Abstract
Evidence for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection was detected in 2009–2010 while investigating a pneumonia die-off in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis, canadensis), and sympatric mountain goats (Oreamnos americanum) in adjacent mountain ranges in Elko County, Nevada. Seroprevalence to BVDV-1 was 81% (N = 32) in the bighorns and 100% (N = 3) in the mountain goats. Serosurveillance from 2011 to 2015 of surviving bighorns and mountain goats as well as sympatric mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), indicated a prevalence of 72% (N = 45), 45% (N = 51), and 51% (N = 342) respectively. All species had antibody titers to BVDV1 and BVDV2. BVDV1 was isolated in cell culture from three bighorn sheep and a mountain goat kid. BVDV2 was isolated from two mule deer. Six deer (N = 96) sampled in 2013 were positive for BVDV by antigen-capture ELISA on a single ear notch. Wild ungulates and cattle concurrently graze public and private lands in these two mountain ranges, thus providing potential for interspecies viral transmission. Like cattle, mule deer, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep can be infected with BVDV and can develop clinical disease including immunosuppression. Winter migration patterns that increase densities and species interaction during the first and second trimester of gestation may contribute to the long term maintenance of the virus in these wild ungulates. More studies are needed to determine the population level impacts of BVDV infection on these three species.
Highlights
The pestivirus bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is considered an important disease of cattle, and infection occurs in other domestic and wild ruminants (Passler and Walz, 2010)
We identified BVDV infection over time in sympatric Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and mule deer on adjacent mountain ranges [East Humboldt range (EHR) and Ruby Mountains (RMs)] in Elko County, Nevada
Two of these animals were seronegative to BVDV1 at the time of capture but no serum was submitted for BVD2 and the others had VN antibody titer to BVDV1 of 1:128 and 1:512 and to BVDV2 of 1:16 and 1:64 respectively
Summary
The pestivirus bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is considered an important disease of cattle, and infection occurs in other domestic and wild ruminants (Passler and Walz, 2010). Archived samples from the 2009 to 2010 die-off were submitted to USDA-ARS including serum from six animals for PCR and tissues from three mortalities for virus isolation. Four of the six sera were positive by PCR for BVDV2 Two of these animals were seronegative to BVDV1 at the time of capture but no serum was submitted for BVD2 and the others had VN antibody titer to BVDV1 of 1:128 and 1:512 and to BVDV2 of 1:16 and 1:64 respectively. BVDV1 was isolated from tissue in these three mortalities One of these animals, an adult ram, was sampled prior to death and was seronegative for BVDV1 and no serum was submitted for VN for BVDV2. BVDV2 was isolated from whole blood from another doe whose single ear notch sample was ACE negative. In 2014, 19 non-paired ear notch samples collected from adult does were tested by ACE; all were negative
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