Serologic Survey of Mosquito-Borne Viruses in Hunter-Harvested White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), New York State

Abstract

Sera from white-tailed deer (WTD, Odocoileus virginianus) hunter-harvested throughout New York State (NYS), 2007–2015, were tested by plaque reduction neutralization for antibodies against nine mosquito-borne viruses from the families Peribunyaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Togaviridae. Overall, 76.1% (373/490) of sampled WTD were seropositive against at least one virus, and 38.8% were exposed to multiple viruses. The seropositivity rate in adult WTD (78.0%) was significantly greater (P < 0.0001) than that in fawns (47.7%). Neutralizing antibodies against California serogroup viruses were most common in WTD sampled across all regions (67.1%), followed by the Bunyamwera serogroup (BUN) (37.6%). Jamestown Canyon and Cache Valley orthobunyaviruses were responsible for most California and BUN infections, respectively. Seroprevalence rates to West Nile virus were higher in samples originating from Long Island (LI) (19.0%) than in those originating from the central (7.3%), western (5.0%), and Hudson Valley (4.4%) regions of NYS. Antibodies to Eastern equine encephalitis virus were seen primarily in WTD from central NYS (5.1%), where annual enzootic activity occurs, but low rates were documented in western NYS (1.4%) and LI (1.7%). Low rates of Potosi and LaCrosse orthobunyavirus, and Highlands J virus antibodies were detected over the course of this investigation. St. Louis encephalitis virus (or a closely related virus) antibodies were detected in samples collected from central and western NYS, suggesting local virus transmission despite a lack of evidence from routine mosquito surveillance. Serologic results demonstrate the value of WTD in NYS as an indicator of arbovirus distribution and recent transmission on a relatively fine spatial scale.

Role of Anopheles Mosquitoes in Cache Valley Virus Lineage Displacement, New York, USA

“…Both mosquito species bite outdoors throughout the night and show higher activity at dusk and dawn and resting outdoors ( 26 , 27 ). In New York, white-tailed deer tested for CVV antibodies showed infection rates of 25.7% ( 28 ). White-tailed deer have been identified as the principal reservoir and amplification hosts for CVV, and their overabundance and availability for both Anopheles mosquitoes species that are frequently infected by the virus in nature ( 6 , 27 – 30 ) could partially explain the increase of CVV activity in Anopheles spp.…”

Heartland Virus Transmission, Suffolk County, New York, USA

“…White–tailed deer are a sensitive sentinel model for many arboviruses, given their abundance, limited home range, and the frequency on which they are fed upon by hematophagous arthropods ( 10 , 11 , 14 ). Approximately 10% of the deer sampled during this study were seropositive against HRTV.…”

“…We conducted serologic testing of hunter–harvested white–tailed deer blood submitted for arbovirus serosurveys by using PRNT 90 , as described ( 14 ). We screened 686 serum samples at a dilution of 1:20 for neutralizing antibodies to HRTV ( Figure 1 ) and serially diluted positive serum samples for endpoint titers.…”

Aedes Albopictus and Cache Valley virus: a new threat for virus transmission in New York State

“…albopictus populations are well established in the Long Island and Hudson Valley regions [ 12 , 33 ]; however, the first detection in the northern NYS suggests that this species may be continuing to expand its range in the northeastern U.S. The distribution and spread of this species is coincidental with the high prevalence of CVV in white-tailed deer in NYS [ 34 ]. However, many factors, including mosquito, host feeding preference (mammalian) and viral evolution, could be contributing to the increase of CVV circulation in the region.…”