Date of Award

Spring 2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Molecular Science and Nanotechnology

First Advisor

William Wolf

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that feral swine (Sus scofra ) are significant reservoirs for a number of pathogens that present a potential threat to wildlife and humans. Despite this, few studies have gone beyond quantifying the incidence of these pathogens to further probe their ecology within a specific habitat or ecosystem.

Overall, the objective of this study was to characterize three potential reservoirs in a feral swine infested habitat; two ungulates, and one aquatic reservoir. Our study area was the Jackson-Bienville Wildlife Management Area (J-B WMA). We chose four waterborne bacteria: Brucella spp., Leptospira interrogans, Salmonella enterica, and Helicobacter pylori, and two waterborne protozoal pathogens: Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum to assess in the J-B WMA. We developed a straightforward protocol to assess feral hog wallows which we recommend to others as a supplemental benchmark if they study feral swine.

Using PCR, we analyzed whole blood and fecal samples collected from feral swine (N=47) and white-tailed deer (N=49) within the J-B WMA for the following bacterial pathogens: Brucella spp., Leptospira interrogans , and Salmonella enterica, as well as two protozoans:Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum. Sera from feral swine (N=47) and white-tailed deer (N=49) were also collected and tested for Brucella spp. and Leptospira interrogans using the Rose Bengal Test and Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) respectively. Feral swine stomach samples (N=16) were collected and tested by PCR for the presence of a fourth bacterial pathogen, Helicobacter pylori, but no positives were documented. Water samples from feral swine wallows (N=20) were also collected and tested for the same pathogens using PCR.

Our results showed a high rate of incidence for each pathogen (except H. pylori) in feral hogs; and all pathogens were found to be present in many wallows as well. White-tailed deer tested positive for each bacterial pathogen, albeit at a lower rate, and none tested positive for either protozoal pathogen. Analysis of feral swine wallows showed they possess physical characteristics compatible with a sustained bacterial and protozoal presence. We have shown that feral swine in the J-B WMA are reservoirs for three bacterial and two protozoal pathogens included irx this study.

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