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WIDESPREAD OCCURRENCE IN AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS OF NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES TO A HERPESVIRUS FROM A PARMA WALLABY
Author(s) -
Webber Carol E,
Whalley J Millar
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1978.38
Subject(s) - marsupial , biology , captivity , antibody , outbreak , zoology , macropus , virus , virology , immunology
Summary Serum neutralizing antibodies to a parma wallaby herpesvirus (PWHV) have been detected in a wide range of marsupials from different locations across Australia including several islands. A study of 242 animals (mostly macropods) sampled in the wild showed that 23% had antibodies: a significantly higer frequency (41%) of 116 animals in captivity had antibodies. Which were generally at higher levels than those of animals in the wild. Antibodies to PWHV were also detected among parma wallabies from a colony on Kawau Island, New Zealand. The highest antibody levels were found in a group of captive tammar wallabies during recurrent outbreaks of clinical infection. It is suggested that PWHV has evolved along with a marsupial host, and that the high antibody levels among captive animals reflects ease of virus transmission due to crowding or to conditions of stress leading to expression of latent virus.