Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Croatia

This paper describes the first cases of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infections in four wild boars in Croatia associated with morphological lesions, which are regarded as characteristic for postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in domestic pigs. During the winter 2005 several wild young piglets, approximately 2 to 5 months of age were found dead in a fenced hunting area. Fulfilling the all three key criteria: the presence of compatible clinical signs of wasting, the presence of the characteristic microscopic lymphoid lesions, and the detection of PCV2 within the lesions by in situ hybridisation (ISH); PMWS was diagnosed. This is the first demonstration of PMWS in wild boar in Croatia based on all scientifically accepted diagnostic criteria. Key words: postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), wild boar, Sus scrofa, pathology, porcine circovirus type 2, Croati