Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada
Live, dead stranded, and harvested belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and the western Canadian Arctic were screened for viruses utilizing a primary beluga cell line. Samples consisted of swabs from blowhole, anus, and genital tract. Virus cytopathic effect was seen after the incubation of 6–3...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
2018-09-01
|
Series: | Arctic Science |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 |
id |
doaj-3e9567de12204cb28f67b6bea90037ee |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-3e9567de12204cb28f67b6bea90037ee2021-10-02T18:03:06ZengCanadian Science PublishingArctic Science2368-74602018-09-014333835710.1139/as-2017-0043Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic CanadaOle Nielsen0Kathleen A. Burek-Huntington1Lisa L. Loseto2Maria Morell3Carlos H. Romero4Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada.Alaska Veterinary Pathology, 23834 The Clearing Drive, Eagle River, AK 99577, USA.Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada.Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. INSERM-UMR 1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France.Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.Live, dead stranded, and harvested belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and the western Canadian Arctic were screened for viruses utilizing a primary beluga cell line. Samples consisted of swabs from blowhole, anus, and genital tract. Virus cytopathic effect was seen after the incubation of 6–30 days post infection, and virus-like particles consistent with herpesvirus were observed upon electron microscopy. DNA extraction, cetacean-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and sequencing of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase gene fragments of approximately 700 nucleotides revealed the presence of a new species of alphaherpesvirus. Culture positive isolates were recovered from all swab types, from 2001 to 2016. PCR testing of swab and skin lesions from Bristol Bay, Alaska belugas revealed that the herpesvirus was present in the blowholes of a high proportion of the animals. Results suggest that belugas from Canadian and Alaskan locations are infected with alphaherpesvirus. Eight culture-positive belugas were identified from Alaska, all but one were adults and all had evidence of skin disease. No Canadian belugas showed signs of skin disease. Virus was isolated from three separate populations indicating it is likely enzootic in belugas. This is the first report of an alphaherpesvirus isolated and propagated from a monodontid species.https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043alphaherpesvirusbelugaepidemiologypolymerase chain reactionvirus isolation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ole Nielsen Kathleen A. Burek-Huntington Lisa L. Loseto Maria Morell Carlos H. Romero |
spellingShingle |
Ole Nielsen Kathleen A. Burek-Huntington Lisa L. Loseto Maria Morell Carlos H. Romero Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada Arctic Science alphaherpesvirus beluga epidemiology polymerase chain reaction virus isolation |
author_facet |
Ole Nielsen Kathleen A. Burek-Huntington Lisa L. Loseto Maria Morell Carlos H. Romero |
author_sort |
Ole Nielsen |
title |
Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada |
title_short |
Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada |
title_full |
Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada |
title_fullStr |
Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada |
title_sort |
alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (delphinapterus leucas) in alaska and arctic canada |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
series |
Arctic Science |
issn |
2368-7460 |
publishDate |
2018-09-01 |
description |
Live, dead stranded, and harvested belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and the western Canadian Arctic were screened for viruses utilizing a primary beluga cell line. Samples consisted of swabs from blowhole, anus, and genital tract. Virus cytopathic effect was seen after the incubation of 6–30 days post infection, and virus-like particles consistent with herpesvirus were observed upon electron microscopy. DNA extraction, cetacean-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and sequencing of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase gene fragments of approximately 700 nucleotides revealed the presence of a new species of alphaherpesvirus. Culture positive isolates were recovered from all swab types, from 2001 to 2016. PCR testing of swab and skin lesions from Bristol Bay, Alaska belugas revealed that the herpesvirus was present in the blowholes of a high proportion of the animals. Results suggest that belugas from Canadian and Alaskan locations are infected with alphaherpesvirus. Eight culture-positive belugas were identified from Alaska, all but one were adults and all had evidence of skin disease. No Canadian belugas showed signs of skin disease. Virus was isolated from three separate populations indicating it is likely enzootic in belugas. This is the first report of an alphaherpesvirus isolated and propagated from a monodontid species. |
topic |
alphaherpesvirus beluga epidemiology polymerase chain reaction virus isolation |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT olenielsen alphaherpesvirusisolationidentificationpartialcharacterisationassociatedpathologicfindingsandepidemiologyinbelugawhalesdelphinapterusleucasinalaskaandarcticcanada AT kathleenaburekhuntington alphaherpesvirusisolationidentificationpartialcharacterisationassociatedpathologicfindingsandepidemiologyinbelugawhalesdelphinapterusleucasinalaskaandarcticcanada AT lisalloseto alphaherpesvirusisolationidentificationpartialcharacterisationassociatedpathologicfindingsandepidemiologyinbelugawhalesdelphinapterusleucasinalaskaandarcticcanada AT mariamorell alphaherpesvirusisolationidentificationpartialcharacterisationassociatedpathologicfindingsandepidemiologyinbelugawhalesdelphinapterusleucasinalaskaandarcticcanada AT carloshromero alphaherpesvirusisolationidentificationpartialcharacterisationassociatedpathologicfindingsandepidemiologyinbelugawhalesdelphinapterusleucasinalaskaandarcticcanada |
_version_ |
1716849917729701888 |