Squirrelpox virus: assessing prevalence, transmission and environmental degradation.

Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) declined in Great Britain and Ireland during the last century, due to habitat loss and the introduction of grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), which competitively exclude the red squirrel and act as a reservoir for squirrelpox virus (SQPV). The disease is generally fatal to red squirrels and their ecological replacement by grey squirrels is up to 25 times faster where the virus is present. We aimed to determine: (1) the seropositivity and prevalence of SQPV DNA in the invasive and native species at a regional scale; (2) possible SQPV transmission routes; and, (3) virus degradation rates under differing environmental conditions. Grey (n = 208) and red (n = 40) squirrel blood and tissues were sampled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques established seropositivity and viral DNA presence, respectively. Overall 8% of squirrels sampled (both species combined) had evidence of SQPV DNA in their tissues and 22% were in possession of antibodies. SQPV prevalence in sampled red squirrels was 2.5%. Viral loads were typically low in grey squirrels by comparison to red squirrels. There was a trend for a greater number of positive samples in spring and summer than in winter. Possible transmission routes were identified through the presence of viral DNA in faeces (red squirrels only), urine and ectoparasites (both species). Virus degradation analyses suggested that, after 30 days of exposure to six combinations of environments, there were more intact virus particles in scabs kept in warm (25 °C) and dry conditions than in cooler (5 and 15 °C) or wet conditions. We conclude that SQPV is present at low prevalence in invasive grey squirrel populations with a lower prevalence in native red squirrels. Virus transmission could occur through urine especially during warm dry summer conditions but, more notably, via ectoparasites, which are shared by both species.

Genomic characterization of a novel poxvirus contributing to the decline of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in the UK.

The genome of a virulent squirrelpox virus (SQPV) isolate was characterized in order to determine its relationship with other poxviruses. Restriction enzyme analysis suggested a genome length of approximately 158 kb, whilst sequence analysis of the two ends of the genome indicated a G + C composition of approximately 66 %. Two contiguous stretches of 23 and 37 kb at the left-hand and right-hand ends of the genome, respectively, were sequenced allowing the identification of at least 59 genes contained therein. The partial sequence of a further 15 genes was determined by spot sequencing of restriction fragments located across the genome. Phylogenetic analysis of 15 genes conserved in all the recognized genera of the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae confirmed that the SQPV does not group within the family Parapoxvirinae, but instead partitions on its own in a separate clade of the poxviruses. Analysis of serum from British woodland rodents failed to find any evidence of SQPV infection in wood mice or bank voles, but for the first time serum samples from grey squirrels in the USA were found to contain antibody against SQPV.

Partial antigenic characterization of buffalopox virus.

The present study was undertaken to antigenically characterize the buffalopox virus (BPV). Six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the BP4 strain of BPV have been produced and characterized. All six MAbs appeared to be specific to BPV, as none of them showed cross-reactivity with other poxviruses in antigen capture ELISA. Only two MAbs (20AB8 and 20CD11) bound significantly with different BPV isolates in antigen capture ELISA, whereas the remaining four MAbs bound weakly with the BPV. In Western blot analysis with purified BPV-BP4, the rabbit hyperimmune serum against purified BPV-BP4 reacted with 15 immunodominant polypeptides (100 kDa to 25 kDa), whereas two MAbs (21CB6, 21DB11) reacted with 42 kDa and 45 kDa polypeptides, respectively. However, three MAbs (20AB8, 20CD11, 21CB5) reacted with three degraded polypeptides (100 kDa, 40 kDa and 87 kDa) of BPV-BP4. In radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) with the rabbit hyperimmune serum to BPV-BP4, three virus specific polypeptides (69 kDa, 34 kDa, 32 kDa) were recognized in BPV-BP4, whereas two polypeptides (69 kDa, 34 kDa) were recognized in other BPV isolates (BPV-Bly, BPV-Vij96, BPV-Vij97). In virus neutralization test, none of the six MAbs tested showed any significant neutralizing ability to infection with different BPV isolates. However, the hyperimmune serum showed weak neutralizing ability to BPV infection.