First molecular and serological detection of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease virus in white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Tamaulipas, Mexico

Authors: MERINO, JOSE - University Of Tamaulipas; DE LA CRUZ, NED - University Of Tamaulipas; GALVAN, GENARO - University Of Tamaulipas; Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto; BURNES, JULIO - University Of Tamaulipas

Submitted to: Brazalian Archive of Medicine Veterinaria and Zootecnia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/5/2018
Publication Date: 1/1/2020
Citation: Merino, J., De La Cruz, N., Galvan, G., Perez De Leon, A.A., Burnes, J. 2020. First molecular and serological detection of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease virus in white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brazalian Archive of Medicine Veterinaria and Zootecnia. 71(1):77-85. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-9987.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-9987

Interpretive Summary: Many white-tailed deer (WTD) die in North America every year due to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). This disease is caused by viruses of the same name, or epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses (EHDV), which are transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides. EHDV can also infect cattle. However, little is known about EHD in Mexico and the transboundary region between northeast Mexico and south Texas. We conducted molecular and serological studies to bridge this knowledge gap. Samples from 122 WTD in Tamaulipas state, Mexico were tested. Twelve WTD were seropositive and 11 were positive according to the rapid molecular test. This is the first report of EHDV detection WTD from Mexico using a rapid molecular test. These results document how the transboundary disease approach to interdisciplinary research can be applied to fill knowledge gaps on the epidemiology of EHD. This information can be used to develop countermeasures to mitigate the threat of EHDV infection in wildlife and livestock along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Technical Abstract: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses (EHDV) are dsRNA arboviruses transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides that cause disease in domestic and wild ruminants. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is considered the most important infectious disease of white tailed deer (WTD) in North America, some studies in Northeast Mexico reported EHDV-seropositive WTD and EHDV-infected Culicoides vectors. The increasing population of WTD that share habitat with livestock in Northeast México highlights the importance of EHD for the livestock industry in the transboundary region with the U.S. One hundred and twenty two samples from WTD in Tamaulipas state, Mexico were tested by ELISA and RT-PCR for EHDV antibodies and nucleic acid, respectively. Twelve animals were seropositive to ELISA and eleven animals were positive by RT-PCR. This is the first report of EHDV nucleic acid detection in WTD from Mexico. It is hypothesized that applying the transboundary disease approach to interdisciplinary research will help fill knowledge gaps, which could help develop countermeasures to mitigate the threat of EHDV infection in wildlife and livestock along the U.S.-Mexico border.