Prevalence of antibodies to classical swine fever, Aujeszky's disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, and bovine viral diarrhoea viruses in wild boars in Croatia.

During the hunting season in February 1999, a total of 44 blood samples were collected from wild boars shot in the area of Moslavacka gora. These blood samples were examined by enzyme immunoassay for the presence of antibodies to classical swine fever (CSFV), Aujeszky's disease (ADV), bovine viral diarrhoea (BVDV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) viruses. Out of 44 serum samples examined, 17 (38.63%) were positive for CSFV, 24 (54.54%) were positive for ADV and two (4.54%) were positive for BVDV. All sera were negative for PRRSV. The results, recorded for the first time in Croatia, supported the hypothesis that wild boar act as a potential reservoir of CSFV, ADV and BVDV, and thus have a role in the epidemiology of these diseases.