Rosario Volpe

Epizootic spread of Schmallenberg virus among wild cervids, Belgium, Fall 2011.

Schmallenberg virus was detected in cattle and sheep in northwestern Europe in 2011. To determine whether wild ruminants are also susceptible, we measured antibody seroprevalence in cervids (roe deer and red deer) in Belgium in 2010 and 2011. Findings indicated rapid spread among these deer since virus emergence ≈250 km away.

Molecular evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Belgium

BackgroundAnaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-borne pathogen of veterinary and human importance. Both ticks as vectors and vertebrates as reservoir hosts are essential for the cycle maintenance of this bacterium. Currently, the whole range of animal species reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum in natural environment is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of infection with A. phagocytophilum in the wild boar population in southern Belgium.ResultsIn the frame of a targeted surveillance program, 513 wild boars were sampled during the hunting season 2011. A nested 16S rRNA PCR was used to screen the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA in spleen of boars. Within 513 samples, 5 (0,97%) were tested PCR positive and identification was confirmed by sequencing.ConclusionsThis study gives the first insight of presence of A. phagocytophilum in wild boars in southern Belgium.

Re-emergence of canine distemper in wildlife in Belgium

Between 30 and 50 red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) are submitted each year to the University of Liege’s veterinary faculty for postmortem examination. Occasionally, other wild carnivores such as European badgers ( Meles meles ) and raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) are also submitted. A PCR-based screening for canine distemper virus (CDV)1 has been performed systematically. Since 2014, all submitted cases tested negative for CDV. On November 14, 2017, a wild raccoon with severe neurological impairment was euthanased in a revalidation centre, near the Liege veterinary faculty. …