Serological evidence for the presence of wobbly possum disease virus in Australia

Abstract

Wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV) is an arterivirus that was originally identified in common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand, where it causes severe neurological disease. In this study, serum samples (n = 188) from Australian common brushtail, mountain brushtail (Trichosurus cunninghami) and common ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) possums were tested for antibodies to WPDV using ELISA. Antibodies to WPDV were detected in possums from all three species that were sampled in the states of Victoria and South Australia. Overall, 16% (30/188; 95% CI 11.0-22.0) of possums were seropositive for WPDV and 11.7% (22/188; 95% CI 7.5-17.2) were equivocal. The frequency of WPDV antibody detection was the highest in possums from the two brushtail species. This is the first reported serological evidence of infection with WPDV, or an antigenically similar virus, in Australian possums, and the first study to find antibodies in species other than common brushtail possums. Attempts to detect viral RNA in spleens by PCR were unsuccessful. Further research is needed to characterise the virus in Australian possums and to determine its impact on the ecology of Australian marsupials.

Wildlife nidoviruses: biology, epidemiology, and disease associations of selected nidoviruses of mammals and reptiles

“…In addition, most studies relied on detection of the virus, as opposed to detection of antibodies, which is a more reliable approach to assess the prevalence of infection. To exemplify this, the proportion of common brushtail possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) positive for WPDV antibodies in Australia (19% of 100 tested) ( 72 ) was similar to that reported in New Zealand (20.9% of 230 tested) ( 73 ), even though PCR results using the same oligonucleotides yielded strikingly different results for virus detection ( 72 ).…”

“…None of the possums experimentally infected with WPDV cleared the virus before death or euthanasia approximately 3–4 weeks post-infection ( 66 , 76 ). However, tissues from serologically positive wild possums were commonly negative for the virus indicating that either WPDV does not establish long-term persistence in possums or persistence occurs in tissues that were not sampled ( 72 , 73 ). Limited data available suggest that some tornidoviruses also establish persistent infections in their hosts.…”

Molecular detection of two new putative species of gammaherpesvirus in petaurid possums

“…Samples were opportunistically used in this survey, collected for other clinical investigations by veterinary professionals or as components of other research and surveillance projects (including DELWP permit #10009447). 4 Samples included cloacal, nasal, ocular and oropharyngeal swabs that were stored dry, in phosphate‐buffered saline solution, or in viral transport medium. 1 Blood, spleen and other tissues were also received that had been excised postmortem.…”