Perspectives on the Changing Landscape of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Control

Abstract

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an insect-transmitted viral disease of wild and domestic ruminants. It was first described following a 1955 epizootic in North American white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a species which is highly susceptible to the causative agent of EHD, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). EHDV has been detected globally across tropical and temperate regions, largely corresponding to the presence of Culicoides spp. biting midges which transmit the virus between ruminant hosts. It regularly causes high morbidity and mortality in wild and captive deer populations in endemic areas during epizootics. Although cattle historically have been less susceptible to EHDV, reports of clinical disease in cattle have increased in the past two decades. There is a pressing need to identify new methods to prevent and mitigate outbreaks and reduce the considerable impacts of EHDV on livestock and wildlife. This review discusses recent research advancements towards the control of EHDV, including the development of new investigative tools and progress in basic and applied research focused on virus detection, disease mitigation, and vector control. The potential impacts and implications of these advancements on EHD management are also discussed.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus: Current Knowledge and Emerging Perspectives

“…EHDV has been isolated in North and South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania ( Figure 2 a). To date, it is endemic in parts of North America, Australia, and certain countries of Asia and Africa [ 35 ]. EHDV was first detected in the USA in 1955 when WTD were severely affected showing high mortality [ 36 ].…”

“…Among the seven serotypes proposed, EHDV-1, 2, and 6 have been reported to be present in North America, where WTD is the most severely affected host and the scale of individual outbreaks increased with time [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. In Australia, six out of seven serotypes (EHDV-1, -2, -5, -6, -7, and -8) have been detected over the years [ 35 , 40 ]. Globally, the presence of EHDV has been noted in Japan (serotypes 2 and 7, and serotypes 5 and 6 recently isolated from Culicoides insect vectors), China (serotypes 1, 5, 6, 7, 8), Morocco (serotype 6), Algeria (serotype 6), Libya (serotype 6), Turkey (serotype 6), Tunisia (serotypes 6 and 8), Egypt (serotype 1), Oman (serotype 2 and 6), Sudan (serotype 5 and 6), Nigeria (serotypes 1 and 4), the island of Mayotte (serotype 6), French Guiana (serotypes 6 and 7), Ecuador (serotype 1), Trinidad (serotype 6) and Israel (serotypes 1, 6 and 7) [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ].…”

Defining an epidemiological landscape that connects movement ecology to pathogen transmission and pace‐of‐life

“…avian influenza spillovers from migratory waterfowl could occur at many points along a flyway; Hill et al, 2016); (2) management actions shift depending on the local environment (e.g. epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus [EHDV] management might prioritise water point sources for vector control when water is scarce, and host vaccinations when water is plentiful; Noronha et al, 2021); or (3) research is concentrated around pseudo‐model systems but findings need to extend to a wider set of host‐pathogen interactions (e.g. fine‐scale but limited data describing life‐history movement trade‐offs in flying foxes could be used to generate broader‐scale spatial predictions; Hayman et al, 2018).…”

A comprehensive review of viruses in terrestrial animals from the Caribbean islands of Greater and Lesser Antilles

“…Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), member of the genus Orbivirus , is transmitted by Culicoides spp . (biting midge) and can present with asymptomatic/mild disease to severe haemorrhagic disease and death in domestic and wild ruminants (Noronha et al., 2021). In 2010–2011, EHDV‐ 2 and ‐6 were detected by RT‐PCR in Guadeloupe and Martinique (Viarouge et al., 2014).…”

“…Orbivirus, is transmitted by Culicoides spp. (biting midge) and can present with asymptomatic/mild disease to severe haemorrhagic disease and death in domestic and wild ruminants (Noronha et al, 2021).…”