A serological survey of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in European bison in Poland in 2017-2018

Abstract

The European bison (Bison bonasus) is an endangered species whose restitution requires systematic health monitoring. The most practical way to test clinical material from large wildlife is by serological methods. Recently, the most serious health hazard faced by the European bison population was tuberculosis. However, climate change and globalization have resulted in the arrival of more exotic diseases, one of which is epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), caused by the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). EHD is an arthropod-transmitted viral disease noted mainly in ungulates, especially ruminants. Clinical signs vary depending on the virus serotype and host. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EHD in European bison by serological testing for antibodies to EHDV. Serum samples were collected from 90 European bison living in different regions of Poland and tested with PrioCHECK™ EHDV Ab Serum Kit (Thermofisher, US). One of the bison (from the Knyszyńska Forest) had a positive result. It cannot be excluded, however, that the result was a false positive. There is a need for further EHDV serology monitoring in European bison and other wildlife, particularly in the Knyszyńska Forest.