Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK

DJ Everest; C Green; A Dastjerdi,; H Davies; R Cripps; C McKinney; G Podgornik; M Stinson; S O'Hare; S Bonnie; A Mill; Z Van der wall; N Robinson; S Trotter; Craig Shuttleworth

Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK

DJ Everest, C Green, A Dastjerdi,, H Davies, R Cripps, C McKinney, G Podgornik, M Stinson, S O'Hare, S Bonnie, A Mill, Z Van der wall, N Robinson, S Trotter, Craig Shuttleworth

School of Environmental & Natural Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background
Red Squirrels United was a UK landscape-scale grey squirrel management programme undertaken between 2016 and 2020.

Methods
A total of 11034 grey squirrels were removed by culling, with 1506 necropsied and 1405 suitable for adenovirus (AdV) or squirrelpox virus (SQPV) quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Spleen, lip or hair were extracted, and DNA was isolated, with samples tested in duplicate by qPCR.

Results
Of 1378 tissue samples, 43% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Of 1031 hair samples, 11% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Overall, 762 of 1405 (54%) animals were positive for one or both viruses.

Limitations
Ad hoc sampling was undertaken from limited geographical areas but provided the only dataset from that period, instead of extrapolating from historical data.

Conclusions
The grey squirrel is an asymptomatic reservoir host for AdV and SQPV. Interspecific infection transmission potential is demonstrated. Grey squirrel management by culling is essential for mainland red squirrel viability until other suitable management tools are available.

Original language	English
Article number	e2834
Journal	Veterinary Record
Volume	192
Issue number	10
Early online date	6 Apr 2023
Publication status	Published - 20 May 2023

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https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.2834

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Everest, DJ., Green, C., Dastjerdi, A., Davies, H., Cripps, R., McKinney, C., Podgornik, G., Stinson, M., O'Hare, S., Bonnie, S., Mill, A., Van der wall, Z., Robinson, N., Trotter, S., & Shuttleworth, C. (2023). Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK. Veterinary Record, 192(10), Article e2834. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.2834

@article{4632d1b6dffa49049eefc6e0350b46d5,

title = "Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK",

abstract = "BackgroundRed Squirrels United was a UK landscape-scale grey squirrel management programme undertaken between 2016 and 2020.MethodsA total of 11034 grey squirrels were removed by culling, with 1506 necropsied and 1405 suitable for adenovirus (AdV) or squirrelpox virus (SQPV) quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Spleen, lip or hair were extracted, and DNA was isolated, with samples tested in duplicate by qPCR.ResultsOf 1378 tissue samples, 43\% were positive for AdV and 10\% for SQPV. Of 1031 hair samples, 11\% were positive for AdV and 10\% for SQPV. Overall, 762 of 1405 (54\%) animals were positive for one or both viruses.LimitationsAd hoc sampling was undertaken from limited geographical areas but provided the only dataset from that period, instead of extrapolating from historical data.ConclusionsThe grey squirrel is an asymptomatic reservoir host for AdV and SQPV. Interspecific infection transmission potential is demonstrated. Grey squirrel management by culling is essential for mainland red squirrel viability until other suitable management tools are available.",

author = "DJ Everest and C Green and A Dastjerdi, and H Davies and R Cripps and C McKinney and G Podgornik and M Stinson and S O'Hare and S Bonnie and A Mill and \{Van der wall\}, Z and N Robinson and S Trotter and Craig Shuttleworth",

year = "2023",

month = may,

day = "20",

language = "English",

volume = "192",

journal = "Veterinary Record",

issn = "0042-4900",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

number = "10",

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Everest, DJ, Green, C, Dastjerdi, A, Davies, H, Cripps, R, McKinney, C, Podgornik, G, Stinson, M, O'Hare, S, Bonnie, S, Mill, A, Van der wall, Z, Robinson, N, Trotter, S & Shuttleworth, C 2023, 'Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK', Veterinary Record, vol. 192, no. 10, e2834. < https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.2834>

TY - JOUR

T1 - Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK

AU - Everest, DJ

AU - Green, C

AU - Dastjerdi,, A

AU - Davies, H

AU - Cripps, R

AU - McKinney, C

AU - Podgornik, G

AU - Stinson, M

AU - O'Hare, S

AU - Bonnie, S

AU - Mill, A

AU - Van der wall, Z

AU - Robinson, N

AU - Trotter, S

AU - Shuttleworth, Craig

PY - 2023/5/20

Y1 - 2023/5/20

N2 - BackgroundRed Squirrels United was a UK landscape-scale grey squirrel management programme undertaken between 2016 and 2020.MethodsA total of 11034 grey squirrels were removed by culling, with 1506 necropsied and 1405 suitable for adenovirus (AdV) or squirrelpox virus (SQPV) quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Spleen, lip or hair were extracted, and DNA was isolated, with samples tested in duplicate by qPCR.ResultsOf 1378 tissue samples, 43% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Of 1031 hair samples, 11% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Overall, 762 of 1405 (54%) animals were positive for one or both viruses.LimitationsAd hoc sampling was undertaken from limited geographical areas but provided the only dataset from that period, instead of extrapolating from historical data.ConclusionsThe grey squirrel is an asymptomatic reservoir host for AdV and SQPV. Interspecific infection transmission potential is demonstrated. Grey squirrel management by culling is essential for mainland red squirrel viability until other suitable management tools are available.

AB - BackgroundRed Squirrels United was a UK landscape-scale grey squirrel management programme undertaken between 2016 and 2020.MethodsA total of 11034 grey squirrels were removed by culling, with 1506 necropsied and 1405 suitable for adenovirus (AdV) or squirrelpox virus (SQPV) quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Spleen, lip or hair were extracted, and DNA was isolated, with samples tested in duplicate by qPCR.ResultsOf 1378 tissue samples, 43% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Of 1031 hair samples, 11% were positive for AdV and 10% for SQPV. Overall, 762 of 1405 (54%) animals were positive for one or both viruses.LimitationsAd hoc sampling was undertaken from limited geographical areas but provided the only dataset from that period, instead of extrapolating from historical data.ConclusionsThe grey squirrel is an asymptomatic reservoir host for AdV and SQPV. Interspecific infection transmission potential is demonstrated. Grey squirrel management by culling is essential for mainland red squirrel viability until other suitable management tools are available.

M3 - Article

SN - 0042-4900

VL - 192

JO - Veterinary Record

JF - Veterinary Record

IS - 10

M1 - e2834

ER -

Opportunistic viral surveillance confirms the ongoing disease threat grey squirrels pose to sympatric red squirrel populations in the UK

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