Serologic survey for microbial pathogens

Zarnke, Randall

A serologic survey of selected wildlife species from Alaska was conducted. Evidence of exposure to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis was found in caribou (Rangifer tarandus) from the Fortymile and Porcupine Herds. Evidence of exposure to bovine viral diarrhea was found in both caribou herds for the first time, as well as in moose (Alces alces) from the Koyukuk River. Serum antibody prevalence of parainfluenza III remains very high in the Delta bison (Bison bison) herd, and also showed up for the first time in the Chitina bison, Koyukuk River moose, Dall sheep (Ovis dalli) from both the White Mountains and Dry Creek, and caribou from the Fortymile and Porcupine Herds. Serum antibody prevalence of leptospirosis in moose remained low. Evidence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease continued to be sporadic. Prevalence of tularemia and brucellosis in wolves (Canis lupus) followed established patterns. Evidence of Q fever appeared in bison for the first time. There was no evidence of respiratory syncytial virus exposure in Dall sheep. Muskoxen were free of evidence of any diseases.