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Everest DJ, Green C, Dastjerdi A, Davies H, Cripps R, McKinney C, Podgornik G, Stinson M, O'Hare S, Sapsford B, Mill A, Van der Waal Z, Robinson N, Trotter S, Shuttleworth CM. Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK. Vet Rec 2023; 192:e2834. [PMID: 37024300 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.2834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chalin Green
- Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Addlestone, UK
| | | | - Hannah Davies
- Animal and Plant Health Agency-Weybridge, Addlestone, UK
| | - Rachel Cripps
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Seaforth Nature Reserve, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | - Simon O'Hare
- Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Aileen Mill
- Centre for Wildlife Management, School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Zelda Van der Waal
- Centre for Wildlife Management, School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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Côrte-Real JV, Lopes AM, Rebelo H, Paulo Lopes J, Amorim F, Pita R, Correia J, Melo P, Beja P, José Esteves P, Abrantes J. Adenovirus emergence in a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Iberian Peninsula. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:2300-2306. [PMID: 32418319 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Adenoviruses (AdV) are pathogens capable of infecting animals and humans leading to a wide spectrum of diseases. They have a widespread geographical dissemination and infect several species, including red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). In the Iberian Peninsula, there are no reports of infection of red squirrels by AdV. In this study, we report for the first time the detection of squirrel AdV in a red squirrel trapped in central Portugal. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequences obtained for the hexon and the penton base genes were similar to the Korean squirrel AdV strain and strongly divergent from the strains present in red squirrels in Europe. These findings indicate the emergence of a new strain circulating in Europe and raise concerns regarding the conservation of the red squirrel.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Vasco Côrte-Real
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Lopes
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,UMIB/UP - Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Lopes
- Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua S.A., Parque de Monserrate, Sintra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Amorim
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Pita
- MED Institute, University of Évora, Mitra Pole, Évora, Portugal.,Unit of Conservation Biology, Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Évora, Mitra Pole, Évora, Portugal
| | - Jorge Correia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CIISA-Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,EDP Biodiversity Chair, CIBIO/InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Pedro José Esteves
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,CITS - Center of Investigation in Health Technologies, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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3
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Wernike K, Wylezich C, Höper D, Schneider J, Lurz PWW, Meredith A, Milne E, Beer M, Ulrich RG. Widespread occurrence of squirrel adenovirus 1 in red and grey squirrels in Scotland detected by a novel real-time PCR assay. Virus Res 2018; 257:113-118. [PMID: 30237072 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is distributed throughout large parts of Europe and Asia. However, its distribution in certain regions of Europe is endangered by the invasive, non-native Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Adenoviruses were already described in squirrels in Great Britain almost two decades ago. In 2013, a squirrel adenovirus (SqAdV-1) was additionally found in a red squirrel from Germany, which suffered from acute diffuse catarrhal enteritis, and the complete genome sequence was determined. Here, samples from dead red (n = 25) and grey (n = 12) squirrels collected in Scotland, UK, were analysed for the presence of this squirrel-associated virus. By using a newly developed real-time PCR targeting the adenoviral polymerase gene, viral DNA was detected in at least one of four tissue samples tested per animal in 64.0% of the red squirrels and 41.7% of the grey squirrels. Exceptionally high viral genome loads were detected in the intestine and liver, but SqAdV-1 DNA was also present in lung and kidney samples of affected animals. Almost complete genome sequence determination of a red squirrel-derived SqAdV-1 strain from Scotland indicated a very high degree of identity to the first German strain. Sequence analysis of the hexon gene, which encodes one of the major antigens of the virion, revealed an identity of 100% between viruses found in red and grey squirrels from Scotland. In conclusion, SqAdV-1 appears to be widespread in the Scottish red and grey squirrel population, which highlights the necessity for continuous wildlife surveillance. The novel real-time PCR assay offers a highly sensitive and robust method for SqAdV-1 surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Claudia Wylezich
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Dirk Höper
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Julia Schneider
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; NMI TT Pharmaservices, c/o CoLaborator, Müllerstraße 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Peter W W Lurz
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Anna Meredith
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK; Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade Parkville 3010, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Elspeth Milne
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
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