Abstract
Background: Previous serological screenings have indicated that Eurasian semi-domesticated tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Finnmark, Northern Norway, are exposed to alphaherpesvirus, gammaherpesvirus and pestivirus. Alphaherpesvirus (i.e., Cervid herpesvirus 2; CvHV2) has been identified as the transmissible component of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC). Limited knowledge exists on the presence and prevalence of virus infections in other herding regions in Norway, which are hosting ~67,000 semi-domesticated reindeer and have contact with other species and populations of wildlife and livestock than those present in Finnmark.Methods: Blood samples (n = 618) were obtained over five winter seasons (2013–2018), from eight different herds representing summer pasture districts in Tana, Lakselv, Tromsø, Lødingen, Hattfjelldal, Fosen, Røros, and Filefjell, distributed from North to South of the reindeer herding regions in Norway. Blood samples were investigated for specific antibodies against five viral pathogen groups, alphaherpesvirus, gammaherpesvirus (viruses in the malignant catarrhal fever group; MCFV), pestivirus, bluetongue virus (BTV), and Schmallenberg virus (SBV), by using commercial multispecies serological tests (ELISA). In addition, swab samples obtained from the nasal mucosal membrane from 486 reindeer were investigated by PCR for parapoxvirus-specific DNA.Results: Antibodies against aphaherpesvirus and MCFV were found in all eight herds, with a total prevalence of 42% (range 21–62%) and 11% (range 2–15%), respectively. Anti-Pestivirus antibodies were detected in five of eight herds, with a total prevalence of 19% (range 0–52%), with two of the herds having a particularly high seroprevalence. Antibodies against BTV or SBV were not detected in any of the animals. Parapoxvirus-specific DNA was detected in two animals representing two different herds in Finnmark.Conclusions: This study confirmed that alphaherpesvirus and MCFV are enzootic throughout the geographical reindeer herding regions in Norway, and that pestivirus is present in most of the herds, with varying seroprevalence. No exposure to BTV and SBV was evident. This study also indicated that semi-domesticated reindeer in Finnmark are exposed to parapoxvirus without disease outbreaks being reported from this region.
Highlights
Reindeer husbandry is of major importance for livelihoods and for cultural values in Norway
Swabs were placed in 1.8 ml cryotubes with 800 μl of Eagle’s Minimum Essential Medium (EMEM) containing antibiotics (10,000 U/ml penicillin and 10 mg/ml streptomycin; 1 ml/l of gentamicin 50 mg/ml and 10 ml/l of amphotericin B 250 μg/ml; EMEMab 10 ml/l), frozen and stored at −80◦C until analysis
Results from the serological screening for antibodies against alphaherpesvirus, MCFV and pestivirus are displayed in Table 1 and Figure 2
Summary
Reindeer husbandry is of major importance for livelihoods and for cultural values in Norway. In most areas in the country, reindeer herding is characterized as a mountain tundra type, with intermediate to long seasonal animal migration, using inland tundra pastures during winter. Reindeer share pasture with sheep, and to some extent goats. They may have contact with wild ruminants, such as moose (Alces alces), roe deer (Capriolus capriolus), and in some regions red deer (Cervus elaphus). Previous serological screenings have indicated that Eurasian semi-domesticated tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Finnmark, Northern Norway, are exposed to alphaherpesvirus, gammaherpesvirus and pestivirus. Limited knowledge exists on the presence and prevalence of virus infections in other herding regions in Norway, which are hosting ∼67,000 semi-domesticated reindeer and have contact with other species and populations of wildlife and livestock than those present in Finnmark
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