VESICULAR STOMATITIS 



SURVEY FOR VESICULAR STOMATITIS^INFECTION IN GEORGIA WILD MAMMALS^ enney, E., Hayes, F. 

 and Broivn, C. (Project Report) 



Summary 



Four hundred and nineteen serums from small feral mammals collected in Georgia during 1964 and 1965 were 

 tested for New Jersey type VS virus neutralizing antibodies. Antibodies were found in 4 of 105 raccoons, 2 of 115 

 opossums, and 1 of 9 gray squirrels. Serums from 15 red foxes, 90 gray foxes, 23 skunks, 10 bobcats, 3 coyotes and 

 49 miscellaneous animals were negative for antibodies. 



Introduction 



There have been several reports describing the distribution of vesicular stomatitis (VS) antibodies in mammals 

 of the southeastern United States (4, 5) 1 and Panama (12, 13). This report contains additional information regarding 

 New Jersey type VS antibodies detected in wild mammals during a Georgia survey. Indiana type VS is not included 

 in the survey since it has not occurred in domestic animals in the southeastern United States (3, 6, 7, 9). 



During 1963 there was an extensive outbreak of New Jersey VS involving livestock of 23 counties in west 

 central Georgia (6). Cases were also diagnosed in five counties scattered throughout the remainder of the State. The 

 incidence declined in 1964 with VS confirmed in only five counties. Clinical VS has not been reported in Georgia 

 since 1964. In 1970, however, subclinical VS was confirmed in domestic and wild mammals found on one of its 

 coastal islands (10). 



Materials and Methods 



Serums were collected during 1964 and 1965 by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study and 

 made available for VS serology. Animals were caught in live traps, anesthetized and blood samples were collected 

 from the heart using 10 ml. syringes with 20 guage needles. Neutralization tests were performed on 419 wildlife 

 serums in 8-day embryonated chicken eggs using a method previously described in Geleta and Holbrook (2). Tests 

 were run for New Jersey type VS. 



Results 



Serums from 4 of 105 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 2 of 115 opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) and 1 of 9 gray 

 squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) had New Jersey type VS antibodies. The serums of other animals were negative; these 

 include the predatory species, 15 red foxes (Vulpes fulva), 90 gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), 23 skunks 

 (Mephitis mephitis), 10 bobcats (Lynx rufus), 6 housecats (Felis catus) and 3 coyotes (Canis latrans). Serums of 29 

 cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and 9 rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) were also negative. An accompanying map 

 shows the distribution within the State. 



The animals tested in each county are shown in table 1. 



Numbers in parentheses refer to References at the end of this report. 



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