Abstract
BackgroundBovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is the viral agent causing the most important economic losses in livestock throughout the world. Infection of fetuses before their immunological maturity causes the birth of animals persistently infected with BVDV (PI), which are the main source of infection and maintenance of this pathogen in a herd. There is evidence of susceptibility to infection with BVDV in more than 50 species of the order Artiodactyla, and the ability to establish persistent infection in wild cervid species of South America could represent an important risk in control and eradication programs of BVDV in cattle, and a threat to conservation of these wild species. In this study, a serological and virological study was performed to detect BVDV infection in a captive population of non-bovine artiodactyl species in a Chilean zoo with antecedents of abortions whose pathology suggests an infectious etiology.ResultsDetection of neutralizing antibodies against BVDV was performed in 112 artiodactyl animals from a zoo in Chile. Three alpacas (Vicugna pacos), one guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and seven pudús (Pudu puda) resulted seropositive, and the only seronegative pudú was suspected to be persistently infected with BVDV. Then two blood samples nine months apart were analyzed by a viral neutralization test and RT-PCR. Non-cytopathogenic BVDVs were isolated in both samples. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus was highly related to BVDV-1b strains circulating among Chilean cattle.ConclusionsThis is the first report of a South American deer persistently infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus. Further studies are needed to determine the possible role of BVDV as a pathogen in pudús and as a threat to their conservation.
Highlights
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is the viral agent causing the most important economic losses in livestock throughout the world
Six of the seven pudús evaluated in First Sampling (S1) were seropositive, while in Second Sampling (S2), of six animals evaluated, five that remained from the previous sampling and one new pudú born in the zoo (Pudú 8) were positive to antibodies against pestivirus
This study showed for the first time a persistent infection of pestivirus in pudú (Pudu puda), a wild deer endemic to South America
Summary
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is the viral agent causing the most important economic losses in livestock throughout the world. BVDV is one of the most important infectious agent in livestock industry because it causes high economic impact, affecting reproduction and facilitating secondary infections [1]. If cattle are infected in early pregnancy with a non-cytopathogenic strain, the virus induces immunotolerance in the fetus. These animals are born persistently infected (PI) and continually. The ability to establish persistent infection in other animal species emphasizes the importance of surveillance in wild species, which may act as reservoirs, Salgado et al BMC Veterinary Research (2018) 14:37 hindering control and eradication programs of BVDV within a country
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