Feral pig hunting: a risk factor for human brucellosis in north-west NSW?
Melissa J. Irwin A B C F , Peter D. Massey B , Belinda Walker D and David N. Durrheim B EA South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service
B Hunter New England Area Health Service
C NSW Public Health Officer Training Program
D NSW Department of Industry and Investment
E Hunter Medical Research Institute
F Corresponding author. Email: melissa.irwin@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
NSW Public Health Bulletin 20(12) 192-194 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB09023
Published: 4 February 2010
Abstract
A multi-agency investigation followed the notification of four locally acquired human brucellosis cases in north-west NSW. Feral pig hunting within a geographically discrete region was identified as the likely exposure with Brucella suis the suspected cause. To test whether feral pigs in the region were infected with Brucella, serological testing was performed on trapped feral pigs and testicular abscesses from condemned carcasses bound for export were cultured. Although no Brucella species were identified in the feral pigs tested in NSW, Leptospira species were. Strengthening of human surveillance and ongoing collaboration between animal and human health agencies is required to confirm that Brucella suis causes brucellosis in humans and feral pigs in north-west NSW.
Acknowledgments
This work was conducted during a rural placement of the NSW Public Health Officer Training Program. The authors would like to thank Bill Hetherington and the veterinarians and rangers of the North West Livestock Health and Pest Authority for conducting the trapping and sampling of feral pigs; David Cox from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service for arranging culture of testicular abscesses from feral pig carcasses; the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute for performing the animal pathology testing; and David Dickeson from the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiological Laboratory Services, ICPMR, for his advice on the serology of brucellosis and leptospirosis.
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| CAS | PubMed | (Cited 7 September 2009.)
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