Serological evidence for influenza virus infection in Korean wild boars

Abstract

Serum samples from 1,011 wild boars hunted in 2012 were collected for serological surveillance for 4 subtypes (pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 and classical H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2) of swine influenza virus (SIV). Samples from 12 of the boars were identified as positive for SIV (pandemic A (H1N1) 2009, n=9; classical H1N1, n=2; and H1N2, n=1) by a hemagglutination inhibition test (HI test) and a nucleoprotein (NP)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (NP-ELISA). Although the overall seroprevalence of SIV in the Korean wild boar population was somewhat low compared with that in China and the U.S.A., the apparent prevalence of pandemic H1N1 was notable. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the wild boar population is needed as it may be a major reservoir for pandemic H1N1, facilitating its spread to humans and domestic pigs.