EXPERIMENTAL DEERPOX INFECTION IN BLACK-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS COLUMBIANUS)

• Published in: Journal of wildlife diseases Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 33 - 45
• Main Authors: Bildfell, Rob J, Thompson, Kimberly A, Moerdyk-Schauwecker, Megan, Jin, Ling, Wolff, Peregrine L, Gillin, Colin M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wildlife Disease Association 01.01.2010; Wildlife Dis Assoc
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn - virology; Black-tailed deer; Cervidpoxvirus; deer; Deer - virology; deerpox; Deerpox virus; dermatitis; disease transmission; Disease Transmission, Infectious - veterinary; fawns; Female; lesions (animal); Male; microscopy; necropsy; Neutralization Tests - veterinary; Odocoileus hemionus; pathogenicity; PATHOLOGY; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; pox virus; Poxviridae; Poxviridae - pathogenicity; Poxviridae Infections - pathology; Poxviridae Infections - transmission; Poxviridae Infections - veterinary; Poxviridae Infections - virology; raw neck syndrome; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); wildlife diseases
• ISSN: 0090-3558; 1943-3700
• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-46.1.33

The pathogenic potential of deerpox virus was investigated via an experimental study utilizing seven black-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus hemionus) between June and August of 2007. Successful transmission was achieved via intracutaneous and intravenous routes, and by commingling an uninoculated animal with experimentally infected fawns. One fawn became depressed and reluctant to eat but systemic clinical signs in the other fawns were confined to mild transient pyrexia. Typical multifocal poxviral cutaneous lesions of erythema, papules, pustules, ulceration, and crusting were observed. Two locally extensive ulcerative lesions also developed at inoculation sites. Oral lesions were seen in one commingled fawn, with some palatine epithelial cells containing intracytoplasmic inclusions. Microscopic cutaneous lesions included epithelial cell hyperplasia with hydropic change, intraepithelial pustules, erosions, folliculitis, and dense leukocytic dermal infiltrates. Transmission was confirmed by one or more of virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction or serum neutralization tests. Significant internal lesions were not seen at necropsy.