title: Alphaherpesvirus-associated disease in greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis).
abstract: METHODS
  A captive breeding colony of 9 greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) exhibited mild upper respiratory signs and sudden deaths with 100% mortality over a 2-week period. Histologically, acute necrotising and erosive epithelial lesions throughout the upper respiratory system and bronchi were associated with eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies. Inclusions were also present in hepatocytes and adrenocortical cells, but were not always associated with necrosis. Transmission electron microscopy of lung sections revealed nucleocapsids forming arrays within some nuclei. A pan-herpesvirus PCR yielded a 440-bp product, with sequencing confirming homology with the alphaherpesviruses. Viral culture in a marsupial cell line resulted in cytopathic effect consistent with an alphaherpesvirus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of a herpesvirus-associated disease in greater bilbies.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Laboratories, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Crt, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia. shane.besier@agric.wa.gov.au.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Besier
authors.affiliation: Queensland Alliance for Food and Agricultural Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Mahony
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries Western Australia, Hillarys, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crockford
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Agri-Science Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gravel
authors.affiliation: Department of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Dea
keywords: 
  Macrotis lagotis
  ; alphaherpesvirus; bilby