Influenza A in Wild Boars: Viral Circulation in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy) between 2017 and 2022
Alice Prosperi,
Laura Soliani,
Elena Canelli,
Laura Baioni,
Valentina Gabbi,
Camilla Torreggiani,
Roberta Manfredi,
Irene Calanchi,
Giovanni Pupillo,
Filippo Barsi,
Patrizia Bassi,
Laura Fiorentini,
Matteo Frasnelli,
Maria Cristina Fontana,
Andrea Luppi,
Chiara Chiapponi
Affiliations
Alice Prosperi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Laura Soliani
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Valentina Gabbi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Camilla Torreggiani
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Roberta Manfredi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Irene Calanchi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Giovanni Pupillo
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Filippo Barsi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Patrizia Bassi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Laura Fiorentini
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Matteo Frasnelli
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Maria Cristina Fontana
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Andrea Luppi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
Chiara Chiapponi
OIE Reference Laboratory for Swine Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy
A systematic surveillance against influenza A viruses (IAVs) in the Suidae population is essential, considering their role as IAV mixing vessels. However, the viral circulation in wild Sus scrofa species is poorly investigated in comparison to the knowledge of IAV infection dynamics in domestic pigs. This study investigated the circulation and the genetic diversity of wild boars’ IAVs detected in the Emilia-Romagna region (2017–2022). A total of 4605 lung samples were screened via an M gene real-time RT-PCR for SwIAV; positive samples were subtyped by multiplex RT-PCR, and viral isolation was attempted. Isolated strains (3 out of the 17 positives) were fully sequenced to evaluate viral genotypic diversity. H1N1 was the most frequently detected subtype, with identification of H1pdm09N1 and H1avN1. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis revealed SwIAVs belonging to different genotypes, with different genetic combinations, and highlighted the simultaneous circulation of the same genotypes in both pigs and wild boars, supporting the hypothesis of SwIAV spillover events at the wildlife–livestock interface. This study represents an update on the wild boar SwIAV Italian situation, and the strains’ complete genome analysis showed an evolving and interesting situation that deserves further investigation.
