Serologic Survey of Selected Viral Pathogens in Free-Ranging Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from Slovakia
2018 Joint EAZWV/AAZV/Leibniz-IZW Conference
Eliška Vitásková1,2, DVM; Lenka Černíková1,2, Ing; Ladislav Molnár3, DVM, PhD; Ivan Holko4,5, Assoc Prof, DVM, PhD; Peter Supuka4, DVM, PhD; Eva Bártová2, Assoc Prof, DVM, PhD; Kamil Sedlák1, DVM, PhD
1Department of Virology and Serology, State Veterinary Institute Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; 2Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; 3Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia; 4VETSERVIS, s.r.o., Nitra, Slovakia; 5 Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
Abstract
The aim of study was to test sera of bears from Slovakia for antibodies to 10 viral pathogens. Similar study, in free-ranging European brown bears (Ursus arctos), has been performed only in Croatia and Italy.1,2 The sera were collected from 24 free-ranging brown bears from six various regions of Slovakia between years 2011 and 2015. Antibodies to canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), canine herpesvirus type 1(CHV-1), canine coronavirus (CCV), canine adenovirus (CAV) and canine parainfluenza virus type2 (CPIV2) were tested by Indirect fluorescence antibody test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for detection of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV), West-Nile virus (WNV), Bluetongue virus (BTV) and Aujeszky`s disease (ADV). Samples, positive in ELISA, were confirmed by virus neutralizing test. We detected antibodies to CDV in seven animals (29%), antibodies to CHV in three animals (13%), antibodies to CPV-2 and CPIV-2 in two animals (8%), while antibodies to CCV, WNV and ADV in one animal (4%). To our knowledge, this is the first report of CCV and ADV exposure in free-ranging brown bears.
Literature Cited
1. Di Francesco CE, Gentile L, Di Pirro V, Ladiana L, Tagliabue S, Marsilio F. Serologic evidence for selected infectious diseases in Marsican brown bears. J Wildl Dis. 2015;51:209–213.
2. Madić J, Huber D, Lugović B. Serologic survey for selected viral and rickettsial agents of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Croatia. J Wildl Dis. 1993;29:572–576.