AN UPDATE OF ADENOVIRAL HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE IN MULE DEER IN CALIFORNIA

Authors: SWIFT, PAMELA - CA DEPT FISH & GAME; WOODS, LESLIE - UNIV. OF CA, DAVIS, CA; Lehmkuhl, Howard; JONES, KAREN - CA DEPT FISH & GAME

Submitted to: Wildlife Disease Association Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2002
Publication Date: 7/20/2002
Citation: SWIFT, P.K., WOODS, L.W., LEHMKUHL, H.D., JONES, K.R. AN UPDATE OF ADENOVIRAL HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE IN MULE DEER IN CALIFORNIA. WILDLIFE DISEASE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING. 2002. Abstract p. 144, #115.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the summer and fall of 1993, a newly recognized disease, adenoviral hemorrhagic disease, caused widespread mortality in black-tailed (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and California mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus californicus) in northern California. Greater than a thousand deer were estimated to have died as a result of this epizootic in 17 counties, extending from the Oregon border to Yosemite National Park. Fawns appeared to be more susceptible to adenoviral infection, but all ages of deer suffered from this infection. Clinical disease, when observed, was reported to follow a rapid course. The most prominent gross lesions noted were consistently found in the lung and alimentary tract (pulmonary edema and congestion and hemorrhage in the jejunum). In some deer, mucosal erosions and/or ulcerations were seen in the oral cavity and esophagus. Since 1993, only sporadic small epizootics have been documented. The adenovirus associated with the clinical disease was isolated and characterized, and clinical disease has been reproduced experimentally. A Serum-virus neutralization test was developed using newborn deer lung cells. Adenovirus antibody titers were determined on deer sera collected from 1980 to1999 in areas experiencing recurrent disease outbreaks and in areas with no history of disease outbreaks. The results of this serologic survey will be discussed.