RESEARCH ARTICLE Avian viral surveillance in Victoria, Australia, and detection of two novel avian herpesviruses Jemima Amery-Gale1,2*, Carol A. Hartley1, Paola K. Vaz1, Marc S. Marenda3, Jane Owens1, Paul A. Eden2, Joanne M. Devlin1 1 Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, 2 Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary, Zoos Victoria, Badger Creek, Victoria, Australia, 3 Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal a1111111111 Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of a1111111111 Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia a1111111111 a1111111111 *
[email protected] a1111111111 Abstract Viruses in avian hosts can pose threats to avian health and some have zoonotic potential. OPEN ACCESS Hospitals that provide veterinary care for avian patients may serve as a site of exposure Citation: Amery-Gale J, Hartley CA, Vaz PK, of other birds and human staff in the facility to these viruses. They can also provide a use- Marenda MS, Owens J, Eden PA, et al. (2018) ful location to collect samples from avian patients in order to examine the viruses present Avian viral surveillance in Victoria, Australia, and detection of two novel avian herpesviruses. PLoS in wild birds. This study aimed to investigate viruses of biosecurity and/or zoonotic signifi- ONE 13(3): e0194457. https://doi.org/10.1371/ cance in Australian birds by screening samples collected from 409 birds presented to the journal.pone.0194457 Australian Wildlife Health Centre at Zoos Victoria's Healesville Sanctuary for veterinary Editor: Jonas WaldenstroÈm, Linnaeus University, care between December 2014 and December 2015.