title: Detection of herpesvirus DNA in Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus; syn. Alopex lagopus) with fatal encephalitis.
abstract: A captive breeding programme for the Fennoscandian Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus; syn. Alopex lagopus) failed due to fatal encephalitis. The aim of this study was to identify the causative agent. Viral nucleic acid was detected by PCR and in situ hybridization in the brain of affected foxes. The results suggest that a herpesvirus might be the causative agent. Whether this infection also occurs in free-living Arctic foxes is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Immunobiology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Sweden. frederik.widen@sva.se
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Widén
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sundström
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gavier-Widén
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dillner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral