La collection of samples from slaughtered wild boars in the first two days of hunting in Sardinia, which started last November 1st, it marked an increase of 80% compared to the same period of last year. The sampling activities, envisaged as part of the eradication plan of the African swine fever and aimed at monitoring the presence of the virus in the wild, saw hunters from all over the island committed to delivering samples of 1320 wild boars to the veterinary services of the ATS, of which about half came from infected areas only (red areas) where PSA is present. On the approximately 1100 subjects already analyzed byZooprophylactic Institute of Sardinia (IZS) no positivity to the virus emerged, while some animals tested seropositive in laboratory tests in the territories of Sennori, Nughedu San Nicolò and Siniscola.
"With the start of the wild boar hunting season, the whole health monitoring machine on PSA, on the Trichinella parasite, very dangerous for human health, and from this year on two zoonoses, also transmissible to man, such as tuberculosis and brucellosis, without forgetting the problems linked to leptosprirosis". This was stated by Franco Sgarangella, veterinarian and ATS sole coordinator for ASF, who added: "As required by the rules, the hunting companies interested in carrying out the activity within the infected area in the wild, notwithstanding the hunting ban, have requested a specific authorization from the veterinary authority responsible for the area and the Forestry Corps of Environmental Surveillance (CFVA). This investigation - added Sgarangella - required an extraordinary commitment of veterinary services and CFVA, which carried out the appropriate checks and allowed the release of over 650 authorizations to as many hunting companies: 160 in the province of Sassari; 28 in Cagliari, 86 in Gallura, 122 in Ogliastra and 250 in the province of Nuoro ". The process of health monitoring.
Health monitoring on ASF involves the collection, by hunters, of blood and spleen samples for the search for antibodies and viruses, which are delivered to Veterinary Services of the ATS. These carry out an initial check on the correctness of the sampling and take care of sending it to the IZS laboratories. Considering that ATS has put in place the organizational machinery necessary for both the collection of samples and for the management of virus positive animals, hunters are required to store the identified carcasses until the outcome of the tests and then their release for consumptionor. In fact, the risk that we want to reduce is that of spreading the virus with viscera and meat coming from infected animals. Carcasses found to be positive for the virus are destroyed. “As in previous years - explained Sgarangella - we will have the veterinarians of the GIV (Veterinary Intervention Group) in the field who will act directly in the collection sites of the hunting companies by carrying out inspections of the carcasses and sampling. Health monitoring has an important epidemiological value since the role of bio-indicator of the wild boar allows a constant control of the disease on the territory in relation to its spread or presence. This is why the collaboration of hunters is essential and a truly virtuous approach must be recognized by most of the hunting companies and their associations.
We therefore renew the appeal to all hunters so that continue and strengthen this collaboration, because it is in the interest of the hunting world first of all to demonstrate the non-circulation of the virus to then arrive at the release and withdrawal of the infected areas ". Alberto Laddomada, general manager of the IZS, recalled the important steps forward made in increasing the number of samples collected and in delivering laboratory results to hunters. “The epidemiological data on the presence of the disease in the wild - observed Laddomada - are every year more and more encouraging, even if in the territories where there are still wild pigs, fortunately in much smaller numbers than in the past, the exchange of the ASF virus between these pigs and wild boars continues to be the most dangerous risk factor against which it is necessary to intervene ". The late hunters. In the spirit of collaboration and attention between the Project Unit and the hunting world, once again this year it was decided to meet the hunting companies that have forgotten to submit the application for participate in the boar hunting season 2018-2019, or who have done so after the deadline of 30 September last. These companies will be able to take advantage of a new window that will allow them to present, or resubmit, the appropriate documentation from 12 to 16 November, in order to be able to participate in hunting activities starting from 2 December 2018.