Serosurvey of tuberculosis in wild boars in Xinjiang, Northwest China: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB), caused bycomplex (MTBC), poses a significant risk for zoonotic transmission, especially with the increasing wild boar population in China. Following the annual wildlife disease surveillance, we conducted a serosurvey to determine the prevalence of TB in wild boars. We collected 512 serum samples from 25 counties of Xinjiang, Northwest China, and used ELISA to detect antibodies against bPPD. TB seropositivity was defined as a mean sample OD450nm ≥ 2×the mean negative control OD450nm, and employed cluster analysis with purely spatial scan statistics using the Bernoulli model.

RESULTS: The seropositivity was 10.0% (51/512), with higher rates in farmed wild boars (12.0%, 47/391) than feral wild boars (3.3%, 4/121), indicating a greater risk in farmed wild boar populations. Spatial analysis revealed two clusters near the Sino-Kazakh border, underscoring the need for targeted surveillance and control measures to prevent zoonotic transmission.

CONCLUSION: Xinjiang is a endemic area for MTBC exposure, with farmed wild boars posing higher risk. Findings highlight the need for targeted surveillance, control measures, and international collaboration to prevent zoonotic transmission.