Pestivirus infections in cervids from the Czech Republic

Abstract

372 sera of cervids from the Czech Republic were examined for antibodies to the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV) by competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and for the presence of the BVDV by AgELISA. Antibodies to BVDV/BDV were found in 0.6% (two positive/305 tested) red deer (Cervus elaphus). BVDV/BDV antibodies were not found in four sika deer (Cervus Nippon) and 63 fallow deer (Dama dama). All serum samples were BVDV antigen negative. Our results confirmed that red deer in the Czech Republic are only rarely infected with Pestiviruses. This was the first survey of pestiviruses in farmed and wild cervids in the Czech Republic.

Keywords

• bovine viral diarrhea virus
• red deer
• fallow deer
• wildlife
• prevalence
• elisa