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Infectious Disease Surveillance in the Woylie (Bettongia penicillata)

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Abstract

Wild populations of the critically endangered woylie (Bettongia penicillata) recently declined by 90% in southwest Western Australia. Increased predation is the leading hypothesis for decline, but disease may be playing a role increasing susceptibility to predation. To explore this possibility, we surveyed woylie populations in the wild, in captivity and in a predator-free sanctuary for exposure to, and infection with, four known pathogens of macropods: herpesviruses, Wallal and Warrego orbiviruses, and Toxoplasma gondii. Our study found two of 68 individuals positive for neutralizing antibodies against known macropodid alphaherpesviruses. Three of 45 individuals were PCR positive for a herpesvirus that was shown to be a novel gammaherpesvirus or a new strain/variant of Potoroid Herpesvirus 1. Further sequence information is required to definitively determine its correct classification. There was no evidence of antibodies to orbivirus Wallal and Warrego serogroups, and all serological samples tested for T. gondii were negative. This is the first report of PCR and serological detection of herpesviruses in the woylie. Positive individuals did not demonstrate clinical signs of herpesviral diseases; therefore, the clinical significance of herpesviruses to wild woylie populations remains unclear. Further monitoring for herpesvirus infections will be important to inform disease risk analysis for this virus and determine temporal trends in herpesvirus activity that may relate to population health and conservation outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

The staff of the Perth Zoo Veterinary Department and the Native Species Breeding Program are to be thanked for their assistance in clinical examination, sample collection, and processing of results. Department of Parks and Wildlife Manjimup field staff and volunteers are also acknowledged for their hard work and dedication to woylie conservation. We thank Nino Ficorilli for providing expert and technical advice in regard to laboratory methods. This work was supported by the following grants: Caring for Our Country, National Resource Management; Wildlife Conservation in Action, Perth Zoo; Science Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW), WA, Student Project Stipend; and Wildlife Disease Association, Australasian Section, Student Award. K. Skogvold was supported by The Murdoch University Veterinary Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Conservation Medicine Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    Kim Skogvold, Kristin S. Warren, Bethany Jackson, Carly S. Holyoake & Rebecca J. Vaughan-Higgins

  2. Veterinary Department, Perth Zoo, 20 Labouchere Rd, South Perth, WA, 6151, Australia

    Kim Skogvold, Simone D. Vitali & Rebecca J. Vaughan-Higgins

  3. Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, The Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Kathryn Stalder, Joanne M. Devlin & Alistair Legione

  4. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 2, Manjimup, WA, 6258, Australia

    Adrian F. Wayne

  5. Veterinary Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    Ian Robertson

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  1. Kim Skogvold
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  2. Kristin S. Warren
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  3. Bethany Jackson
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  4. Carly S. Holyoake
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  5. Kathryn Stalder
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  6. Joanne M. Devlin
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  7. Simone D. Vitali
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  8. Adrian F. Wayne
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  10. Ian Robertson
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  11. Rebecca J. Vaughan-Higgins
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Correspondence to Rebecca J. Vaughan-Higgins.

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Skogvold, K., Warren, K.S., Jackson, B. et al. Infectious Disease Surveillance in the Woylie (Bettongia penicillata). EcoHealth 14, 518–529 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-017-1254-9

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