{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:44:29Z","timestamp":1760060669492,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]],"date-time":"2025-09-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757376000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Aujeszky\u2019s disease, or pseudorabies, is a viral infection caused by Suid herpesvirus 1 (pseudorabies virus), with swine as its natural host. Although eradicated in domestic pigs in many European countries, PRV remains endemic in wild boar populations, posing a risk to other species, including carnivores. In this study, we report eight fatal cases of PRV infection in hunting dogs from Epirus and Thessaly, Greece, all of which followed direct contact with hunted wild boars. Postmortem brain samples tested positive for PRV via PCR targeting the glycoprotein C (gC) gene. Partial sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the amplified gC fragments revealed genetic divergence among the examined isolates. The Epirus-derived strains formed a distinct cluster, closely related to previously reported Greek strains from the region of Central Macedonia as well as to the French strain FRA 527 and the German isolate GER614BW. In contrast, the two Thessaly sequenced isolates were phylogenetically distant from all other Greek strains, potentially representing an independently evolving lineage, and clustered more closely with the Kaplan strain. These findings underscore the persistent threat of PRV transmission from wild to domestic species and highlight the genetic heterogeneity of PRV strains circulating in Greece. Veterinary practitioners should consider PRV in the differential diagnosis of encephalitic symptoms in hunting dogs. Enhanced molecular surveillance and public awareness are critical to mitigating the risks posed by this emerging threat.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens14090905","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]],"date-time":"2025-09-10T12:04:55Z","timestamp":1757505895000},"page":"905","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Detection of Pseudorabies Virus in Hunting Dogs in Greece: The Role of Wild Boars in Virus Transmission"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3341-6726","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Konstantinos","family":"Papageorgiou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3018-1426","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ilias","family":"Bouzalas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), Campus Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kiriaki","family":"Giamoustari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8448-4759","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ma\u0142gorzata","family":"Wr\u00f3bel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego Street 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9555-5356","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dimitrios","family":"Doukas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Veterinary Forensics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Aikaterini","family":"Stoikou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-6278-2197","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zoi","family":"Athanasakopoulou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dimitrios","family":"Chatzopoulos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of One Health, Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Public and One Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8334-9280","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dimitrios","family":"Papadopoulos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Spyridon","family":"Pakos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinarian, 45500 Ioannina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chrysanthi","family":"Karapetsiou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Directorate, Region of Epiros, 45332 Ioannina, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2209-9772","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Charalambos","family":"Billinis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3532-5724","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Evanthia","family":"Petridou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3540-9928","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Spyridon K.","family":"Kritas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, 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