Ljungan Virus and Foxes

 

 Ljungan Virus is quite "a thing" at the moment with a lot of research being carried out -not for wildlife health but human -that attracts the money.

With our necropsy study we found that babesia and leptospirosis were heavy hitters amongst foxes so it  only makes sense that as foxes main prey are rodents such as rats, voles, etc I at least mention the topic (it has been noted in Red Foxes but sadly the UK is far from open when it comes to research papers -unlike the US or Europe.

From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ljungan_virus

Ljungan virus was first discovered in the mid-1990s after being isolated from a bank vole near the Ljungan river in Medelpad county, Sweden.^[2] It has since been established that Ljungan virus, which is also found in several places in Europe and America, causes serious illness in wild as well as laboratory animals.^[3][4][5][6] Several scientific articles have recently reported findings indicating that Ljungan virus is associated with malformations, intrauterine fetal death, and sudden infant death syndrome in humans.^{[7][8][9][10]} In addition, studies are being conducted worldwide to investigate the possible connection of the virus to diabetes, neurological and other illnesses in humans.^[11][12]

Ljungan virus belongs to the genus Parechovirus of the family Picornaviridae. Other members of this viral family include poliovirus, Hepatitis A virus, and the viruses that cause the common cold (rhinovirus).^[13] One of the earliest scientific discoveries regarding Ljungan virus was that infected wild rodents developed diabetes if they were exposed to stress.^[14] This has led to speculation that this disease may be the underlying cause of fluctuating rodent populations in Scandinavia; when rodents increase to high densities, they find it difficult to defend territory and obtain food, and then become more susceptible to predation. This stressful situation results in disease, death and population decline, leading to a pattern of cyclic variation in population size over time.^[4]

There was a 2014 paper (see abstract below)

Ljungan virus is endemic in rodents in the UK

Anne-Marie Salisbury 1, Michael Begon, Winifred Dove, Bo Niklasson, James P Stewart

. 2014 Mar;159(3):547-51.

 doi: 10.1007/s00705-013-1731-6. Epub 2013 May 12.

abstract

"Ljungan virus is a recently identified member of the family Picornaviridae that was isolated from bank voles in Sweden. LjV has been associated with [corrected] type 1 diabetes-like symptoms and myocarditis in bank voles (Myodes glareolus), and it has been suggested that it has zoonotic potential. 

"Here, we show for the first time that Ljungan virus is prevalent (20-27 % positive by PCR) in four species of UK rodent (Myodes glareolus [bank vole], Apodemus sylvaticus [wood mouse], Microtus agrestis [field vole] and Mus musculus [house mouse]). 

"Sequence analysis showed that Ljungan virus of genotypes 1 and 2 were present, although genotype 1 was more prevalent and more frequently associated with brain tissue.

"This study highlights the prevalence of Ljungan virus in the UK and the need for assessment [corrected] of its zoonotic potential."

Leptospirosis and Foxes

  Abstract from Acute lethal leptospirosis in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Journal of Comparative Pathology Volume 201, February 2023, Pages 77-80

Author links open overlay panel, , Nenad Turk b, , 

Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic spirochaetes belonging to the genus Leptospira, is a globally distributed zoonosis that can affect many species of domestic and wild animals, and humans. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a native species in Croatia and, due to constant food availability and lack of interspecies competition, is becoming more abundant in urban and suburban areas. 

Although antibodies for Leptospira spp have been detected in red foxes, lethal disease has not been reported. We necropsied a young, male red fox that had jaundice, multifocal haemorrhages in the heart, lungs and urinary bladder, hepatomegaly, non congestive splenomegaly and slight yellow discolouration of the renal cortex and medulla. Histology revealed multifocal haemorrhages in parenchymal organs, thrombi within lung septal capillaries and other blood vessels, interstitial lymphocytic and plasmacytic nephritis and erosions of the gastric mucosa. 

A microscopic agglutination test on the post-mortem cardiac blood clot revealed a high titre to Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae, which implies contact with rats, which are natural reservoirs of this serovar in Croatia. 

The gross and histological findings in this fox were similar to those in dogs with leptospirosis, indicating that fatal leptospirosis can occur in foxes and suggesting that this species can act as a source of infection for other animals and humans.

Badger Stats for 2022 -2026 up To 12 04

 

https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/bristol-fox-and-badger-death-registers-2022-2025/paperback/product-7k6kdre.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Badger deaths up to this date in 

2022 10 

2023 13 

2024 13 

2025 31 

2026 40

as reporting gotten 'better' the number has increased. Statistically that would mean this year up to today, deaths would be around 100+ 

All stats are published online at the blog and hard copies can be purchased to help fund the work although neither the fox or badger death registers or published stats have attracted any comment or attention. 

This is the last year I do this.

Not Good Reading

 Total KNOWN dead foxes and badgers up to 10 04 2026

Foxes 93

Badgers 30

Badger Groups...Who Ignore Other Badger Groups

 

I have had two angry messages from people in an area of Bristol asking WHAT I did to the badgers. I know the area but explained that I, personally, had done nothing to any badgers.

It took a while but it turns out that, once again, Somerset Badger Group came to Bristol and trapped and then treated a badger but decided that the local badger group had no business knowing. Not even a message to let me know of a badger needing treatment when they KNOW we have a level 3 trained wildlife rescuer (whom they have contacted before) as well as wildlife friendly vets.

Apparently, since that trapping `the badgers have been acting out of character" and avoiding the trapping area.

This is the third time in a year I have been told Somerset Badger Group has come to Bristol the last two occasions we have no idea what happened to the badgers.

I have forwarded info on dead badgers in Somerset reported to me several times as well as other info. They have refused to cooperate or send details of dead badgers in Bristol reported to them.

So from now on no more friendly sending of info and badger issues in North Somerset we will deal with,

Cooperation works two ways.

Bristol City Council's Environment and Sustainability Committee (note: it does NOT exist)

 Bristol City Council's alleged the Environment and Sustainability Committee is a joke. With the Green Party in charge you might expect some action from it, however, as I have repeatedly posted during Labour and Green run councils, they do not care.

Money is what is most important to them. We have a Green council that refuses to even respond to emails, phone calls etc about wildlife issues or environmental questions.

I have reported (sorry I know it's all very predictable and people are probably sick and tired of me) that good healthy trees are being cut down for profit and very weak statements my Ed Plowden usually follow the "sadly unavoidable" line (ad nauseum). Hedgerows are being hacked up art the same time: nesting season for birds.

Speeding on even quiet city roads are taking their toll on our wildlife and I am not the only one who has suggested ways of stopping this. Labour city council actually dug up speed bumps in the City that were preventing accidents and wildlife deaths. As soon as it gets dark Ashton Drive becomes a speeders paradise despite the drive being a windy one. Two foxes killed at the quiet top end this year.

Ask and ask again and again and again but the money from developers speaks more than citizens who voted councillors in. To be the head of a council committee but then refuse to respond to questions because "You are not in my ward" is the casual cop out.

The harm done by the previous Labour council is nothing compared to what the Green run council is doing with its attempts to sell off green spaces, historical badger land and much more.

Remember that when it comes around to council elections.

Bristol Council and Digging near Badger Setts

 

 Regarding the previous post I received this from Natural England this morning:

"Good morning Terry, thank you for your email.

 

"I have checked our licence database and cannot find any licences associated with (deleted -TH) Cemetery.

 

"The safeguarding of any protected species is the landowner’s responsibility, and if they commence any activity which may potentially endanger the protected species habitat (e.g. site clearance, demolition), or harm or kill a protected species, a wildlife crime may be committed. In this instance the police are the enforcement body for wildlife crime, as opposed to Natural England. We, unfortunately, have limited enforcement powers with regards to wildlife, until such time as a licence is breached (further information concerning our Enforcement position can be found here - Enforcement laws: advice on protecting the natural environment in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).

 

"If you have reasonable grounds to suspect any works led to the damage or destruction of any protected species habitat, or the harming or killing of a protected species, you can contact your local police force (either online or by dialling 101), to report this matter to them for further investigation as a potential wildlife crime. To assist them with investigating your concerns, please provide them with as much information as possible regarding the nature of the works, dates and times, the protected species you believe to be present within the site, and any evidence you can produce to this effect. Tell the Force Operator that you wish to report a wildlife crime and ask for a Wildlife Crime Officer to be allocated the incident if possible. Ask for and retain a police incident number to allow you to make and follow up enquiries with the police.

 

"Kind regards

Sarah"

Following this and confirmation that the work (taking place near a sett entrance) was taking place on Bristol City Council land and on their instructions I sent the following email to Councillor Tony Dyer, Head of the Green led Bristol City Council:

Above photo of the foundation work dug up at BCCs orders.

"Hello.

"Although I contacted councillors all holding the relevant council cabinet positions (including Ed Plowden) they have all decided to not respond other than the usual "you are not in my ward" messages. Either they hold cabinet positions or they just want to be local councillors with no responsibilities.  The Green Party was voted in by people in Bristol based on the promise of taking care of the City's environment and wildlife after years of abuse under Labour.

"To say the very least the Green Council is not distinguishable from Labour. More trees felled, more concern for development than the environment and wildlife.  Last year I contacted BCC over a land sell off attempt in Eastville that would be on badger territory that was active going back to at least the 1970s (from my own personal knowledge). Data was provided to BCC along with video clips of the badgers and setts. The sale was called off.

"On Friday I and Bristol Badger Group were informed that a digger was at work on the Ridgeway Park Cemetery site area. The driver of the digger told locals that Bristol City Council had ordered the digging of foundations (see attached photo). This is well within the 30 metre distance from an active badger sett -the badger sett in question is active and appears to be occupied by a pregnant sow -of which we have video footage. 

"Despite the knowledge that BCC  has that there are active badger setts in the area I am sadly not shocked that this work is carried out in cub season.   I attached an email from Natural England on this matter and locals will be reporting any work going on near the sett to Avon and Somerset Police. 

"We had all expected far better from a Green run Council.

T. Hooper

Bristol Badger Group (f 1994)"

We await Mr Dyer's response.