Epizootic-Haemorrhagic Deer Disease Virus

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease of deer is a natural focal zooanthroponotic viral disease characterized by fever, hemorrhagic syndrome and multiple organ damage in animals with signs of a general infectious process and a different course. Deer epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHEV) was first discovered in deer in Japan in 1973 and named arboviral hemorrhagic disease. Later, this virus was discovered in certain animal species (cattle, small livestock) in many countries around the world. Many European countries have reported infections in domestic pigs and wild animals including foxes, wolves, bears, martens or others.

EHEV is an enisootic hemorrhagic disease that is present in all parts of the world, causing severe epidemics in large populations of deer and many other artiodactyl species. In recent years, there has been a more noticeable increase in disease incidence among captive deer as deer raised in common areas are exposed to viral diseases and introduced to their captive base often from the same viral origin. The differences between these two epidemics are minimal, making EHEV a single disease.