Pathological findings in two fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) with evidence of morbillivirus infection

Two immature female fin whales stranded on the Belgian and French coastlines, were examined post mortem. The main gross findings were massive parasitic infestation, associated with a large thrombus in one whale, and severe emaciation. Microscopical investigations revealed multinucleated syncytia wit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Comparative Pathology
Main Authors: Jauniaux, Thierry, Charlier, G., Desmecht, M, Haelters, J, Jacques, T, Losson, B, Van Gompel, Jeannine, Tavernier, J., Coignoul, F.
Other Authors: University of Liège, Veterinary College - Department of Pathology
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Academic Press Ltd 2000
Subjects:
Harcourt
Balaenoptera physalus
baleen whales
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/43311
https://doi.org/10.1053/jcpa.2000.0395
Description
Summary:Two immature female fin whales stranded on the Belgian and French coastlines, were examined post mortem. The main gross findings were massive parasitic infestation, associated with a large thrombus in one whale, and severe emaciation. Microscopical investigations revealed multinucleated syncytia with large intranuclear inclusion bodies in various tissues, and positive immunolabelling for morbillivirus antigens. Other evidence of morbillivirus infection was provided by the demonstration of specific viral structures in syncytia and in cell cultures, and the detection of neutralizing antibodies to canine distemper virus. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first firm report of morbillivirus infection in baleen whales. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

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