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As part of an investigation of reproductive losses in an American bison herd, faculty and staff at ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ's ADRDL characterized for the first time persistent infection with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), as well as a novel bosavirus in bison.

Following reproductive problems in a bison herd during the 2018-19 calving season, investigators collected samples from the breeding herd as well as 4 animals with failure to thrive. Serology, virus isolation, metagenomic sequencing and pathology was performed.

All 26 animals examined serologically had titers to BVDV Type 1 (range 1:512 to 1:8192, with 17 with titers greater than 1:1000) and BVDV Type 2 (range 1:64 to 1:8192, with 7 greater than 1:1000), despite the lack of recent BVDV vaccination. Metagenomic sequencing on pooled nasal swabs and serum identified co-infection of BVDV and bovine bosavirus. The BVDV genome was most similar to the BVDV type 1a vaccine strain Oregon C24V with 92.7% identity in the coding region. Bosavirus was also identified but its clinical significance is unknown.

Pathology examination did not reveal any gross lesions. On histopathology, two BVDV positive animals had lymphoid depletion in the ileocecal valve lymphoid region. A female PI bison had a decrease in primary follicles in the ovary, and a male PI bison showed evidence of decreased spermatogenesis in the testes.

Serum from these same animals collected two months later remained positive for BVDV and bosavirus, with one animal co-infected with both BVDV and bosavirus. These results suggest that both viruses can persistently infect bison. While the etiological significance of bosavirus infection is unknown, the ability of BVDV to persistently infect bison has implications for BVDV control and eradication programs.

Investigators from ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ on the project included Drs. Angela Pillatzki, Ben Hause and Chris Chase. They can be contacted at 605-688-5171 for more information.

Rabies testing – changes to billing procedures.
Please note the following changes to the billing for animal rabies testing specimens sent to the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL). 

Human Exposure to Wildlife
Effective Sept. 1, 2023, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks will only pay testing fees for wildlife animal species that have posed a risk of human exposure to rabies. This includes live wildlife species that have bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed a person or persons. In the past, Game, Fish and Parks had paid testing fees for all wildlife species, regardless of human exposure risk. 

Human Exposure to Domestic Animals
The South Dakota Department of Health will continue to pay testing fees for domestic animal species that have posed a risk of human exposure to rabies. 

Animal-only or No Exposure
Specimens for rabies testing animals that have exposed other animals, or have not exposed either people or animals, will be billed to the submitting clinic, regardless of whether the specimen comes from a wildlife or domestic animal species. 

Prior to testing, veterinarians and submitters need to fill out the ADRDL rabies submission form completely and with appropriate detail about human exposures. Information from this form is used to contact people with possible exposures and ensure they get prompt, appropriate treatment should the specimen test positive for rabies. Supplying sufficient detail on the submission form also ensures that testing fees are appropriately charged. 

Please call the ADRDL at 605-688-5171 with questions. 

South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory 
South Dakota Game Fish and Parks 
South Dakota Department of Health 
South Dakota Animal Industry Board