title: Serological evidence for Parapoxvirus infection in chamois from the Tyrol regions of Austria and Italy.
abstract: Orf-virus (ORFV) is a parapoxvirus that infects small ruminants worldwide causing sporadic zoonotic infections, mainly transmitted by direct contact with sheep and goats. Following an ORFV case in a hunter of Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), who did not report previous contact to domestic animals, a serological survey in Western Austria was conducted to assess the seroprevalence of ORFV in this species. In addition, this study also tested blood/tissue samples of chamois from different areas of the adjacent province of Bolzano/Northern Italy for antibodies against ORFV using immunofluorescence and ELISA. The observed seropositivity rates in the chamois tested on the Austrian and Italian side of the Alps were 23.5% and 9.5%, respectively, with a combined 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.0678 to 0.238. Although the prevalence was significantly lower than the one observed in Austrian sheep flocks, this study provided the first evidence that parapoxviruses have spilled over into chamois populations to a significant degree in the Tyrol regions of Austria and Italy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Med. University Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Hartwig P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Huemer
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zobl
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Windisch
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Glawischnig
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trevisiol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001317:Austria; D004474:Ecthyma, Contagious / Q000097:blood*; D007558:Italy; D009923:Orf virus / Q000276:immunology*; D048608:Rupicapra
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral