Health status of free-ranging pure and cross-mixed miniature swine population from North East Spain.

Abstract

Miniature pigs have gained popularity as companion animals in the recent years in Spain. Because the abandonment of miniature pigs and crossing breeds with wild boars can cause severe problems, investigation about the health status is needed. Two-hundred and eleven miniature pigs ( Sus scrofa) were included in the study to determine their health status according to the clinical findings during physical examination and the results of antibody serology tests against selected infectious diseases. Their origin, age sex, housing conditions and diet were recorded. The housing of the animals ranged from wild animals to animals living in animal sanctuaries. The diet varied from a natural diet in the wild to commercial and homemade food. Thirty animals out of two-hundred and eleven were hybrids between miniature pigs and wild boars according to morphological characteristics. Antibody serology techniques of Influenza A virus, Hepatitis E virus, brucellosis, tuberculosis, African swine fever, Classical Swine fever and Aujeszky´s disease was performed. The prevalence for Influenza A was 5.30%, for Hepatitis E was 5.35% and the rest tested negative. It is important to control and monitor these zoonotic infections to prevent Public Health problems. The results obtained from this investigation demonstrated that the health status of the animals in this study is optimal and the prevalence of diseases is similar or minor when compared to previous studies. This study confirms the hybridization of miniature pig and wild boar in Catalonia.