ETD

• Brucella suis 2
• cinghiale

B. suis consists of five biovars, however infection in pigs is caused by the first three biovars (biovars 1, 2, and 3). Infection of animals caused by biovars 1 and 3 differs from that caused by biovar 2 in the host specificity and geographical distribution. In the context of public health, biovar 2 is very rarely pathogenic for humans, whereas biovars 1 and 3 are highly pathogenic causing severe disease in human beings.
Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are indigenous in many countries in the world. These free-living swine are known reservoirs for a number of viruses, bacteria and parasites that are transmissible to domestic animals and humans. Changes of human habitation to suburban areas, increased use of lands for agricultural purposes, increased hunting activities and consumption of wild boar meat have increased the chances of exposure of wild boars to domestic animals and humans. Wild boars can act as reservoirs for many important infectious diseases in domestic animals like brucellosis.