Prevalence of serum antibodies to canine adenovirus and canine herpesvirus in the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Australia

Abstract

CAdV infection is common in the Australian fox population whereas CaHV-1 infection is rare. For CAdV, the age and seasonal patterns of seroprevalence were generally consistent with the recruitment of young susceptible foxes into the population in the spring and the accumulation of infections with age. The differences in regional prevalences correlated with fox density. The low prevalence of antibody to CaHV-1 suggests that CaHV-1 may be a more suitable vector than CAdV for bait delivery of immunocontraceptive antigens to foxes in Australia.

Genome sequence of an Australian strain of canid alphaherpesvirus 1

“…The host range of CHV is generally restricted to domestic and wild Canidae and the geographical distribution of CHV infection is varied, broadly ranging from 6% to 88% globally . One study in 1971 demonstrated histological evidence of herpesvirus infection in puppies from Western Australia and serological existence of CHV antibody has also been shown in the European red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) in Australia . Adult dogs infected with CHV are thought to not show any clinical signs, whereas puppies are more susceptible to CHV infection, leading to a generalised necrotising and haemorrhagic disease .…”

Infectious canine hepatitis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the United Kingdom

“…There is serological evidence of exposure to CAV-1 in free-ranging red foxes in North America, Germany and Australia (Amundson and Yuill 1981, Truyen and others 1998, Robinson and others 2005), as well as in free-ranging grey foxes in North America (Riley and others 2004); however, there are no published serological studies of CAV-1 in red foxes in the UK.…”

Canine respiratory viruses

“…Wild-life animals may be a source of infection for domestic dogs. The overall prevalence of antibodies to canine adenoviruses in European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Australia was 23.2% with marked geographical, seasonal and age differences [134], while the prevalence of antibodies was 97% in Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) in the Channel Islands, California [70]. Antibodies to CAV-2 were also detected in free-ranging terrestrial carnivores and in marine mammals in Alaska and Canada, including black bears (Ursus americanus), fishers (Martes pennanti), polar bears (Ursus maritimus), wolves (Canis lupus), walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) [30,120,147].…”

“…However, antibodies to CHV have been detected in the sera of European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Australia [134] and Germany [156] and in sera of North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) from New York State [88], while a CHVlike virus has been isolated from captive coyote pups [64].…”