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Updated: Oct 17, 2026
Environmental DNA Sampling from Whale-Watching Vessels for Cetacean Monitoring
Published on: April 10, 2026
Molecular genetic evidence of a novel morbillivirus in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephalus melas)
J K Taubenberger1, M M Tsai, T J Atkin
1Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C., USA. taubenbe@afip.osd.mil
Abstract:
A long-finned pilot whale with morbilliviral disease was stranded in New Jersey. An immunohistochemical stain demonstrated morbilliviral antigen. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for morbillivirus P and N genes was positive. Novel sequences most closely related to, but distinct from, those of dolphin and porpoise morbilliviruses suggest that this virus may represent a third member of the cetacean morbillivirus group.
Insights
A pilot whale stranded in New Jersey was diagnosed with morbilliviral disease. Genetic analysis revealed a novel virus, potentially a new type of cetacean morbillivirus.
Area of Science:
- Marine Mammal Health
- Virology
- Wildlife Disease
Background:
- Morbilliviral disease poses a significant threat to marine mammal populations worldwide.
- Cetacean morbilliviruses have been identified in various dolphin and porpoise species.
- Strandings of marine mammals provide opportunities to study infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the causative agent of disease in a stranded long-finned pilot whale.
- To characterize the genetic makeup of the detected morbillivirus.
- To determine the phylogenetic relationship of this novel virus to other known cetacean morbilliviruses.
Main Methods:
- Necropsy and histopathological examination of the stranded whale.
- Immunohistochemical staining to detect viral antigens in affected tissues.
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to amplify and sequence morbillivirus genes (P and N).
Main Results:
- Morbilliviral antigen was detected in the whale's tissues using immunohistochemistry.
- RT-PCR confirmed the presence of morbillivirus RNA, yielding positive results for P and N genes.
- Sequencing of novel viral genetic fragments showed distinctness from known dolphin and porpoise morbilliviruses, while being closely related.
Conclusions:
- The stranded long-finned pilot whale succumbed to a morbilliviral infection.
- The identified virus represents a novel cetacean morbillivirus, distinct from previously identified strains.
- This finding suggests the existence of at least three distinct types of morbilliviruses circulating within cetacean populations.
