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Morbillivirus infection in pilot whales: strict protein requirement drives genetic conservation

Ashley C Banyard1, Ashok Tiwari, Thomas Barrett

  • 1Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK. ashley.banyard@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk

Archives of Virology
|June 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Morbillivirus in marine mammals is widespread. This study genetically analyzes morbillivirus from Mediterranean dolphins and pilot whales, finding high genetic identity and protein conservation in the 2007 outbreak.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Virology
  • Marine Mammal Health
  • Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

  • Morbillivirus infections are globally prevalent in marine mammals.
  • Molecular techniques are increasingly vital for precise genetic typing of virus strains.
  • Limited molecular characterization exists for morbillivirus outbreaks in cetaceans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present genetic data from a recent morbillivirus outbreak in Mediterranean dolphins and pilot whales.
  • To genetically characterize the morbillivirus strains involved in the 2007 outbreak.
  • To compare genetic sequences and discuss the classification of cetacean morbilliviruses.

Main Methods:

  • Sequence analysis of the haemagglutinin (H) gene from infected dolphin and pilot whale samples.
  • Partial sequence analysis of the nucleocapsid (N) gene from pilot whale material.
  • Comparison of generated sequences with previously published morbillivirus data.

Main Results:

  • The haemagglutinin (H) gene sequences from the dolphin and pilot whale were 100% identical in the analyzed region.
  • Partial nucleocapsid (N) gene sequences showed strong protein conservation between isolates.
  • Genetic data provides insights into the morbillivirus strains circulating in the Mediterranean.

Conclusions:

  • The 2007 Mediterranean outbreak involved highly conserved morbillivirus strains in dolphins and pilot whales.
  • Strong protein conservation suggests evolutionary stability or selective pressure.
  • Further molecular studies are needed to refine the classification of cetacean morbilliviruses.

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