Sero-epidemiology of six viruses natural infection in Tupaia belangeri chinensis

Tupaia (Tupaia belangeris chinensis, tree shrew) as a new experiment animal in medicine are non-rodent, small animals and close to primates in evolution. Experimental animals infected with viruses will affect the animal’s health, interference experiment, and even endanger the operator’s safety. Therefore, the viral infection in experimental animals has long been considered an important part of quality control. Lack of clearer viral natural infection information on the T. belangeris limits its use. Six viruses infection in 272 wild capture and artificial breeding Tupaia were investigated in this study. All serum samples were detected for the hepatitis B virus surface antigen, the total antibodies of HCV, hepatitis E virus (HEV), adenovirus (ADV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) by ELISA. The results showed that anti-HCV antibody and anti-HEV, ADV, HSV-1 IgG antibodies were negative, only one sample was positive of anti-HSV-2 IgG.. Three samples were positive in the primary ELISA detection of HBV surface antigen, but two pairs of semi-quantitative detection of hepatitis B and further recognized as negative. The results implied that antigen or antibody-positive results appeared in the hepatitis serological test is not accurate enough and confirmation by other virological indicators is necessary. Tupaia breeding herd should be screened for HSV-2 in order to prevent and control the virus infection.