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Porcine Teschovirus Seroprevalence Reached 38% in French Wild Boar

Wild boar in France
Research: Disease, parasites & microbiology, Genetics & genomics

A study of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in France found antibodies showing that many animals had previously been exposed to porcine teschovirus in two populations. This seroprevalence — the proportion carrying detectable antibodies — reached 38%, and sequencing of virus-positive samples indicated the presence of a previously undescribed teschovirus genotype.

Porcine teschoviruses are enteric viruses of suids, meaning they are primarily associated with the intestinal tract. They commonly occur without obvious disease in domestic pigs, although some strains can cause neurological disease. In France, the virus had not previously been documented in wild boar until serological evidence emerged from hunted animals in Drôme and Marne in 2019 and 2020.

The researchers therefore combined antibody testing with virological analyses and genetic comparisons among the virus lineages. The high antibody prevalence suggested endemic circulation in the sampled wild-boar populations — that the virus was being maintained locally rather than appearing only as isolated infections. Genetic sequencing placed the PCR-positive viruses apart from previously characterized genotypes and supported the interpretation that a novel genotype was present.

Virus exposure was not shown to cause the observed disorders

Some of the sampled wild boar had neurological or reproductive disorders, but the authors did not establish that the newly detected virus caused those signs. They identify the pathogenicity of the strain and the possible epidemiological links between wild boar and domestic pigs as questions requiring further investigation.

Sources and image credit

  1. Hirschinger, J., Le Loc’h, G., Caubet, C., Fusade-Boyer, M., Faure, E., Randon, M., Dubosc, D., Talarico, F., Saint-Andrieux, C., Abed-Zahar, M., Payne, A., & Decors, A. (2026). Detection and characterization of a novel porcine teschovirus in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in France. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 62(2), 431–438.Primary peer-reviewed study, e-published 8 April 2026. Seroprevalence reached 38% and sequencing suggested a previously undescribed genotype; causation of observed clinical signs was not established.

Image: KoS / Wikimedia Commons — wild boar (Sus scrofa) photographed in France in November 2008. Illustrative photograph, not an animal from the porcine teschovirus study in Drôme and Marne. The photographer released the image into the public domain. · Public Domain · Source

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