We investigated whether naturally acquired maternal antibodies to epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2 (EHDV-2) would protect white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns against infection and clinical disease following an EHDV-2 challenge. We compared viremia and clinical response in 27–47-d-old, experimentally infected fawns with and without maternally derived antibodies to EHDV-2. Mild to moderate clinical signs were observed in four seronegative (maternal antibody-negative) fawns, which were viremic from 3 to 14 d postinoculation. Individual peak blood virus titers for seronegative fawns ranged from 104.3 to 106.3 median tissue culture infective doses (TCID50)/mL. In contrast, clinical signs were not observed in seropositive (maternal antibody-positive) fawns and a transient low-level viremia (≤102.4 TCID50/mL) occurred in two of six fawns. Our results indicated that the presence of maternally derived EHDV-2 antibodies in fawns prevents or greatly reduces clinical disease and the level and duration of EHDV-2 viremia.
How to translate text using browser tools
6 January 2021
The Effect of Maternal Antibodies on Clinical Response to Infection with Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Fawns
Natalie K. Stilwell,
Lorelei L. Clarke,
Elizabeth W. Howerth,
Clara Kienzle-Dean,
Alinde Fojtik,
Laura P. Hollander,
Deborah Carter,
David A. Osborn,
Gino J. D'Angelo,
Karl V. Miller,
David E. Stallknecht,
Mark G. Ruder
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 57 • No. 1
January 2021
Vol. 57 • No. 1
January 2021
epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus
maternal antibodies
Odocoileus virginianus
orbivirus
white-tailed deer
