Evidence of Herpesvirus Infection in Woodland Caribou in Saskatchewan

• Published in: Journal of wildlife diseases Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 216 - 220
• Main Authors: Jordan, Lorne T., Rettie, W. James, Tessaro, Stacy V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wildlife Disease Association 01.01.2003; Wildlife Dis Assoc
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Agglutination Tests - veterinary; Animals; Animals, Wild; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Antibodies, Viral - analysis; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Bovine herpesvirus 1; bovine viral diarrhea; Brucella - immunology; Brucella spp; cervid herpesvirus; Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral - immunology; Female; Herpesviridae Infections - blood; Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology; Herpesviridae Infections - veterinary; Herpesvirus 1, Bovine - immunology; Leptospira - immunology; Leptospira interrogans; Male; Neutralization Tests - veterinary; Rangifer tarandus caribou; Reindeer - virology; Saskatchewan - epidemiology; Seroepidemiologic Studies; serologic survey; SHORT COMMUNICATIONS; woodland caribou; Saskatchewan
• ISSN: 0090-3558; 1943-3700
• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-39.1.216

Sera were collected from 40 female and two male woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Saskatchewan (Canada) from March 1992 to January 1995, inclusive. The samples were examined for antibodies against smooth Brucella spp., five serovars of Leptospira interrogans, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1). Twenty-two (52%) of 42 sera exhibited positive reactions to BHV-1 by a modified serum neutralization test, and the prevalence correlated positively with the age of the animals. No antibodies were detected against the other pathogens. This is the first reported evidence of herpesvirus infection in isolated populations of woodland caribou in western Canada.