Pseudorabies virus in wild swine: current evidence and interpretations from monitoring studies

To synthesize current knowledge on pseudorabies virus (PRV; also known as Aujeszky's disease virus or Suid alphaherpesvirus 1) infections in wild swine, a combined review and meta-analysis was conducted. The study aimed to critically interpret reported PRV seroprevalence data, assess risks for animal health and disease control programs, and inform future monitoring and management strategies. An extensive literature search covering the period from 1970 to 2025 identified 160 serosurveys published between 1979 and 2024, yielding 516 datasets for analysis. Binomial logistic and mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess spatio-temporal patterns. The results indicate that PRV is widely established in wild swine populations, particularly in Europe and North America, forming stable endemic cycles largely independent of host density. Persistent spatial heterogeneity and region-specific temporal trends were observed, and once introduced into naïve populations, PRV appears to persist long term, limiting the added value of continued monitoring in long-established endemic areas.