title: Investigation into the seroprevalence of falcon herpesvirus antibodies in raptors in the UK using virus neutralization tests and different herpesvirus isolates.
abstract: Increasing numbers of reports of clinical falcon herpesvirus infection (Falconid herpesvirus-1; FHV-1) have been seen in the UK since 1996. The aim of this epidemiological study was to investigate the seroprevalence of FHV-1 and owl herpesvirus (Strigid herpesvirus-1; StHV-1) infection in the UK, using virus neutralization tests, and to evaluate the prevalence of herpesvirus infection in captive and wild raptor populations. The results, using the English FHV-1 CVL 32/93 isolate, revealed a seroprevalence of 3.97% (10/252). The seroprevalence for StHV-1 was 12.3% (8/65). Analysis of the data by captivity status, age and species revealed that the family Falconidae showed the highest seroprevalence with 6.7% (5/75), while only one of 104 captive Accipitridae was positive for FHV-1 (0.96%). The incidence of FHV-1 neutralizing antibodies in owls was 5.5% (4/73), representing only wild individuals. Eighty-nine serum samples were additionally tested using two other FHV-1 isolates, the German isolate Merlin 1869/92 and the Dutch isolate Peregrine Z100. The seroprevalences of FHV-1 were 28.1% (25/89) and 32.6% (29/89), respectively. All these samples, however, were negative using the CVL 32/92 isolate.
authors.affiliation: Great Western Referrals, Avian and Exotics Department, Unit 10, Berkshire House County Park, Business Park, Shrivenham Road, Swindon SN1 2NR, UK. MissPe@web.de
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zsivanovits
authors.forename: Niel A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Laura Twedt
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Zvonar
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lierz
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prusas
authors.forename: Mohamed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hafez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D020304:Raptors / Q000821:virology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral