Viruses, Vol. 14, Pages 1106: Evidence of Infection with Zoonotic Mosquito-Borne Flaviviruses in Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in Northern Australia

Viruses, Vol. 14, Pages 1106: Evidence of Infection with Zoonotic Mosquito-Borne Flaviviruses in Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in Northern Australia Viruses doi: 10.3390/v14051106 Authors: Gervais Habarugira Jasmin Moran Jessica J. Harrison Sally R. Isberg Jody Hobson-Peters Roy A. Hall Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann The risk of flavivirus infections among the crocodilian species was not recognised until West Nile virus (WNV) was introduced into the Americas. The first outbreaks caused death and substantial economic losses in the alligator farming industry. Several other WNV disease episodes have been reported in crocodilians in other parts of the world, including Australia and Africa. Considering that WNV shares vectors with other flaviviruses, crocodilians are highly likely to also be exposed to flaviviruses other than WNV. A serological survey for flaviviral infections was conducted on saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) at farms in the Northern Territory, Australia. Five hundred serum samples, collected from three crocodile farms, were screened using a pan-flavivirus-specific blocking ELISA. The screening revealed that 26% (n = 130/500) of the animals had antibodies to flaviviruses. Of these, 31.5% had neutralising antibodies to WNVKUN (Kunjin strain), while 1.5% had neutralising antibodies to another important flavivirus pathogen, Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV). Of the other flaviviruses tested for, Fitzroy River virus (FRV) was th...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research