Retrospective detection by negative contrast electron microscopy of faecal viral particles in free‐living wild red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) with suspected enteropathy in Great Britain

• DOI: 10.1136/vr.c4111
• Publication Date: 2010-12-23T18:01:27Z
• Authors: D. J. Everest; M. F. Stidworthy; E. M. Milne; A. L. Meredith; J. Chantrey; C. Shuttleworth; T. Blackett; H. Butler; M. Wilkinson; A. W. Sainsbury
• Keywords: Sciurus

Transmission electron microscopy identified adenovirus particles in 10 of 70 (14.3 per cent) samples large intestinal content collected at postmortem examination from free-living wild red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) across Great Britain between 2000 and 2009. Examination was limited to cases which an enteropathy suspected on the basis predetermined macroscopic criteria such as semi-solid or diarrhoeic faeces, enteritis presence intussusception. In most cases, meaningful histological enteric tissue not possible due pronounced autolysis. Two (2.9 were negative for but found contain rotavirus particles, a novel finding this species.