A Serologic Survey of Viral Infections in Captive Ungulates in Turkish Zoos

Abstract

Zoos and zoologic gardens make optimal environments for interspecies transmission of viral infections. There are seven zoos and several small zoologic collections in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the current status of viral infections in captive ungulates living in these environments. Blood samples were taken from 163 captive animals from two zoos. There were 39 Cameroon sheep (Ovis ammon f aries), 11 Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), 57 pygmy goats (Capra hircus), 9 Angora goats (Capra hircus), 21 mountain goats (Capra aegagrus-aegagrus), 7 llamas (Lama glama), 8 Persian goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa), 7 Caspian red deer (Cervus elaphus maral), 2 fallow deer (Dama dama), and 2 camels (Camelus dromedarius). Antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine adenoviruses (BAV-1 and -3), parainfluenzavirus 3 (PI-3), and bluetongue viruses (BTV-4 and -9) were investigated using the virus neutralization test, and malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) antibodies were screened by ELISA. All animals were negative for BVDV and BHV-1 antibodies. Seroprevalence of BAV-1, BAV-3, PI-3, BRSV, BT-4, BT-9, and MCF were detected as follows: 46.6%, 60.1%, 0.6%, 7.3%, 1.8%, 1.2%, and 51.6%, respectively. Seroprevalence of BAVs and MCF were more common than all other viruses (P < 0.0001). Ten sheep (37.0%), 48 goats (84.2), and 1 Ilama (14.2%) were the only species positive for MCF antibodies. Prevalence of BRSV and MCF antibodies were found to be significantly higher in goats than in sheep. BTV antibodies were detected both in Cameroon sheep and mountain goats and suggest that zoo animals are at risk for BTV in endemic regions.

Sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever: an emerging disease of bovids in India

“…Co-habitation of sheep and cattle in Turkey had also led to the development of clinical case of SA-MCF by OvHV-2 in cattle [90]. In another study conducted for serological identification of OvHV-2 in the captive ungulates in Turkish zoos; 39 Cameroon sheep (Ovis ammon f aries), 11 Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), 57 pygmy goats (Capra hircus), 9 Angora goats (Capra hircus), 21 mountain goats (Capra aegagrus-aegagrus), 7 llamas (Lama glama), 8 Persian goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa), 7 Caspian red deer (Cervus elaphus maral), 2 fallow deer (Dama dama), and 2 camels (Camelus dromedarius) were screened and ten sheep (37.0 %), 48 goats (84.2), and 1 Llama (14.2 %) were found positive for MCF antibodies [89]. CpHV-2, and not OvHV-2, was detected in a clinical case of MCF in buffalo in Switzerland [23].…”

Serosurvey of bluetongue, caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) of a southern Brazilian zoo

“…Bluetongue virus (BTV) has been classified within the Orbivirus and Reoviridae family (Coetzee et al 2012), transmitted by Culicoides genus midges and affecting domestic and wild ruminants worldwide. The infectious and noncontagious disease has been endemic in some regions of the Middle East, Africa, Australia, the Americas and southern Europe (Yesilbag et al 2011) and, along with caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna viruses, considered of compulsory notification according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).…”

Occurrences of anti-Toxoplasma gondiiand anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in Barbary sheep at Curitiba zoo, southern Brazil

“…Although the role of wild animals in harboring and transmitting infectious agents has been reported in relation to several species, endangered species may be difficult to assess and therefore their role remains to be fully established. In addition, infectious diseases may also present risks to successful maintenance of wild animals in captivity (YESILBAG et al, 2011).…”

“…In such scenarios, zoos may provide an optimal environment for infectious disease transmission because of the greater animal density and sharing of space between different animal species (YESILBAG et al, 2011).…”