First Report of Porcine Bocavirus and Porcine Cytomegalovirus in Croatian ASF-Negative Wild Boar Populations

Wild boar populations are increasingly recognized as important hosts in the ecology of swine viruses, yet data from Croatia remain limited. This study aimed to establish baseline information on the presence of porcine bocavirus (PBoV) and porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) in Croatian wild boar within the framework of the national African swine fever (ASF) surveillance program. Spleen and blood samples from 184 ASF-negative wild boar collected across 11 counties were tested using real-time PCR. PCMV DNA was detected in 16 animals (8.69%), with similar detection frequencies in spleen (7.69%) and blood (9.52%). PBoV DNA was identified in seven animals (3.80%), all from spleen samples. Positive animals were distributed across several counties, but no significant associations were observed between virus detection and age, sex, or geographic origin. Coinfection with both viruses was detected in a single animal (0.05%). These findings provide the first molecular evidence of PBoV and PCMV in Croatian wild boar and indicate low-level viral circulation across multiple regions. Although both viruses are typically subclinical, their detection contributes to understanding pathogen diversity in free-living suids and establishes a foundation for future epidemiological and molecular studies in the region.