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Phocine distemper in German seals, 2002.
Gundi Müller1, Peter Wohlsein, Andreas Beineke
1School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany. Gundi.Mueller@tiho-hannover.de
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|June 18, 2004
Summary
A 2002 morbillivirus epidemic caused over 21,700 seal deaths in Europe. Phocine distemper virus 1, isolated from seals, showed high genetic similarity to previous Dutch and Danish isolates.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Marine Mammal Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- A significant morbillivirus epidemic occurred in northwestern Europe in 2002, leading to substantial seal mortality.
- Phocine distemper virus 1 (PDV-1) is a known pathogen affecting marine mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific morbillivirus responsible for the 2002 epidemic in seals from German waters.
- To genetically characterize the isolated virus and compare it with previously identified strains.
Main Methods:
- Virus isolation from deceased seals in German waters.
- Molecular analysis, specifically sequencing of the P gene of the isolated virus.
- Phylogenetic comparison of the P gene sequence with reference strains from different regions and time periods.
Main Results:
- Phocine distemper virus 1 (PDV-1) was successfully isolated from seals affected by the 2002 epidemic.
- The P gene sequence of the German isolate exhibited 97% identity to a Dutch PDV-1 isolate from 1988.
- The German isolate showed 100% identity to a Dutch isolate from 2002 and a single nucleotide mismatch with a Danish isolate.
Conclusions:
- The 2002 seal epidemic in northwestern Europe was caused by Phocine distemper virus 1.
- The genetic data suggest a close relationship and potential circulation of PDV-1 strains within European waters over time.
- Continuous genetic monitoring of wildlife pathogens is crucial for understanding epidemic dynamics and informing conservation efforts.