Abstract
Bagaza virus (BAGV) has not been reported in birds in South Africa since 1978. We used phylogenetic analysis and electron microscopy to identify BAGV as the likely etiology in neurologic disease and death in Himalayan monal pheasants in Pretoria, South Africa. Our results suggest circulation of BAGV in South Africa.
Highlights
Bagaza virus (BAGV) has not been reported in birds in South Africa since 1978
We report detection of BAGV in fatalities in Himalayan monal pheasants in South Africa during 2016–2017
Brain tissue from the 16 birds was sent to the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (DVTD), University of Pretoria, (Pretoria, South Africa), for virus isolation and to the Centre for Viral Zoonoses (CVZ), University of Pretoria for zoonotic arbovirus investigations
Summary
Bagaza virus (BAGV) has not been reported in birds in South Africa since 1978. We used phylogenetic analysis and electron microscopy to identify BAGV as the likely etiology in neurologic disease and death in Himalayan monal pheasants in Pretoria, South Africa. We report detection of BAGV in fatalities in Himalayan monal pheasants in South Africa during 2016–2017. The Study In April 2016, two Himalayan monal pheasants (Lophophorus impejanus) and 1 tragopan pheasant (Tragopan melanocephalus) suddenly died on a property northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa. A residence in the northern suburbs of Pretoria had 5 monal and 2 tragopan pheasants that exhibited neurologic signs and died.
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