Use of protein AG in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for screening for antibodies against parapoxvirus in wild animals in Japan

Using protein AC in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we tried to detect antibodies against parapoxvirus in 9 species of wild animals in J apan: the Japanese badger (Meles meles anakuma), Japanese black bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus), Japanese deer (Cervus nippon centralis), Japanese m onkey (Macaca fuscata), Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides vive rrinus), Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus), Japanese wild boar (Sus scro fa leucomystax), masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), and nutria (Myocastor coypus). A total of 272 serum samples were collected over the period from 1 984 to 1995 and were tested by the protein AG-ELISA, the agar gel immunodif fusion test, and an indirect Immunofluorescence assay. The protein AG-ELISA was effective in a serological survey for parapoxvirus in wild animals, an d antibodies were detected only in Japanese serows, A total of 24 of 66 (36 .4%) Japanese serows reacted positively, and they were found in almost all prefectures in all years tested. These results suggest that epizootic cycle s of parapoxvirus exist widely in Japanese serows and that they could be re servoirs for the virus in the field in Japan. Moreover, it is probable that they might carry the virus to domestic animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats.