- Email: [email protected]
Health Status of Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus) in Eastern Austria
84
ESVP/ECVP Proceedings 2013
INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS IN FREE-RANGING RED FOXES (VULPES VULPES) A.W. Philbey * and H. Thompsony *Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh and yMill House, Camis Eskan, Helensburgh, Scotland, UK Introduction: Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), has been reported mostly in dogs, farmed foxes and other captive carnivores. Initially called ‘epizootic fox encephalitis’, ICH was first identified in domesticated (‘tamed’) silver foxes, a colour variant of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). ICH was diagnosed in a free-ranging grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in Georgia, USA, in 2005. There is serological evidence of exposure to CAV-1 in free-ranging red foxes in North America, Germany, Australia and the UK, as well as in free-ranging grey foxes in North America. Materials and Methods: Sick free-ranging red foxes were presented to wildlife rehabilitation centres in the UK, where they died naturally. Tissues were submitted for virus isolation and histopathology. Results: ICH was diagnosed in three red foxes found depressed or collapsed in the wild. Grossly, the foxes were jaundiced and had congested livers with accentuation of the lobular pattern. Histologically, there was generalized necrosis and dissociation of hepatocytes, with intranuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes, renal glomeruli, proximal convoluted renal tubular epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells. CAV-1 was isolated from all three foxes. Conclusions: Free-ranging red foxes are considered to be a reservoir of CAV-1 in the UK and are a potential source of infection for domestic dogs.
DETECTION OF HEPATITIS E VIRUS (HEV) IN FREERANGING WILD BOARS (SUS SCROFA) IN ITALY R. Verin *, R. Nardini *, M. Mazzei *, P. Varuzza *, A. De Martino y and A. Poli* *Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Italy and yPathology Core, Institute for Health Sciences of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is highly prevalent in farmed pigs worldwide and its zoonotic role is known. HEV has also been documented in several domestic and wild species, including the wild boar (Sus scrofa), which may act as a reservoir. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four blood, faecal and liver samples from hunted wild boars (classified by age and gender) were included in the study. Indirect ELISA and PCR were performed on all sera and faeces, respectively. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry for HEV were performed on livers of PCR-positive animals. Immunohistochemistry against CD3 and CD79a was performed on liver samples to characterize lymphocytic infiltrates. Results: Thirty-three (51%) sera were positive for HEV antibodies while six (9%) faecal samples showed virological positivity with an expected nested-PCR product of 347 bp. A higher prevalence was found in juveniles with both techniques, with no differences between genders. Histological lesions where characterized by a very mild multifocal and periportal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of mainly CD3+ lymphocytes. All six liver samples showed immunohistochemical cytoplasmic positivity for HEV around inflammatory foci. Conclusions: HEV infection is endemic in the Italian wild boar population and further investigation is needed in this species to better characterize its role in the epidemiology.
150:1, 2014
HEALTH STATUS OF BROWN HARES (LEPUS EUROPAEUS) IN EASTERN AUSTRIA A. Posautz, A. K€ ubber-Heiss, F. Knauer, Z.S. Kelemen, F. Suchentrunk and C. Walzer Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Introduction: The brown hare (Lepus europaeus) population has been declining throughout its range in the past decades. As the brown hare is on the national Red List in Austria, a thorough health screening project was conducted in eastern Austria in the years 2010 and 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 188 hares underwent thorough pathological screening. Parasitological testing was performed in all hares, bacteriology and virology only on indication. As tularemia is endemic in eastern Austria, all hares were screened for Francisella tularensis. Serological screening for Treponema spp. was undertaken in 119 animals and for European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in 49. Results: Parasites found were Trichostrongylus spp., Trichuris spp. and Eimeria spp. The infestation rate varied markedly. Three percent of the hares were culture positive for tularemia, 93% were seropositive for EBHS and 58% were seropositive for Treponema spp. Conclusions: The overall health status of the East Austrian brown hare population is good. The occurrence of tularemia is important regarding human health, but does not seem to play a major role in the general health status. The high seroprevalence for Treponema spp. and EBHS shows that the animals have contact with these entities, but seem to cope well. For EBHS this might in part be due to a less virulent strain. Generally, it can be stated that the decline cannot be blamed on diseases circling in this population.
ESVP/ECVP Proceedings 2013
INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS IN FREE-RANGING RED FOXES (VULPES VULPES) A.W. Philbey * and H. Thompsony *Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh and yMill House, Camis Eskan, Helensburgh, Scotland, UK Introduction: Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), has been reported mostly in dogs, farmed foxes and other captive carnivores. Initially called ‘epizootic fox encephalitis’, ICH was first identified in domesticated (‘tamed’) silver foxes, a colour variant of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). ICH was diagnosed in a free-ranging grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in Georgia, USA, in 2005. There is serological evidence of exposure to CAV-1 in free-ranging red foxes in North America, Germany, Australia and the UK, as well as in free-ranging grey foxes in North America. Materials and Methods: Sick free-ranging red foxes were presented to wildlife rehabilitation centres in the UK, where they died naturally. Tissues were submitted for virus isolation and histopathology. Results: ICH was diagnosed in three red foxes found depressed or collapsed in the wild. Grossly, the foxes were jaundiced and had congested livers with accentuation of the lobular pattern. Histologically, there was generalized necrosis and dissociation of hepatocytes, with intranuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes, renal glomeruli, proximal convoluted renal tubular epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells. CAV-1 was isolated from all three foxes. Conclusions: Free-ranging red foxes are considered to be a reservoir of CAV-1 in the UK and are a potential source of infection for domestic dogs.
DETECTION OF HEPATITIS E VIRUS (HEV) IN FREERANGING WILD BOARS (SUS SCROFA) IN ITALY R. Verin *, R. Nardini *, M. Mazzei *, P. Varuzza *, A. De Martino y and A. Poli* *Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Italy and yPathology Core, Institute for Health Sciences of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is highly prevalent in farmed pigs worldwide and its zoonotic role is known. HEV has also been documented in several domestic and wild species, including the wild boar (Sus scrofa), which may act as a reservoir. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four blood, faecal and liver samples from hunted wild boars (classified by age and gender) were included in the study. Indirect ELISA and PCR were performed on all sera and faeces, respectively. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry for HEV were performed on livers of PCR-positive animals. Immunohistochemistry against CD3 and CD79a was performed on liver samples to characterize lymphocytic infiltrates. Results: Thirty-three (51%) sera were positive for HEV antibodies while six (9%) faecal samples showed virological positivity with an expected nested-PCR product of 347 bp. A higher prevalence was found in juveniles with both techniques, with no differences between genders. Histological lesions where characterized by a very mild multifocal and periportal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of mainly CD3+ lymphocytes. All six liver samples showed immunohistochemical cytoplasmic positivity for HEV around inflammatory foci. Conclusions: HEV infection is endemic in the Italian wild boar population and further investigation is needed in this species to better characterize its role in the epidemiology.
150:1, 2014
HEALTH STATUS OF BROWN HARES (LEPUS EUROPAEUS) IN EASTERN AUSTRIA A. Posautz, A. K€ ubber-Heiss, F. Knauer, Z.S. Kelemen, F. Suchentrunk and C. Walzer Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Introduction: The brown hare (Lepus europaeus) population has been declining throughout its range in the past decades. As the brown hare is on the national Red List in Austria, a thorough health screening project was conducted in eastern Austria in the years 2010 and 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 188 hares underwent thorough pathological screening. Parasitological testing was performed in all hares, bacteriology and virology only on indication. As tularemia is endemic in eastern Austria, all hares were screened for Francisella tularensis. Serological screening for Treponema spp. was undertaken in 119 animals and for European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in 49. Results: Parasites found were Trichostrongylus spp., Trichuris spp. and Eimeria spp. The infestation rate varied markedly. Three percent of the hares were culture positive for tularemia, 93% were seropositive for EBHS and 58% were seropositive for Treponema spp. Conclusions: The overall health status of the East Austrian brown hare population is good. The occurrence of tularemia is important regarding human health, but does not seem to play a major role in the general health status. The high seroprevalence for Treponema spp. and EBHS shows that the animals have contact with these entities, but seem to cope well. For EBHS this might in part be due to a less virulent strain. Generally, it can be stated that the decline cannot be blamed on diseases circling in this population.