Novel paramyxovirus in wild pinnipeds, Brazil

Most emerging zoonotic viral infections originate in wildlife. The Paramyxoviridae and Coronaviridae families are important in terms of zoonotic potential and diversity of host susceptibility. To date, the only paramyxoviruses described in pinnipeds are within the genus Morbillivirus. An alphacoronavirus has been reported in pinnipeds. Herein, we surveyed for Paramyxoviridae and Coronaviridae in 46 animals of four pinniped species stranded along the coasts of Santa Catarina and São Paulo states, Brazil, between 2016 and 2022. A novel paramyxovirus (family Paramyxoviridae) was detected in an Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) and in two South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis). The sequences presented with less than 83% amino acid identity to the closest published paramyxovirus sequences, amplified in Microchiroptera sp. in Vietnam and in Asiatic yellow bats (Scotophilus kuhlii) in Cambodia. Phylogenetic analysis of the paramyxovirus sequences clustered into the genus Jeilongvirus. Gross and histopathological analyses did not identify any related lesions and the viral zoonotic potential is unknown. None of the animals were PCR-positive to coronavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of paramyxovirus infection in pinnipeds in Brazil and the first paramyxovirus not classified as Morbillivirus in seals, sea lions and walruses. To better understand the natural history of this novel virus, future pathological, serological, and molecular studies based on pan-Paramyxoviridae RT-PCRs are recommended.