ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A CERVIDPOXVIRUS FROM A GOITERED GAZELLE (GAZELLA SUBGUTTUROSA) FROM A ZOOLOGIC PARK IN MINNESOTA

Abstract

Deerpox virus (DPV) is the sole member of the newly ratified Cervidpoxvirus genus in the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. Presented here is the first diagnostic report of isolation of DPV from a goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa). A tissue homogenate was submitted by a zoologic park to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota for poxvirus diagnostic investigation and then referred to Plum Island Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for confirmation. Poxviral infection was confirmed using electron microscopy. The virus was cultured in vero cells and subjected to further diagnoses for characterization. Polymerase chain reaction targeting the major envelope (B2L) protein and RNA polymerase of parapoxviruses, and the poly-A polymerase gene of capripoxviruses, were all negative. Degenerative pan-poxvirus primers that target the DNA polymerase (DNApol) and DNA topoisomerase (DNAtopo) genes, however, successfully amplified poxviral DNA fragments. Amplification of the DNApol and DNAtopo genes yielded fragments of 543 and 344 base pairs, respectively. DNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis of each gene fragment from the gazelle isolate showed >97% identity in BLAST searches with two DPV virus strains (W848-83 and W-1170-84) isolated from North American mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in 1983-1984. Neighbor-joining trees indicate that the isolate is a member of the Cervidpoxvirus genus and shows a more-distant relationship to other ruminant poxviruses, namely the Capripoxvirus genus consisting of lumpy skin disease, sheeppox, and goatpox viruses. This report documents the premiere finding of DPV, a recently characterized virus, in gazelles and demonstrates the need for broadened investigation when diagnosing poxvirus infections in ruminants.

Epitheliotropic Infections in Wildlife Ruminants From the Central Alps and Stelvio National Park

“…The viruses belonging to the genus Deerpoxvirus (DPV) are responsible for non-parapoxviruslike infections in the members of two subfamilies of cervids, American deer (Odocoileinae) and reindeer (Rangiferinae). These viruses, resembling orthopoxviruses in shape, have been reported in North America in wild mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Wyoming (2), black-tailed deer (O. h. columbianus) (3) and pudu (Pudu puda) (4) in California, in wild cervid species in the Northwest Pacific (5), in farmed white-tailed deer in Mississipi (6) and in a goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) (7). The first genome sequence of Mule Deerpoxvirus (MDPV), from a farmed white-tailed deer fawn in Florida, has been recently published by Sayler et al (8).…”

Molecular and Biological Characterization of a Cervidpoxvirus Isolated From Moose with Necrotizing Dermatitis

“…6 There is also evidence that Orthopoxvirus and Cervidpoxvirus can be transmitted to a sensitive novel host when exposed to infected carriers of other species housed in the same facility. 7,15,24 While the moose calves were never in direct contact with any other animals managed by the zoo, they regularly rotated through the same pens and exhibit space with the single adult moose housed at the zoo at the time of this outbreak. As these pens and exhibit space are outdoors, we cannot rule out that local wildlife (eg, rodents) played a role in transmission.…”

“…7,22 Conventional PCR was used to test for multiple poxvirus genera, including capripox, suipox, and cervidpox viruses, by targeting sequences within the DNA polymerase (DNApol) and DNA topoisomerase (DNAtopo) genes. 7 Amplified DNA fragments were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis of 8 μL of the PCR product in 2.0% agarose E-Gels (Invitrogen by ThermoFisher), viewed under ultraviolet light, and photographed using a gel documentation system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). 7 In addition, DNA was extracted from 80 µm of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections (8 sections of 10 μm) of skin lesions of calf 5 using the modified formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded DNA extraction protocol provided with the Qiagen DNeasy blood and tissue kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany).…”

“…3 There is increasing evidence on the emergence of novel poxviruses and the identification of animal hosts in the epidemiology of these viruses. 7 With some exceptions, a significant feature of poxviruses is their ability to enter a variety of animal host cells by mechanisms that do not require species-specific receptors. 19 However, permissive infection within a host and successful replication are a function of the virus' ability to evade the host immune response.…”

Genome Variability and Gene Content in Chordopoxviruses: Dependence on Microsatellites

“…Ruminants such as cattle, goats, and sheep are the hosts of viruses in the Capripoxvirus genus [ 14 ]. Members of the Cervidpoxvirus genus are normally found in mule deer, but have recently been isolated from a gazelle, viruses of the Leporipoxvirus species infect rabbits, members of the Suipoxvirus species infect only swine, and primates are the hosts for members of the Yatapoxvirus genus [ 15 , 16 ].…”