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...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3e9567de12204cb28f67b6bea90037ee 2023-05-15T14:23:37+02:00 Alphaherpesvirus: isolation, identification, partial characterisation, associated pathologic findings, and epidemiology in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada Ole Nielsen Kathleen A. Burek-Huntington Lisa L. Loseto Maria Morell Carlos H. Romero 2018-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 https://doaj.org/article/3e9567de12204cb28f67b6bea90037ee EN FR eng fre Canadian Science Publishing https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2017-0043 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/3e9567de12204cb28f67b6bea90037ee Arctic Science, Vol 4, Iss 3, Pp 338-357 (2018) alphaherpesvirus beluga epidemiology polymerase chain reaction virus isolation Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 2022-12-31T11:59:00Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Canada Arctic Science |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English French |
topic |
alphaherpesvirus beluga epidemiology polymerase chain reaction virus isolation Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
spellingShingle |
alphaherpesvirus beluga epidemiology polymerase chain reaction virus isolation Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 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 |
topic_facet |
alphaherpesvirus beluga epidemiology polymerase chain reaction virus isolation Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
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. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ole Nielsen Kathleen A. Burek-Huntington Lisa L. Loseto Maria Morell Carlos H. Romero |
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 |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 https://doaj.org/article/3e9567de12204cb28f67b6bea90037ee |
geographic |
Arctic Canada |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Canada |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Alaska |
op_source |
Arctic Science, Vol 4, Iss 3, Pp 338-357 (2018) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2017-0043 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/3e9567de12204cb28f67b6bea90037ee |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0043 |
container_title |
Arctic Science |
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1766296125925490688 |