Wild boar (Sus scrofa) are considered one of the most harmful invasive species in North America. In the 1980’s wild boar were introduced to Canada to diversify agriculture, however, many individuals escaped or were released when they no longer proved profitable, and established feral populations. These populations continue to grow as a result of wild boar’s generalist diets and high reproductive rates. Wild boar are a threat to biodiversity as they alter ecosystems due to their wallowing and rooting behaviours. They also cause significant costs to the agriculture sector through crop damage, livestock harassment and degradation.

 

Wild boar populations act as a reservoir for pathogens and can transmit diseases to humans, livestock and other wildlife species. The outbreak of an infection in livestock due to wild boar transmission would be devastating to Canada’s pork and beef industry, resulting in trade restrictions and substantial control efforts. One of those diseases is African Swine Fever (ASF) which is a highly contagious viral disease that is fatal to pigs. ASF is a major crisis for the pork industry worldwide, if it is introduced to Canada it could potentially be transmitted by wild boar at large.

 

The aim of the University of Calgary’s wild boar project is to quantify disease risks posed by wild boar at large and inform effective management in Alberta. This project contains three overall objectives:

1. Examine the distribution and movement of wild boar, with emphasis on implications for the transmission and spread of disease.

2. Characterize contact between wild boar and livestock to predict disease transmission.

3. Monitor infectious diseases in wild boars and identify pathogens shared between wild boar and livestock.

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Objective 1: Establish the current distribution of invasive wild boar across Alberta and predict where the species is expected to spread.

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This objective aims to fill knowledge gaps in wild boar spatial ecology specific to Canadian populations, in order to inform development of effective population and disease control strategies in Alberta. The three main objectives of this objective are as follows. 

1. Establish the current distribution of invasive wild boar in Alberta and predict where the species is likely to spread.

2. Determine the population characteristics of wild boar in Alberta (e.g., density, home range, and habitat use).

3. Examine contact patterns within and between wild boar sounders and the consequences of these for disease transmission in Alberta.

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Objective 2: Measure contact between wild boar and livestock to predict disease transmission

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To characterize the contact patterns between wild boar and livestock, camera traps will be placed on farmland to see if wild boar are approaching farms and interacting with domestic animals. The type and frequency of these interactions will be used to estimate the contact rate and transmission probability of ASF between wild boar and livestock. A simulation model will be developed to see how ASF may spread between wild boar and domestic pigs. The simulations will include different control methods to identify the optimal response to control an outbreak. The results will support decision making for controlling diseases and help protect producers, the trade system and the economy.

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Objective 3: Identify disease shared by wild boar and livestock.

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This research aims to increase the surveillance of infectious diseases in invasive wild boars in Alberta.  We hypothesize that wild boars are host to common swine pathogens. Major pathogens circulating in Canada were selected as models for wild–livestock transmission, including Influenza A virus (IAV), Porcine Circoviruses (PCV), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Erysipelas spp. and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Through the Wild Boar Eradication Program serums and viscera will be collected and tested for specific pathogens using serology and molecular diagnostics. Phylogenetic analysis will estimate spillover frequencies between wild and domestic pigs. The study will further investigate potential scenarios and risk factors for African Swine Fever (ASF) introduction to Alberta. Based on expert knowledge, risk maps will be produced to support risk-based surveillance.

 

Opportunistic surveillance in the province aims to gather vital data on pathogen transmission, aiding in prioritizing on-farm biosecurity measures. Screening results will guide targeted intervention at high-prevalence sites and increase awareness of the epidemiological role of wild boars in swine production diseases. This study enhances our understanding of the impact of a new host in Canadian landscapes, contributing to improved biosecurity, pathogen vigilance, and preparedness for foreign animal disease incursion.

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