Serological evidence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae antibodies in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Poland

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae among wild boars inhabiting Poland. Material and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 281 wild boars of varying ages (juveniles, adolescents and adults) and subjected to testing using a commercial indirect ELISA assay. Results: The prevalence of E. rhusiopathiae antibodies was notably high, reaching 75.1% overall and varying slightly across different age categories (90.0% in juveniles, 70.7% in adolescents and 79.6% in adults). Despite these variations, no statistically significant differences were observed among age groups (P-value > 0.05). Conclusion: The elevated prevalence of E. rhusiopathiae identified in this study underscores the significance of wild boars as natural reservoirs of this bacterium. Further investigations are warranted to identify the risk factors associated with disease transmission to other species, including humans.