Arbovirus of Marine Mammals: a New Alphavirus Isolated from the Elephant Seal Louse, Lepidophthirus macrorhini

• Published in: Journal of Virology
• Main Authors: Linn, ML, Gardner, J, Warrilow, D, Darnell, GA, McMahon, CR, Field, IC, Hyatt, AD, Slade, RW, Suhrbier, A
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Society for Microbiology 2001
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Environmental Science and Management; Wildlife and Habitat Management; Antarctic; The Louse; Antarc*; Antarctica; Elephant Seal; Elephant Seals; Macquarie Island; Mirounga leonina; Southern Elephant Seal; Southern Elephant Seals
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.75.9.4103-4109.2001; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11287559; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/22725

A novel alphavirus was isolated from the louse Lepidophthirus macrorhini, collected from southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, on Macquarie Island, Australia. The virus displayed classic alphavirus ultrastructure and appeared to be serologically different from known Australasian alphaviruses. Nearly all Macquarie Island elephant seals tested had neutralizing antibodies against the virus, but no virus-associated pathology has been identified. Antarctic Division personnel who have worked extensively with elephant seals showed no serological evidence of exposure to the virus. Sequence analysis illustrated that the southern elephant seal (SES) virus segregates with the Semliki Forest group of Australasian alphaviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of known alphaviruses suggests that alphaviruses might be grouped according to their enzootic vertebrate host class. The SES virus represents the first arbovirus of marine mammals and illustrates that alphaviruses can inhabit Antarctica and that alphaviruses can be transmitted by lice.