Long - term monitoring of ten selected pathogens in wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) in

23 Wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are increasing in the Iberian Peninsula, and 24 population management must include disease management and control. In this 25 study, the epidemiology of ten selected pathogens (Aujeszky’s disease virus 26 ADV-, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus -PRRSV-, porcine 27 influenza virus, porcine circovirus, porcine parvovirus, Erysipelotrix 28 rhusiopathiae, Leptospira pomona, Chlamydia/Chlamydiaceae sp., Salmonella 29 sp. and Mycobacterium bovis) in the wild boar population in Sierra Nevada 30 National Park (SNNP), an open unfenced area, is reported, taking into account 31 wild boar population abundance variation in space and time in an open 32 unfenced environment. A total of 1,103 wild boar were sampled in 141 hunting 33 events randomly carried out for sampling in seven hunting seasons (October to 34 February from 2002-2003 to 2009-2010, (except 2007-2008). Prevalence was 35 overall lower than those previously reported for fenced wild boar populations in 36 Spain, but all the pathogens analyzed except PRRSV were considered endemic 37 in the SNNP. ADV, E. rhusiopathiae and total pathogen prevalence were 38 positively correlated to wild boar density. Prevalence in the positive areas was 39 significantly higher in females for ADV, E. rhusiopathiae, L. pomona, 40 Chlamydia/Chlamydiaceae sp. and Salmonella sp., and in males for M. bovis. 41 This longitudinal study provides the first data on the health status of the 42 relatively unmanaged and low density wild boar population of SNNP. It is 43 concluded that non-intensively managed wild boar populations are able to 44 maintain the circulation of several pathogens, even in low prevalences and in 45 open unfenced areas with natural density variation both in time and space. 46