Outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in captive reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus )

• Main Authors: Torii, Emma H., Wünschmann, Arno, Torchetti, Mia Kim, Koster, Leo, van Geelen, Albert, Atchison, Randy, Rivas, Anne
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2023
• Subjects: epizootic hemorrhagic disease; pathology; reindeer; virus; Animal Sciences; Environmental Sciences; Life Sciences; Natural Resources and Conservation; Natural Resources Management and Policy; Other Environmental Sciences; Other Veterinary Medicine; Population Biology; Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology; Veterinary Infectious Diseases; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology; Veterinary Preventive Medicine; Epidemiology; and Public Health; Zoology; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/2709; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/icwdm_usdanwrc/article/3703/viewcontent/Torll_VP_2023_Outbreak_of_epizootic.pdf; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/icwdm_usdanwrc/article/3703/filename/0/type/additional/viewcontent/Torll_VP_2023_Outbreak_of_epizootic_SUPPLEMENT.pdf

In September 2020, an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease occurred in captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and was associated with neurological signs and mortality. Four reindeer died or were euthanized after acute illness over a 12-day period. Affected reindeer displayed abnormal behavior, neurologic signs, lethargy, and/or lameness. The most consistent gross finding was dark red streaks throughout the adrenal gland cortices (4/4). One animal had acute hemorrhage involving the subcutis and skeletal muscles over the ventrolateral body wall and back, and abomasal serosa. Histologically, the most common lesions were adrenal gland cortical hemorrhage (4/4) with necrosis (3/4) and lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis with gliosis, glial nodules, satellitosis, and nonsuppurative perivascular cuffing (4/4). The brain lesions were most frequent in the gray matter of the cerebrum, hippocampus, and thalamus but also involved the cerebellum and brainstem. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 6 was detected through PCR and sequencing of the spleen in all cases.