Inactivation Kinetics of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) By Ingredients Contained in Expect Healthy Deer Technology®

Expect Healthy Deer Technology® is a novel feed additive that contains natural feed ingredients that are known to have anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), caused by EHD virus (EHDV), is a hemorrhagic disease spread by small biting midge gnats affecting certain species of animals, especially deer, although it can also affect elk and cattle. Death losses in deer from EHDV are very high, and in localized outbreaks, it can wipe out a large percentage of a deer herd. The aim of this study was to evaluate the virucidal effectiveness of a key ingredient contained in Expect Health Deer Technology® against EHDV. Briefly, serial dilutions of the key ingredient were mixed with equal amounts of EHDV. Samples were removed after various periods of contact and tested for the amount of surviving virus by inoculation in baby hamster kidney cells (BHK-21), which can support infection by EHDV. Serotype 1 of EHDV (EHDV-1) was obtained from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA. To determine virucidal activity, titer levels of EHDV were calculated in triplicate for each dilution of the ingredient. The initial virus titer for the EHDV-1 was 3.50 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/0.1 ml. At the low dilution rate (1:2 dilution), the ingredient killed (P < 0.05) 3 logs (99.9%) of virus within 2 h and killed (P < 0.05) 2.5 logs at 12 and 24 h. At a medium dilution rate (1:20) the ingredient killed (P < 0.05) 3 logs (99.9%) of the EHD virus after 2 h, but killed (P < 0.05) 2.5 logs after 12 and 24 hours. At the high dilution rate (1:200) the ingredient killed (P < 0.05) 3 logs (99.9%) of virus after 2 h, but killed (P < 0.05) 2.5 logs after 12 and 24 h. At ultra-high dilution rates (1:2,000 and 1:20,000) the ingredient was less effective. In summary, the ingredient within Expect Healthy Deer Technology® demonstrated strong virucidal activity against EHDV under in-vitro (laboratory) conditions.