Oral and fecal shedding of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, serotype 1 from experimentally infected white-tailed deer.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), one of the most important infectious diseases of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), is vectored by species of midges in the genus Culicoides. Although vector borne, fecal shedding of EHD virus, serotype 2 has been reported from infected deer in a previous study. To evaluate the potential for fecal and oral shedding, oral and rectal swabs were obtained on day 8 post-inoculation from white-tailed deer fawns experimentally infected with EHD virus, serotype 1 (EHDV-1). Eight deer were viremic for EHDV-1; virus was detected in oral swabs from three (38%) and in rectal swabs from four (50%). The ability to isolate EHDV-1 in oral secretions or feces was not dependent on being able to detect clinical disease. These results indicate that in a relatively large proportion of EHDV-1 infected deer, virus can be detected in feces and oral secretions. Although more work is necessary, such shedding may be important in experimental studies or pen situations where deer-to-deer contact is prevalent and intense.
Gaydos
Joseph K
JK
Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. jkgaydos@ucdavis.edu
Allison
Andrew B
AB
Hanson
Britta A
BA
Yellin
Anna S
AS
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003670:Deer; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D018164:Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Epizootic / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D009055:Mouth / Q000821:virology; D012007:Rectum / Q000821:virology; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D012703:Serotyping; D014766:Viremia / Q000662:veterinary; D017201:Virus Shedding