Is targeted removal a suitable means for tuberculosis control in wild boar?

Area of Science:

• Wildlife disease ecology
• Veterinary public health
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant threat to wildlife populations and can spill over to livestock and humans.
• Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) are known reservoirs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC).
• Targeted removal strategies are being explored for wildlife disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of targeted removal for controlling TB in a wild boar population.
• To evaluate the impact of translocating TB-infected wild boar on disease prevalence.
• To understand infection dynamics and pressure within wild boar populations.

Main Methods:

• A 60km² study area with treatment, control, and release sites was established.
• 929 wild boar were live-captured, micro-chipped, and tested for MTC antibodies.
• Seropositive wild boar were moved to a release site; seronegative boar were returned to the treatment site.

Main Results:

• Summer seroprevalence in wild boar piglets on the treatment site decreased by 39% from 2012 to 2013, but no further reduction occurred in 2014.
• Fall-winter MTC infection prevalence showed no significant changes on treatment or control sites.
• MTC infection prevalence significantly increased on the release site, from 40% to 64%.

Conclusions:

• Targeted removal failed to reduce TB prevalence in wild boar compared to a control site.
• Translocating TB-infected wild boar led to increased prevalence on the release site.
• The study provided insights into infection pressure and consequences of relocating infected wildlife.