How to translate text using browser tools
25 July 2022 PATHOGEN SURVEY AND PREDICTORS OF LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISEASE VIRUS INFECTION IN WILD TURKEYS (MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO)
Stephanie A. Shea, Matthew Gonnerman, Erik Blomberg, Kelsey Sullivan, Peter Milligan, Pauline L. Kamath
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Growing populations of Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) may result in increased disease transmission among wildlife and spillover to poultry. Lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) is an avian retrovirus that is widespread in Wild Turkeys of eastern North America, and infections may influence mortality and parasite co-infections. We aimed to identify individual and spatial risk factors of LPDV in Maine's Wild Turkeys. We also surveyed for co-infections between LPDV and reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Salmonella pullorum to estimate trends in prevalence and examine covariance with LPDV. From 2017 to 2020, we sampled tissues from hunter-harvested (n=72) and live-captured (n=627) Wild Turkeys, in spring and winter, respectively, for molecular detection of LPDV and REV. In a subset of captured individuals (n=235), we estimated seroprevalence of the bacteria M. gallisepticum and S. pullorum using a plate agglutination test. Infection rates for LPDV and REV were 59% and 16% respectively, with a co-infection rate of 10%. Seroprevalence for M. gallisepticum and S. pullorum were 74% and 3.4%, with LPDV co-infection rates of 51% and 2.6%, respectively. Infection with LPDV and seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum and S. pullorum decreased, whereas REV infection increased, between 2018 and 2020. Females (64%), adults (72%), and individuals sampled in spring (76%) had higher risks of LPDV infection than males (47%), juveniles (39%), and individuals sampled in winter (57%). Furthermore, LPDV infection increased with percent forested cover (β=0.014±0.007) and decreased with percent agriculture cover for juveniles (β=–0.061±0.018) sampled in winter. These data enhance our understanding of individual and spatial predictors of LPDV infection in Wild Turkeys and aid in assessing the associated risk to Wild Turkey populations and poultry operations.

© Wildlife Disease Association 2022
Stephanie A. Shea, Matthew Gonnerman, Erik Blomberg, Kelsey Sullivan, Peter Milligan, and Pauline L. Kamath "PATHOGEN SURVEY AND PREDICTORS OF LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISEASE VIRUS INFECTION IN WILD TURKEYS (MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO)," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 58(3), 537-549, (25 July 2022). https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00152
Received: 20 September 2021; Accepted: 8 March 2022; Published: 25 July 2022
KEYWORDS
LPDV
lymphoproliferative disease virus
Meleagris gallopavo
pathogen
poultry
risk factor
Wild Turkey disease
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top