Serosurvey of three virus infections in reindeer in northern Norway and Svalbard

Abstract

Sera from 326 Norwegian reindeer (NR) and from 40 Svalbard reindeer (SR) were examined for antibodies to reindeer herpesvirus (RHV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and parainfulenza type 3 virus (PIV-3). No antibodies to any of these three viruses were detected in sera from SR. Sixty-three percent of sera from 101 adult NR (> 12 months old) and 15% of 225 NR calves (6 months old) had antibodies to RHV; corresponding values for BVDV were 41% and 6%, respectively. Twenty-seven percent of adult NR and 1% of NR calves had antibodies to both viruses. No antibodies to PIV-3 were detected in any NR sera

Cervid Herpesvirus 2 Causes Respiratory and Fetal Infections in Semidomesticated Reindeer

“…Several serological studies of CvHV-2 infection in reindeer that have been carried out in the past 10 to 20 years have confirmed a widespread distribution for alphaherpesvirus infections in semidomesticated reindeer (31,36). Nonetheless, alphaherpesviruses have not been isolated from reindeer in Norway or detected by PCR.…”

“…Experimentally it has been demonstrated that CvHV-2 can infect bovines and cause a mild rhinotracheitis, but no latency of CvHV-2 has been detected in bovines (18,34). Serological evidence of CvHV-2 infection has been reported for both wild (13) and semidomesticated (31,36) reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Norway, for barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in Greenland (4), and for Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in Alaska (8).…”

“…The latter possibility has been supported by the isolation of the virus from the vaginas and noses of reindeer after the induction of viral reactivation by dexamethasone treatment in Finland and Sweden, respectively, but latency was not verified by amplification of viral DNA from nerve ganglia (23 (31,36), it was considered necessary to conduct a study of the possible impact of CvHV-2 infection on reindeer health. In many ruminant species, alphaherpesvirus infections have an impact on reproductive success by causing abortions and increased offspring mortality (16,21,29,30,33,34).…”

Viral diseases of northern ungulates

“…However, in a serological survey in reindeer in Norway all 326 sera tested for antibodies against PIV-3 were negative (Stuen et al, 1993).…”

“…In France, Baradel et al (1988) determined an antibody prevalence of 0.7% in roe deer, 5.5% in chamois and 7.5% in ibex. Seropositive reindeer were found by Stuen et al (1993) in Norway (9%) and by Rehbinder et al (1992) in Sweden (6%). In the former WestGermany, antibodies against BVDV have been found in approximately 7% of red deer (Weber et al, 1978, 6.6%; Frolich, 1993, 7.7%), and in roe deer (Weber et al, 1978, 5.9 %; Frolich, 1993, 10%).…”