Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> Infection
Since deer were introduced into Australia in the mid-1800s, their wild populations have increased in size and distribution, posing a potential risk to the livestock industry, through their role in pathogen transmission cycles. In comparison to livestock, there are limited data on viral infections in...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/7/752 |
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| author | Jose L. Huaman Carlo Pacioni David M. Forsyth Anthony Pople Jordan O. Hampton Teresa G. Carvalho Karla J. Helbig |
| author_facet | Jose L. Huaman Carlo Pacioni David M. Forsyth Anthony Pople Jordan O. Hampton Teresa G. Carvalho Karla J. Helbig |
| author_sort | Jose L. Huaman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since deer were introduced into Australia in the mid-1800s, their wild populations have increased in size and distribution, posing a potential risk to the livestock industry, through their role in pathogen transmission cycles. In comparison to livestock, there are limited data on viral infections in all wildlife, including deer. The aim of this study was to assess blood samples from wild Australian deer for serological evidence of exposure to relevant viral livestock diseases. Blood samples collected across eastern Australia were tested by ELISA to detect antigens and antibodies against <i>Pestivirus</i> and antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1. A subset of samples was also assessed by RT-PCR for <i>Pestivirus</i>, Simbu serogroup, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus and bovine ephemeral fever virus. Our findings demonstrated a very low seroprevalence (3%) for ruminant <i>Pestivirus</i>, and none of the other viruses tested were detected. These results suggest that wild deer may currently be an incidental spill-over host (rather than a reservoir host) for <i>Pestivirus</i>. However, deer could be a future source of viral infections for domestic animals in Australia. Further investigations are needed to monitor pathogen activity and quantify possible future infectious disease impacts of wild deer on the Australian livestock industry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:30:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-307917ba079340869a378c3b0f9e873d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:30:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-307917ba079340869a378c3b0f9e873d2023-11-20T06:39:18ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152020-07-0112775210.3390/v12070752Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> InfectionJose L. Huaman0Carlo Pacioni1David M. Forsyth2Anthony Pople3Jordan O. Hampton4Teresa G. Carvalho5Karla J. Helbig6Department of Physiology, Molecular Virology Laboratory, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, AustraliaDepartment of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg 3084, AustraliaNSW Department of Primary Industries, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Orange 2800, AustraliaDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries, Invasive Plants & Animals Research, Biosecurity Queensland, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane 4102, AustraliaSchool of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaDepartment of Physiology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, AustraliaDepartment of Physiology, Molecular Virology Laboratory, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, AustraliaSince deer were introduced into Australia in the mid-1800s, their wild populations have increased in size and distribution, posing a potential risk to the livestock industry, through their role in pathogen transmission cycles. In comparison to livestock, there are limited data on viral infections in all wildlife, including deer. The aim of this study was to assess blood samples from wild Australian deer for serological evidence of exposure to relevant viral livestock diseases. Blood samples collected across eastern Australia were tested by ELISA to detect antigens and antibodies against <i>Pestivirus</i> and antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1. A subset of samples was also assessed by RT-PCR for <i>Pestivirus</i>, Simbu serogroup, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus and bovine ephemeral fever virus. Our findings demonstrated a very low seroprevalence (3%) for ruminant <i>Pestivirus</i>, and none of the other viruses tested were detected. These results suggest that wild deer may currently be an incidental spill-over host (rather than a reservoir host) for <i>Pestivirus</i>. However, deer could be a future source of viral infections for domestic animals in Australia. Further investigations are needed to monitor pathogen activity and quantify possible future infectious disease impacts of wild deer on the Australian livestock industry.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/7/752Australiadeerprevalence<i>Pestivirus</i>ruminantsserosurveillance |
| spellingShingle | Jose L. Huaman Carlo Pacioni David M. Forsyth Anthony Pople Jordan O. Hampton Teresa G. Carvalho Karla J. Helbig Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> Infection Viruses Australia deer prevalence <i>Pestivirus</i> ruminants serosurveillance |
| title | Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> Infection |
| title_full | Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> Infection |
| title_fullStr | Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> Infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> Infection |
| title_short | Serosurveillance and Molecular Investigation of Wild Deer in Australia Reveals Seroprevalence of <i>Pestivirus</i> Infection |
| title_sort | serosurveillance and molecular investigation of wild deer in australia reveals seroprevalence of i pestivirus i infection |
| topic | Australia deer prevalence <i>Pestivirus</i> ruminants serosurveillance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/7/752 |
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