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Review of 86 Studies Found Broad Support for Wild Boar as Sentinels of Pathogens and Contaminants

Wild boar in Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India
Research · Other research

A systematic review published in 2026 examined how wild boar (Sus scrofa) have been used as sentinel or indicator species for hazards relevant to ecosystem health. A sentinel species is monitored because its exposure can reveal hazards circulating in the wider environment. The researchers identified 86 studies that explicitly described wild boar in this role, covering 30 pathogens, 44 environmental contaminants, two biological toxins and 13 indicators of antimicrobial resistance. Some studies covered more than one type of hazard, so these categories overlap.

Most of the reviewed research came from Europe: 84.9% of the studies were European, and 90.7% relied on samples from hunted animals. The authors found that wild boar were often chosen because they are widespread, omnivorous and readily accessible through hunting programmes, allowing tissue and blood samples to be collected across large areas.

Overall, 74.4% of the reviewed studies supported the use of wild boar as sentinels. Support was strongest and most consistent for monitoring pathogens and environmental contaminants, whereas assessments of their suitability for antimicrobial resistance were more variable. The review only included studies that explicitly framed wild boar as sentinels or indicators, so it does not represent every surveillance study ever conducted on the species. The review also found that hunting-based sampling can introduce spatial, seasonal and demographic biases, while ecological differences such as diet, movement and population density can influence exposure.

Nearly half of the studies proposed ways to improve surveillance. The recommendations included more systematic and year-round sampling, long-term surveys, combining data from several wildlife species and accounting for ecological and population variables. The authors conclude that wild boar can be a valuable component of broader One Health surveillance, which treats human, animal and environmental health as interconnected, provided that the monitoring design reflects the particular hazard and ecological context being studied.

Sources and image credit

  1. Barroso, P., Gortázar, C., & Balseiro, A. (2026). Wild boar as a sentinel species for ecosystem health surveillance: A review. One Health, 23, 101518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101518Primary open-access systematic review first published 14 July 2026. It identified 86 studies explicitly using wild boar as sentinel or indicator species, covering 30 pathogens, 44 environmental contaminants, two biological toxins and 13 antimicrobial-resistance indicators. Overall, 74.4% supported their use as sentinels, particularly for pathogens and environmental contaminants.

Image: Dr. Raju Kasambe / Wikimedia Commons — wild boar photographed at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India. Representative image. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

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