Disease monitoring and surveillance: case studies in the applied conservation of fragmented red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) populations in England and Wales

Everest, David J.; Floyd, Toby; Holmes, Paul; Duff, Paul B.; Man, Catherine; Dunnett, Elizabeth; Locke, Rachel; Savage, Leon; Sutcliffe, Stewart; Sapsford, Bonnie; Shuttleworth, Craig M.

doi:10.1007/s42991-021-00157-8

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“…Therefore, any AdV or SQPV disease presence within such areas has the potential for a more marked effect, including local extirpation of the native species. This effect was recognised in a recent publication, 53 which investigated mortalities within such populations at four locations in England and Wales. The data identified other disease processes also present within the four areas, but that both disease via AdV and SQPV, along with in some cases grey squirrel ingress, reduced the populations and, in at least one location, appeared to have resulted in a species extirpation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK

et al. 2023

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Background: Red Squirrels United was a UK landscape-scale grey squirrel management programme undertaken between 2016 and 2020. Methods: A total of 11034 grey squirrels were removed by culling, with 1506 necropsied and 1405 suitable for adenovirus (AdV) or squirrelpox virus (SQPV) quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Spleen, lip or hair were extracted, and DNA was isolated, with samples tested in duplicate by qPCR. Results: Of 1378 tissue samples, 43% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Of 1031 hair samples, 11% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Overall, 762 of 1405 (54%) animals were positive for one or both viruses. Limitations: Ad hoc sampling was undertaken from limited geographical areas but provided the only dataset from that period, instead of extrapolating from historical data. Conclusions: The grey squirrel is an asymptomatic reservoir host for AdV and SQPV. Interspecific infection transmission potential is demonstrated. Grey squirrel management by culling is essential for mainland red squirrel viability until other suitable management tools are available.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%