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Adenovirus: an emerging factor in red squirrel S ciurus vulgaris conservation
Author(s) -
Everest David J.,
Shuttleworth Craig M.,
Stidworthy Mark F.,
Grierson Sylvia S.,
Duff J. Paul,
Kenward Robert E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
mammal review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.574
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2907
pISSN - 0305-1838
DOI - 10.1111/mam.12025
Subject(s) - subclinical infection , biology , virology , rabies , zoology , immunology
Adenovirus is an emerging threat to red squirrel S ciurus vulgaris conservation, but confirming clinically significant adenovirus infections in red squirrels is challenging. Rapid intestinal autolysis after death in wild animals frequently obscures pathology characteristic of the disease in animals found dead. We review the available literature to determine current understanding of both subclinical and clinically significant adenovirus infections in free‐living wild and captive red squirrel populations. Benefits of scientific testing for adenovirus incorporating both transmission electron microscopy ( TEM ) and polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) technologies are compared and contrasted. We favour viral particle detection using TEM in animals exhibiting enteropathy at post‐mortem and the use of PCR to detect subclinical cases where no enteric abnormalities are observed. Adenoviral infections associated with re‐introduction studies are evaluated by examination of sporadic cases in wild populations and of data from captive collections used to service such studies. The paucity of data available on adenovirus infection in grey squirrel S ciurus carolinensis populations is documented, and we highlight that although subclinical virus presence is recorded in several locations in G reat B ritain and in I taly, no clinically significant disease cases have been detected in the species thus far. Current speculation about potential interspecific infection between sciurids and other woodland rodents such as wood mice A podemus sylvaticus is examined. Where subclinical adenovirus presence has been detected in sympatric populations using the same point food sources, husbandry methods may be used to diminish the potential for cross‐infection. Our findings highlight the importance of controlling disease in red squirrel populations by using clearly defined scientific methods. In addition, we propose hypothetical conservation benefits of restricting contact rates between red squirrels and sympatric grey squirrels and of limiting competition from other woodland rodent species.