Allendorf, Valerie*

Beer, Martin

Conraths, Franz Josef

Hoffmann, Donata

Homeier-Bachmann, Timo

Rubbenstroth, Dennis

Schlottau, Kore

English

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Poster Presentations Epidemiology and Ecology of Zoonotic Infections   177 E04  Cross-sectional study on the presence of the zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) in captive Sciurids in Germany  Valerie Allendorf1, Dennis Rubbenstroth², Kore Schlottau², Donata Hoffmann², Franz J. Conraths1, Martin Beer², Timo Homeier-Bachmann1  1Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems ²Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Greifswald-Insel Riems   Keywords: zoonoses, Orthobornavirus, squirrels, VSBV-1, Sciuridae  The zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) has so far been found in five species of two subfamilies of Sciuridae. Affected animals were born in captivity and belonged to private and zoological holdings in Europe, primarily in Germany. Sciurids are suspected to serve as reservoir hosts. In humans as accidental hosts, VSBV-1 can lead to severe, often fatal meningoencephalitis. Four cases with lethal outcome, one seropositive survivor and two possible lethal cases have been reported so far. Objective of this cross-sectional study is estimating the VSBV-1 prevalence in captive Sciurids in Germany. A registry on Sciurid holdings was established to define the total population as the basis for sampling. Due to scarce knowledge on the species-specific susceptibility, the family of Sciuridae was investigated according to the abundance of species in captivity. Diagnostics were performed on buccal swabs and fecal samples by RT-qPCR. Between 2014 and 2016, 25 VSBV-1-positive squirrels in nine different holdings were identified in Germany. Despite continuous sampling, no additional cases were detected thereafter. Euthanasia of VSBV-1-positive animals and follow up monitoring of affected holdings likely contributed to the reduction of the incidence. As no comprehensive sampling of Sciurid husbandries has been conducted, single positive animals may have remained undetected. Furthermore, false negative results due to a possible intermittent excretion of viral RNA cannot be excluded.   

Cross-sectional study on the presence of the zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) in captive Sciurids in Germany

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Cross-sectional study on the presence of the zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) in captive Sciurids in Germany

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