Genetic detection and analysis of porcine bocavirus type 1 (PoBoV1) in European wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Novel porcine parvoviruses showing the genetic characteristics of bocaviruses have recently been identified. The first such porcine bocavirus (PoBoV1), described as boca-like virus (PBo-likeV), was discovered in PMWS affected pigs in Sweden. Later, several other bocaviruses with divergent genomes were reported under various names in domestic pigs. This is the first report of the presence of bocaviruses in European wild boars. 842 wild boar samples originating from the Western region of Romania (Transylvania) were collected during the 2006/2007 and the 2010/2011 hunting seasons and tested for the presence of PoBoV1 by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. The results showed 12.94% (109/842) overall positivity, with an increasing prevalence from the 2006/2007 (9.14%, 43/470) to the 2010/2011 (17.74%, 66/372) season (P < 0.01). Differences between the prevalence of the virus in 6-12-month-old-animal (77.06%, 84/109) and 12-36-month-old-animal (22.94%, 25/109) (P < 0.01) indicated that the infection occurred mainly in younger pigs. Comparative sequence analysis of partial VP1/2 genes from wild boars and those available in the GenBank showed only minor differences, indicating that PoBoV1 circulating within the wild boar populations and domestic pigs from different geographic regions were highly similar.