WIDESPREAD OCCURRENCE IN AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS OF NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES TO A HERPESVIRUS FROM A PARMA WALLABY

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Abstract
Serum neutralizing antibodies to a parma wallaby herpesvirus (PWHV) have been detected in a wide range of marsupials from different locations across Australia including several islands. A study of 242 animals (mostly macropods) sampled in the wild showed that 23% had antibodies: a significantly higer frequency (41%) of 116 animals in captivity had antibodies. Which were generally at higher levels than those of animals in the wild. Antibodies to PWHV were also detected among parma wallabies from a colony on Kawau Island, New Zealand. The highest antibody levels were found in a group of captive tammar wallabies during recurrent outbreaks of clinical infection. It is suggested that PWHV has evolved along with a marsupial host, and that the high antibody levels among captive animals reflects ease of virus transmission due to crowding or to conditions of stress leading to expression of latent virus.

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