Detection of herpesviruses in pudus from Chile. Detection of herpesviruses in pudus (Pudu puda)

The objective of our study was to determine the occurrence and the genetic diversity of herpesvirus in captive and free-ranging pudus from Chile. Herpesvirus infection was assessed in blood samples from 76 pudus from central and southern Chile using a pan-herpesviral PCR assay. Herpesvirus was confirmed in five pudus (6.6%; 95% CI: 1.0-12.1%), including three involved in a non-diagnosed CaHV-2 MCF outbreak. Besides, a novel sequence of the polymerase gene was obtained in a wild pudu, tentatively classified as pudu Gammaherpesvirus 1, with less than 89% of identity to other herpesviruses.