PARAMYXOVIRAL AND REOVIRAL INFECTIONS OF IGUANAS ON HONDURAN ISLANDS

Thirty-five free-ranging healthy spiny-tailed iguanas (31 Ctenosaura b akeri, 4 C. similis) and 14 green iguanas (Iguana iguana rhinolopha) w ere caught and held in captivity for 2 days. Blood was collected from all animals and their sera were evaluated for antibody titres against reptilian reoviruses, reptilian paramyxoviruses, and avian paramyxovir us-1 (PMV-1). Cloacal and pharyngeal swabs also were collected and exa mined for viral content by incubation on chicken embryo fibroblasts (C EF) and terrapene heart cells (TH-1). No virus was isolated from the p haryngeal and cloacal swabs on CEF and TH-1. Twenty-three (47%) of 49 sera samples tested positive for reptilian reoviruses by virus neutral ization tests. Twenty (41%) of 49 samples had antibodies against one r eptilian PMV isolate by virus neutralization tests and 3 (9%) of 34 by hemagglutination inhibition tests. No antibodies were detected agains t the other PMV isolate of reptilian origin nor against avian PMV-1. T his is the first description of serum antibodies against reptilian reo viruses and PMV in wild iguanas.