Serologic Survey for Pathogens Potentially Affecting Pronghorn (Antilocapra Americana) Fawn Recruitment in Arizona, USA

• Published in: Journal of wildlife diseases Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 844 - 848
• Main Authors: Dubay, Shelli A., Noon, Ted H., deVos, James C., Ockenfels, Richard A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wildlife Disease Association 01.10.2006; Wildlife Dis Assoc
• Subjects: Animals; Antelopes - virology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antilocapra americana; Arizona; Bluetongue - epidemiology; Bluetongue virus; Bluetongue virus - immunology; Bovine respiratory syncytial virus; Bovine viral diarrhea virus; Chlamydia psittaci; Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus; fawns; Female; Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Epizootic - immunology; Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus; Male; parainfluenza 3; Parainfluenza virus; Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human - immunology; Population Density; pronghorn; Reoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Reoviridae Infections - veterinary; Reproduction - physiology; Respirovirus Infections - epidemiology; Respirovirus Infections - veterinary; Seroepidemiologic Studies; serologic survey; SHORT COMMUNICATIONS; surveys; viral diseases of animals and humans; wildlife diseases; Arizona
• ISSN: 0090-3558; 1943-3700
• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-42.4.844

During the 1990s, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) populations declined in Arizona, USA. To investigate potential causes of decline, we collected blood samples from hunter-harvested male pronghorn from 2001 to 2003 on four Arizona sites. Sera were tested for antibody to parainfluenza virus type 3 (PI3), bovine viral diarrhea virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), bluetongue virus (BTV), and Chlamydia psittaci. Antibody against PI3 was found in 33% of the samples, whereas antibody against BTV/EHDV was found in 77%. Antibodies to other pathogens were found at low prevalence rates. Although pronghorn decline in Arizona is probably not directly related to disease, potential reproductive effects of BTV/EHDV and PI3 infection on pronghorn in Arizona merit further study.