Veterinary MedicineAnimal SciencesVeterinary EpidemiologyMolecular VirologyVirologyZoonotic Disease EpidemiologyAnimal VirusesLivestock-associated ZoonosesRuminant Infectious DiseasesViral Diseases Of WildlifeViral ZoonosesWildlife Infectious DiseasesAntibodiesBluetongue In SheepEpizootic Hemorrhagic DiseaseLivestock Viral DiseasesViral Pathogenesis In WildlifeVirus Recovery
Between 1978 and 1983 we collected more than 1,500 serum samples from California's native black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), 4 races of mule deer (O. h. sp.), tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes), Roosevelt elk (C. e. roosevelti), pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana), Peninsular bighorn sheep (O. c. cremnobates) and desert bighorn sheep (O. c. nelsoni) and analyzed them for agar gel precipitating (AGP) antibodies to bluetongue (BT) virus (BTV). Various serologic tests for antibodies to a closely-related Orbivirus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus (EHDV) of deer, were conducted on many herds in most years. Parallel attempts at virus isolation yielded 4 BT serotypes: 10, 11, 13 and 17. EHDV was isolated only twice. The herds sampled were representative of those found in various habitats under various management stages in California. Sampling schemes varied as attempts were made to pinpoint temporal, locational, weather, temperature--related and livestock grazing pressure factors influencing rates of infection. Some disease syndromes associated with isolated BTV and BT antibodies are discussed. This work is the 1st attempt to quantitate the level of Orbivirus infection in wildlife in California.