The First 10 Years (2006-15) of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 6 in the USA

Abstract

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is a Culicoides biting midge-transmitted orbivirus (family Reoviridae) of wild and domestic ruminants and is an important pathogen of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Historically, only two serotypes, EHDV-1 and EHDV-2, have been known to be endemic in the US. However, in 2006, an exotic serotype (EHDV-6) was first detected in the US by a long-term passive surveillance system for EHDV and bluetongue viruses. Here we report EHDV-6 detections made through these passive surveillance efforts by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA) and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (US Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, USA) over a 10-yr period (2006-15). The results demonstrated that EHDV-6 was detected from ruminants every year since 2006 and was widespread in the central and eastern US, providing evidence that EHDV-6 is likely now established in the US.

Keywords: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 6; hemorrhagic disease; orbivirus; vector-borne disease; white-tailed deer.