About this Research Topic
The recognized species of the pestivirus genus (bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 and 2, classical swine fever virus and border disease virus) and well as putative species (hobi-like viruses, giraffe virus and pronghorn virus) will infect wildlife species. Further, these infections can have significant impacts on naïve wildlife populations as demonstrated by the devastation of chamois herds reintroduced into the alps associated with border disease virus (BDV) infections. It is suspected that bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections may be having a similar effect on reintroduced bighorn sheep herds in the Rockies. Further, persistent BVDV infections have required the removal of exotic deer species from zoos. Pestivirus infection in wildlife populations may act as viral reservoirs resulting in the infection of domestic species as illustrated by classical swine fever virus infection in wild boars in Europe. While pestiviruses have been isolated from giraffe in Africa, little is know about their impact. Elucidating the impact of pestivirus infections and including pestivirus control into wildlife management strategies will be important in maintaining wild ruminant populations and those in zoos and zoological parks.
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