Detection of mustelid herpesvirus-1 infected European badgers (Meles meles) in the British Isles

J Wildl Dis. 2004 Jan;40(1):99-102. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-40.1.99.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of mustelid herpesvirus-1 (MusHV-1) infection in free-ranging badgers (Meles meles) in the British Isles. A polymerase chain reaction assay was developed that detected MusHV-1 DNA in 95% (18/19) and 100% (10/10) of anticoagulant-treated blood samples collected from free-ranging badgers sampled in the southwest of England and the Republic of Ireland, respectively. An indirect immunoassay was also developed to detect MusHV-1-specific immunoglobulin-G in serum samples. Using an arbitrary cutoff of twice the optical density obtained with a virus-negative preparation, 32.7% (36/110) of sera sampled from badgers were positive. The conclusion drawn from these data is that infection with MusHV-1 is common among free-ranging badgers in the British Isles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / virology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Carnivora / virology*
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Herpesviridae / immunology
  • Herpesviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Immunoassay / veterinary
  • Ireland / epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary*
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA, Viral