Genetic connectivity and admixture zones shape the spread of African swine fever in wild Boar populations in North-western Italy.

ABSTRACT: Host population genetics can shape disease spread in wildlife, yet it is rarely integrated into epizootic investigations. To explore whether connectivity patterns in wild boar populations may have influenced the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in north-western Italy, we characterised the genetic structure of the local population. Microsatellite genotyping was performed on 578 wild boar sampled from 26 hunting districts across thirteen loci and analysed using Bayesian clustering, correspondence analysis and spatial PCA. In parallel, 2,414 ASF detections recorded between December 2021 and March 2025 were examined through retrospective spatiotemporal scan statistics and directional spread analysis. We identified two main genetic clusters, one largely corresponding to Piedmont and the othe

SUBMITTER: Meletiadis A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12824347 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature