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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2009, p. 1309-1313, Vol. 47, No. 5
0095-1137/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02416-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Cervid Herpesvirus 2 Causes Respiratory and Fetal Infections in Semidomesticated Reindeer{triangledown}

Carlos G. das Neves,1* Espen Rimstad,2 and Morten Tryland1

Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Stakkevollveien 23, NO 9010 Tromsø,1 Section of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146, NO 0033 Oslo, Norway2

Received 17 December 2008/ Returned for modification 17 February 2009/ Accepted 28 February 2009

Members of the viral subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae establish latency from which they can be reactivated. Bovine herpesvirus 1 causes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and infectious pustular vulvovaginitis in cattle, as well as abortion and weak calves. Serological evidence of alphaherpesvirus infection has been reported for wild and semidomesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Norway. To address the possibility that reindeer alphaherpesvirus (cervid herpesvirus 2 [CvHV-2]) infection might affect the respiratory system and in part explain the relatively high mortality of reindeer calves during their first year, tissue samples were obtained from reindeer and reindeer fetuses at slaughterhouses in Finnmark County, Norway. A nested pan-alphaherpesvirus PCR amplification targeting the highly conserved UL27 gene (encoding glycoprotein B) was used. Sequencing of amplicons revealed the presence of CvHV-2 DNA. The detection of CvHV-2 DNA in trigeminal ganglia (27 of 143 samples), nasal swabs (5 of 75 samples), and fetal tissues (12 of 48 samples) indicates that CvHV-2 infection is endemic in this reindeer population. Moreover, the virus is transmitted horizontally by the respiratory route, establishing latency in the trigeminal ganglion, and vertically to the fetus through the placenta. Further studies should focus on the reproductive impact of CvHV-2 infection in reindeer.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Stakkevollveien 23b, NO 9010 Tromsø, Norway. Phone: 47 77665400. Fax: 47 77694911. E-mail: carlos.neves{at}veths.no

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 11 March 2009.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2009, p. 1309-1313, Vol. 47, No. 5
0095-1137/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02416-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Tryland, M., Das Neves, C. G., Sunde, M., Mork, T. (2009). Cervid Herpesvirus 2, the Primary Agent in an Outbreak of Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis in Semidomesticated Reindeer. J. Clin. Microbiol. 47: 3707-3713 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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