HERPESVIRUS INFECTIONS IN WILD MAMMALS
CARLOS G. DAS NEVES
Norwegian School ofVeterinary Science, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Tromso, Norway
It is believed that most animal species can harbour at least one, if not more, endemic herpesviruses.
With more than 5000 mammalian species and only around 200 herpesviruses identified so far, one can easily speculate on the many more yet to be found and added to the order Herpesvirales, already the biggest order of viruses in existence.Phylogenetic studies show co-speciation between herpesviruses and their hosts, with divergences in viral taxonomy mimicking those of animal species. Whereas herpesviruses of mammals and birds have shared a common ancestor, divergence seems to have happened over 220 million years ago, with speciations within sublineages in the last 80 million years as mammalian radiation took place(1’2).
Although many herpesviruses are well adapted to their natural host, there are several that can cross the species barrier and infect other animals. This is the case for many herpesviruses that can circulate between wild animals and domestic animals (e.g. Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 and 2). Some others can have zoonotic potential, such as herpesviruses from primates that infect and cause severe disease in humans (e.g. Macacine herpesvirus 2). Humanspecific herpesviruses also have the potential to infect wild animals.
Table 1.1 summarizes some of the most important herpesviruses relevant to European wildlife.