A serological survey of cattle in the Thames-Coromandel district of New Zealand for antibodies to Ross River virus

Abstract

AIM: To determine if cattle exposed to the southern saltmarsh mosquito (SSM), Aedes camptorhynchus, in the Thames-Coromandel district of New Zealand had been exposed to Ross River virus (RRV).

METHODS: A purposive sampling design was used to test cattle from seven farms located in close proximity to four sites infested with A. camptorhynchus in the Thames-Coromandel district. Sera from 207 cattle were tested for antibodies to RRV, using an ELISA and confi rmatory virus neutralisation test (VNT) as the gold standard.

RESULTS: All 207 cattle tested negative for antibodies to RRV using the ELISA and VNT.

CONCLUSIONS: This study found no evidence of exposure to RRV in cattle in locations in the Thames-Coromandel district of New Zealand where populations of SSM were present.

KEY WORDS:

• Aedes camptorhynchus
• Southern saltmarsh mosquito
• Ross river virus
• New Zealand
• surveillance
• cattle hosts
• sentinels

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the seven farmers in the Thames-Coromandel district who supported the project by providing livestock for sampling, and together with Kent Stove (AsureQuality Ltd, New Zealand) assisted during sample collection; Matthew Stone, who provided comments on the manuscript; and Mark Disbury and Rachael Cane from New Zealand BioSecure, who provided details of the SSM surveillance programme.

Notes

¹ R Cane, New Zealand BioSecure Entomology Laboratory, Lower Hutt, New Zealand