Identification and prevalence of a gammaherpesvirus in free-ranging northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus)

Identification and prevalence of a gammaherpesvirus in free-ranging northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus)

Herpesviruses have been reported in several Australian marsupial species, with an overt, sometimes fatal disease described in macropods. Gammaherpesviruses have been identified in both southern brown and northern brown bandicoots, however phylogenetic characterisation of the herpesvirus infecting northern brown bandicoots has, to date, not been published. This study phylogenetically characterises a gammaherpesvirus of northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) and provides virus prevalence data for bandicoots in South East Queensland, Australia. The presence of herpesvirus DNA was detected using pan-Herpesviridae family primers in a nested PCR format. Samples including whole blood (n = 29), oropharyngeal swabs (n = 34), urine (n = 22) and faeces (n = 23) were analysed. Combining all sample types, herpesvirus DNA was detected at a total prevalence of 51% (18/35). Whole blood and oropharyngeal swabs proved to be the optimal samples for detection of this virus with prevalence of 34% and 38%, respectively. Herpesvirus DNA was detected in one of twenty-two (4.5%) urine samples. No herpesvirus DNA was detected in faecal samples (0/23). Herpesvirus DNA was more likely to be detected in males than females. Animals were trapped at eight different locations and at all but one location, at least one herpesvirus positive animal was detected. The results of this study indicate a high prevalence of the virus within northern brown bandicoot populations in South East Queensland. Further research is required to understand the clinical manifestations, if any, of herpesvirus infection in this species and how this may impact populations, in the face of stressors such as land clearing and habitat fragmentation.

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