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11 March 2022 URSID γ-HERPESVIRUS TYPE 1–RELATED VIRUS IN CAPTIVE BORNEAN SUN BEARS (HELARCTOS MALAYANUS EURYSPILUS) IN SABAH, MALAYSIA
Zahidah I. Zeid, Tom Hughes, Mei-Ho Lee, Jimmy Lee, Reza Tarmizi, Fernandes Opook, Alexter Japrin, Mohamed S.M. Azian, Muhammad Y. Wazlan, Nor A. Aziz, Ronald H.M. Tinggu, Emilly Sion, Siew T. Wong, Jum R.A. Sukor, Jonathan H. Epstein, Peter Daszak
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Abstract

The Bornean sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus) is the smallest subspecies of sun bear. Their numbers are declining, and more research is needed to better understand their health and biology. Forty-four bears housed at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sabah, Malaysia, were screened for known and novel viruses in November 2018. Ursid γ-herpesvirus type 1 (UrHV-1) is a herpesvirus that has been detected from swab samples of clinically healthy sun bears and biopsy samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma in sun bears. We detected an UrHV-1–related virus from throat and rectal swabs by molecular viral screening in samples from 15.9% of the sun bears at BSBCC. None of the bears with the UrHV-1–related virus in this study had oral lesions. There is no known report of UrHV-1 detection in the wild sun bear population, and its association with oral squamous cell carcinoma is not fully understood. Finding an UrHV-1–related virus in a rehabilitation center is a concern because conditions in captivity may contribute to spreading this virus, and there is the potential of introducing it into wild populations when a bear is released. This study demonstrates an urgent need to carry out similar surveillance for sun bears in captivity as well as those in the wild, to better understand the impact of captivity on the prevalence and spread of UrHV-1–related viruses. Positive bears also should be monitored for oral lesions to better understand whether there is a causal relationship.

Copyright 2022 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Zahidah I. Zeid, Tom Hughes, Mei-Ho Lee, Jimmy Lee, Reza Tarmizi, Fernandes Opook, Alexter Japrin, Mohamed S.M. Azian, Muhammad Y. Wazlan, Nor A. Aziz, Ronald H.M. Tinggu, Emilly Sion, Siew T. Wong, Jum R.A. Sukor, Jonathan H. Epstein, and Peter Daszak "URSID γ-HERPESVIRUS TYPE 1–RELATED VIRUS IN CAPTIVE BORNEAN SUN BEARS (HELARCTOS MALAYANUS EURYSPILUS) IN SABAH, MALAYSIA," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 53(1), 92-99, (11 March 2022). https://doi.org/10.1638/2021-0019
Accepted: 21 November 2021; Published: 11 March 2022
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