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Wildlife health and disease surveillance in Sweden

Swedish wildlife populations monitored by SVA are generally considered to have a good health status, with few cases of more severe diseases. Health and disease surveillance of wild animals in Sweden is mainly done by post-mortem examinations and ancillary testing of wildlife found dead and through targeted collection of wildlife samples, the latter often done within various research projects.

General and targeted disease surveillance

Bild på flygande gäss
SVA monitors highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), especially H5N8, H5N5, and H5N1 in wild birds. Photo: Pixabay

General disease surveillance involves diagnosis of disease and cause of death through necropsy, histopathology and ancillary testing of wildlife found sick or dead. Also, monitoring of reports from the public, other authorities, social media, and news sources is included in detecting disease or increased mortality in wildlife.

Targeted disease surveillance involves targeted sampling and examination of sick or healthy wildlife to investigate specific diseases or disease-causing agents. Most often, these investigations are initiated by findings from general disease surveillance, or when information about emerging diseases or ongoing outbreaks is reported within Sweden or in neighbouring countries.

Wildlife diseases in focus

Some of the wildlife diseases SVA focuses on are

  • African Swine Fever, ASF
  • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
  • Highly pathogen avian influenza
  • Salmonella Choleraesuis in wild boar
  • Tularemia
  • Rabbit viral hemorragic disease
Last updated : 2023-11-29