Isolation and characterisation of an Aujeszky's disease virus naturally infecting a wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Isolation of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) from an injured, female wild boar (Sus scrofa), shot dead by hunters, in an area adjacent to the Abruzzo National Park is reported. The brain was submitted for attempted virus isolation following episodes of mortality in several dogs and cats fed with meat from the wild boar. Virus was isolated on first passage from the brain of the wild boar. The restriction fragment length polymorphism profile of the isolate was assessed as a type I. The role of stress in reactivating latent ADV in wild boars, the possibility of transmitting infection to endangered species such as bears (Ursus arctos), wolves (Canis lupus), wild cats (Felis silvestris) and lynx (Lynx lynx), present in the Abruzzo National Park and the possible role of wild boars as reservoirs for ADV is discussed.