SEROLOGIC SURVEY FOR SELECTED VIRAL AND RICKETTSIAL AGENTS OF BROWN BEARS (URSUS-ARCTOS) IN CROATIA

Sera from 22 (13 wild and nine captive) European brown bears (Ursus ar ctos) from Croatia were tested to 18 viral and rickettsial agents. Ser ologic evidence of exposure was found to the following agents (number positive/number examined): Bhanja virus (3/15), Tahyna virus (3/15), W est Nile virus (4/15), Naples sandfly fever virus (1/15), human adenov irus (1/22), influenza A (1/22) and B (1/22) virus, cytomegalovirus (1 /22), parainfluenza virus 1 (2/22), Chlamydia psittaci (1/22), Coxiell a burnetii (2/22), and canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) (7/22). Evidence of exposure to arboviruses was found exclusively among free-living bears . Evidence of exposure to agents usually transmitted directly was pred ominant among captive bears. Canine parvovirus 2 antibodies were the m ost frequently found antibodies and the only antibody common to both g roups of bears. This may be the first report of antibodies to CPV-2 in bears.