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More information about Aujeszky's disease

The following information discusses Aujeszky's disease (AK) in question/answer form.

Pathogen

Herpes virus, pigs remain infected for life.

The virus survives at 25°C for up to 6 weeks, at -18°C it is inactivated in 35-40 days. It is immediately inactivated when heated to at least 80°C.
The virus multiplies primarily in the nasal/pharyngeal mucosa and the tonsils/tonsils; it spreads via the lymphatic vessels and the virus migrates via the nerve fibers into the central nervous system.

Infection with the wild boar virus variant is usually asymptomatic in wild boars. After the infection has been overcome, the virus retreats into the ganglia (“nerve nodes”). During this latent phase, infected pigs are not contagious but have antibodies against the virus in their blood.

When there is stress (e.g. during the driven hunting season) and a weakened immune system, the virus is activated again, multiplies and is excreted via body fluids (saliva, nasal secretions, etc.). Infectious viruses cannot be detected in the blood.

infection

(Hunting) dogs can only become infected from wild boar if the wild boar is in an active viral phase in which the virus circulates in the body fluids. This is usually the case when the immune system is weakened, such as due to stress or illness.

Infection occurs through all excrement and secretions, mainly saliva, nasal secretions, eye fluid and secretions from the pig's genitals. This almost always happens through direct contact or when the intestines (offals) or raw wild boar meat are fed to the dog. Blood is not contagious.

Is blood contagious?

Blood is not contagious! The virus spreads primarily in the nervous system and gets into the secretions.

Can a dog become infected from secretions at a feeding place?

Purely theoretically, it would be possible because the virus is quite environmentally resistant and, depending on the weather, can survive outside the host for a certain period of time. But the probability is very low. In all known cases of illness, direct contact with wild boar was always the cause.

Vaccine for dogs?

The vaccine for pigs is not approved for dogs and is not effective. Dogs can develop antibodies, but due to the fact that the animals become infected via the mouth and nose and the virus travels very quickly via the nerves in the brain, the antibodies they develop are of no use.

Is a pig a danger to the dog after it has “survived” the infection and has antibodies?

Even if the pig has developed antibodies, it carries the herpes virus for life. When there is stress and a weakened immune system, it is excreted again.

How infected are German wild boar populations and which risk regions are there?

AK infections have been monitored as part of nationwide monitoring for many years. In many parts of East Germany, Bavaria, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate in particular, wild boar are affected almost everywhere.

Protecting the dog while hunting and searching for ASF?

Direct contact with wild boar or their carcasses must be avoided or minimized.

Do not feed raw wild boar meat or organs.

Only use wild boars for ASF training that have tested negative for AK. Sample sets and accompanying notes are available from TCRH.

Considering the other risks to hunting dogs (injuries from wild boars, foxes, car accidents, etc.), the risk of a hunting dog becoming infected with the Aujeszky virus is considered to be relatively low.

Since 2009, 23 cases in dogs have been documented in the TSIS animal disease information system (https://tsis.fli.de/Reports/Info_SO.aspx?ts=102&guid=06790c5b-dbc4-4797-a048-d8cc5c300955).

Germany-wide studies on the occurrence of Aujeszky's disease in wild boar

The occurrence of the virus is related to the density of the wild boar population. See the download document

Dog Deaths

Baden-Württemberg

  • 2009 hunting dog from the Ravensburg district died
  • 2013 hunting dog died in Freiburg, but infected in Hesse
  • 2018 (nine years later) northern BW small Münsterländer dies

Bavaria

  • 2014 hunting dog died

Rheinland-Pfalz

  • The Rhineland-Pfaz State Investigation Office has detected Aujeszky's disease in a total of five hunting dogs in recent years (since 2017 to 2022).

Hessen

  • Nine dogs died in Hesse between 2006 and 2016

Overall, a very rare cause of death for hunting dogs. No reports to be found from other federal states. Therefore, a low number or no deaths are also assumed.

Download

Further detailed information / graphics / overviews / evidence can be downloaded with the two following documents:

TCRH ASP Info Aujeszky's Disease Information 2024Download
LZBW-Wildforschungsstelle_Aujeszky's Disease_pathogens-09-00276Download