Identification and Characterization of Two Novel Viruses in Ocular Infections in Reindeer

Saskia Smits, Claudia Schapendonk, Marije Leeuwen, Thijs Kuiken, Rogier Bodewes, Stalinraj Victor, Bart Haagmans, CG Das Neves, M Tryland, Ab Osterhaus

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Abstract

A thorough understanding of virus diversity in wildlife provides epidemiological baseline information about pathogens. In this study, eye swab samples were obtained from semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Norway during an outbreak of infectious eye disease, possibly a very early stage of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC). Large scale molecular virus screening, based on host nucleic acid depletion, sequence-independent amplification and next-generation sequencing of partially purified viral nucleic acid, revealed the presence of a new papillomavirus in 2 out of 8 eye swab samples and a new betaherpesvirus in 3 out of 8 eye swab samples collected from animals with clinical signs and not in similar samples in 9 animals without clinical signs. Whether either virus was responsible for causing the clinical signs or in any respect was associated to the disease condition remains to be determined.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
JournalPLoS One (print)
Volume8
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Research programs

  • EMC MM-04-27-01

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