Cetacean morbillivirus in Southern Right Whales, Brazil

Author(s):Show less -

Groch, Katia R. ^[1] ; Groch, Karina R. ^[2] ; Kolesnikovas, Cristiane K. M. ^[3] ; de Castilho, Pedro V. ^[4] ; Moreira, Luciana M. P. ^[5] ; Barros, Cecil R. M. B. ^[5] ; Morais, Camila R. ^[2] ; Renault-Braga, Eduardo P. ^[2] ; Sierra, Eva ^[6] ; Fernandez, Antonio ^[6] ; Catao-Dias, Jose L. ^[1] ; Diaz-Delgado, Josue ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Inst Australis Projeto Baleia Franca, Imbituba - Brazil

^[3] Assoc R3 Anim, Florianopolis, SC - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estado Santa Catarina, Laguna - Brazil

^[5] Area Protecao Ambiental Baleia Franca ICMBio, Imbituba - Brazil

^[6] Univ Las Palmas Gran Canaria, Las Palmas Gran Canaria - Spain

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES; v. 66, n. 1, p. 606-610, JAN 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) has caused repeated epizootics and interepizootic fatalities in a variety of cetacean species worldwide. Recently, a novel CeMV strain (GD-CeMV) was linked to a mass die-off of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Brazil. Southern right whales (SRWs; Eubalaena australis) migrate to the southern Brazilian coast during austral winter and spring (June through November) for breeding and calving. Because unexplained high calf mortality rates have recurrently been documented in SRWs, we hypothesized they could be infected with CeMV. We developed a novel real-time RT-PCR method based on SYBR (R) GREEN for detection of CeMV and identified the virus in three out of five stranded SRWs from Santa Catarina state, Brazil. The partial sequences of the morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene suggest that the virus is similar to the GD-CeMV strain. Our results indicate CeMV can infect SRWs and should be considered in the differential aetiologic diagnosis of infectious diseases in this species. It also raises concern for potential conservation implications for this species in its main coastal breeding area off Southern Brazil. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/02223-8 - Comparative immunopathology of cetacean morbillivirus infection: histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular studies
• Grantee: Josué Díaz Delgado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/00735-6 - Research and characterization of Morbiliviruses of cetaceans in Brazil
• Grantee: Jose Luiz Catao Dias
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/24932-2 - Research and characterization of Morbiliviruses of cetaceans in Brazil
• Grantee: Kátia Regina Groch
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/05043-5 - Pathology of Morbillivirus and assessment of selected co-infections in cetaceans From the Brazilian coast
• Grantee: Kátia Regina Groch
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor