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Blanch-Lázaro B, Chamings A, Ribot RFH, Bhatta TR, Berg ML, Alexandersen S, Bennett ATD. Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) persists in tissues of asymptomatic wild Crimson Rosellas. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1017. [PMID: 39289466 PMCID: PMC11408594 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06652-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases can drive populations and species to extinction. Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a circovirus of global conservation concern that can infect all Psittaciformes and some other species. Yet some parrot species, such as Crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans), can live successfully with high BFDV prevalence (>40%) with no clinical signs reported in infected individuals. We assessed BFDV load in 10-12 tissues per bird, from n = 66 P. elegans, to reveal tissue tropism and BFDV persistence in tissues. Here we show that in 94% of individuals, BFDV was detected in one or more tissues. While BFDV replicated to high levels in subadults, in adults (some confirmed seropositive) the virus persisted in various tissues at much lower levels. Our findings reveal that BFDV is much more common in wild P. elegans than previously thought and suggest that current screening practices (mostly on blood) may substantially underestimate BFDV infection estimates, with implications for biosecurity and conservation programs globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Blanch-Lázaro
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
- Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
- Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), CSIRO, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
| | - Anthony Chamings
- Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW, Australia
| | - Raoul F H Ribot
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Tarka Raj Bhatta
- Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory (ARRL), Barwon Health, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology Research (CIIDIR), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Mathew L Berg
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Parks Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Soren Alexandersen
- Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Barwon Health, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Viborg Campus, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Andrew T D Bennett
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- One Health Research Group, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia
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Abstract
Swine are used in biomedical research as models for biomedical research and for teaching. This chapter covers normative biology and behavior along with common and emerging swine diseases. Xenotransplantation is discussed along with similarities and differences of swine immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristi L. Helke
- Departments of Comparative Medicine and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | - Raimon Duran-Struuck
- Columbia Center of Translational Immunology, Department of Surgery; Institute of Comparative Medicine; Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - M. Michael Swindle
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Comparative Medicine and Department of Surgery, Charleston, SC, USA
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