Open AccessSerological evidence for the presence of wobbly possum disease virus in Australia
Author(s) -
Anita Tolpinrud,
Simon M. Firestone,
Andrés Diaz-Méndez,
Leanne Wicker,
Stacey E. Lynch,
Magdalena Dunowska,
Joanne M. Devlin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0237091
Subject(s) - brushtail possum , arterivirus , biology , serology , virus , marsupial , antibody , virology , zoology , immunology , covid-19 , disease , medicine , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV) is an arterivirus that was originally identified in common brushtail possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) in New Zealand, where it causes severe neurological disease. In this study, serum samples (n = 188) from Australian common brushtail, mountain brushtail ( Trichosurus cunninghami ) and common ringtail ( Pseudocheirus peregrinus ) possums were tested for antibodies to WPDV using ELISA. Antibodies to WPDV were detected in possums from all three species that were sampled in the states of Victoria and South Australia. Overall, 16% (30/188; 95% CI 11.0–22.0) of possums were seropositive for WPDV and 11.7% (22/188; 95% CI 7.5–17.2) were equivocal. The frequency of WPDV antibody detection was the highest in possums from the two brushtail species. This is the first reported serological evidence of infection with WPDV, or an antigenically similar virus, in Australian possums, and the first study to find antibodies in species other than common brushtail possums. Attempts to detect viral RNA in spleens by PCR were unsuccessful. Further research is needed to characterise the virus in Australian possums and to determine its impact on the ecology of Australian marsupials.