Konstantinos Papageorgiou
(School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece)
Introduction: Pseudorabies, caused by Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1), primarily affects swine and accidentally other mammals. Although eradicated from domestic pigs in many European countries, SuHV-1 persists in wild boar populations. Hunting dogs are at particular risk due to direct exposure during wild boar hunts.
Methods: Between 2022–2024, seven cases of neurological disease and death in hunting dogs were investigated in the regions of Epirus and Thessaly, Greece. Postmortem brain tissues were tested by PCR targeting a part of the glycoprotein D gene of SuHV-1. Positive samples were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
Results: All seven cases tested PCR-positive for SuHV-1. Phylogenetic analysis of the gD gene sequences revealed genetic divergence among the isolates. The Epirus strains formed a separate clade, suggesting localized viral evolution. The Thessaly isolate showed greater divergence, clustering independently and indicating a potentially unique lineage within the Greek wild boar reservoir.
Conclusion: Our findings confirm the ongoing circulation of SuHV-1 strains in wild boar populations in Greece and demonstrate the fatal risk posed to hunting dogs. These data highlight the need to raise awareness among veterinary practitioners to include pseudorabies in the differential diagnosis of encephalitis in dogs.
Keywords
wild boar; pseudorabies; dog; encephalitis
| Registration ID |
ECVM25-144
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| Professional Status of the submitter, who is also the speaker |
Professor
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Konstantinos Papageorgiou
(School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece)
Dr
Ilias Bouzalas
(Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA))
Mrs
Kiriaki Giamoustari
(Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Mrs
Małgorzata Wróbel
(Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn)
Prof.
Dimitrios Doukas
(Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Veterinary Forensics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly)
Mrs
Aikaterini Stoikou
(Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Prof.
Zoi Athanasakopoulou
(Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly)
Prof.
DImitrios Chatzopoulos
(Laboratory of One Health, Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Public and One Health, Uni-versity of Thessaly)
Dr
Dimitrios Papadopoulos
(Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Mr
Spyridon Pakos
(Veterinarian, Ioannina, Greece)
Mrs
Chrysanthi Karapetsiou
(Veterinary Directorate, Region of Epiros, 45332 Ioannina,)
Prof.
Charalambos Billinis
(Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa)
Prof.
Evanthia Petridou
(Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki)
Prof.
Spyridon Kritas
(Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki)
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