar population appear to be endemic and persist completely separately and without affecting the d omestic pig population.