Molecular survey of selected viruses in Pudus ( Pudu puda ) in Chile revealing first identification of caprine herpesvirus—2 (CpHV-2) in South American ungulates

Abstract

Viral diseases jeopardize the health of wildlife in Chile. However, this country lacks health surveillance programs that allow for defining preventive measures to tackle such diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence and the genetic diversity of pestivirus, herpesvirus and adenovirus in pudus from Chile. Blood samples from wild (n=34) and captive (n=32) pudus were collected between 2011 and 2019 and analyzed through consensus PCR. All the samples were negative to pestivirus and adenovirus. Herpesvirus was confirmed in four captive, and one wild pudu. All four zoo animals share the same sequence for both polymerase and glycoprotein genes. Both sequences share a 100% identity with caprine herpesvirus-2, classifying them in the same cluster as the Macavirus group. In turn, novel sequences of the polymerase and glycoprotein B genes were obtained from the wild pudu. Our study reports the first evidence of CpHV-2 infection in Chile and South American ungulate populations. Further research will be necessary to assess the pathogenicity of CpHV-2 in this species. It is also urgently recommended that molecular, serological and pathological screening should be conducted in Chilean wild and captive pudus to understand the impact of the herpesvirus on their populations.

Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of herpesviruses in endangered free-ranging cervids of Chile: ovine gammaherpesvirus-2—A novel threat to wild and domestic animal health in Chilean Patagonia

“…This study describes the first report of ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 in Chilean ruminants. Our results confirmed that pudu gammaherpesvirus-1 is circulating in free-ranging Chilean pudus and huemuls ( 22 ). The occurrence of pudu gammaherpesvirus-1 in free-ranging huemuls in Torres del Paine National Park and in pudus of Chiloe, an island located ~1,100 km to the north, suggests that the detected virus circulates in Chilean wild deer despite the distance and geographic barriers between populations.…”

“…In Chile, caprine gammaherpesvirus-2 was recently reported in southern pudus ( Pudu puda ) from a zoological collection (or zoo), possibly associated with an MCF outbreak ( 22 ). Additionally, a new pudu gamma-herpesvirus-1 was detected in a rescued pudu at Chiloé Island ( 22 ). However, there have been no reports of gammaherpesvirus infection or cases of MCF in livestock in Chile to date.…”

“…Indeed, to date, most of the reports come from populations under human care (18)(19)(20)(21). In Chile, caprine gammaherpesvirus-2 was recently reported in southern pudus (Pudu puda) from a zoological collection (or zoo), possibly associated with an MCF outbreak (22). Additionally, a new pudu gamma-herpesvirus-1 was detected in a rescued pudu at Chiloé Island (22).…”

“…In Chile, the pudu is classified as vulnerable, and the huemul is classified as endangered (25). The main threats to the conservation of both species include fragmentation of their habitats, traumatic events such as road kills by cars, attacks by dogs, and emerging diseases potentially transmitted via livestock (22,24,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32). The present study aimed to investigate the presence of herpesvirus DNA and genetically characterize it in the blood, spleen, and lung samples from free-ranging southern pudus and huemuls in Chile.…”

High Exposure to Livestock Pathogens in Southern Pudu (Pudu puda) from Chile

“…Among the issues that could be threatening this species are livestock diseases [5,6], which have caused declines in the number of individuals in wild ruminant populations in North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe over the last quarter of a century [7][8][9][10][11][12]. These events could be due to the increasing interaction rates of livestock and wildlife because of the increase in the population globally [13,14].…”