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Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 41(2), 2005, pp. 310-316
© Wildlife Disease Association  2005
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SEROLOGIC SURVEY FOR SELECTED VIRUS INFECTIONS IN POLAR BEARS AT SVALBARD

Morten Tryland1,7, Erkki Neuvonen2, Anita Huovilainen2, Hannele Tapiovaara2, Albert Osterhaus3, Øystein Wiig4 and Andrew E. Derocher5,6

1 Department of Food Hygiene and Infection Biology, Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, PO Box 6204, NO-9292 Tromsø, Norway
2 Department of Virology, National Veterinary and Food Research Institute, PO Box 45, Hämeentie FIN-00581 Helsinki, Finland
3 Department of Virology, Erasmus University, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands
4 Zoological Museum, Natural History Museums and Botanical Garden, University of Oslo, PO Box 1172, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway
5 Norwegian Polar Institute, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
6 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9 Canada
7 Corresponding author (email: morten.tryland{at}veths.no)

ABSTRACT:   Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) were chemically immobilized and sampled at Svalbard, Norway, and on the pack ice in the Barents Sea from late March to mid-May between 1990 and 1998. Plasma samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to canine distemper virus (CDV), calicivirus, phocid herpesvirus type 1 (PhHV-1), and rabies virus. A seroprevalence of 8% to CDV and 2% to calicivirus were found, whereas no antibodies were detected against PhHV-1 or rabies virus. This serologic survey indicates that polar bears in this region are exposed to morbillivirus and calicivirus, although the nature of these viruses and infections are unknown. Morbillivirus and calicivirus are potential pathogens in seals, but it is unknown whether they may cause health problems in polar bears.
  Key words:  Arctic rabies, calicivirus, herpesvirus, morbillivirus, serology, Ursus maritimus.






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