Skip to main content
Download PDF

First molecular detection and characterization of herpesvirus and poxvirus in a Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

BMC Veterinary Research volume 10, Article number: 968 (2014) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Herpesvirus and poxvirus can infect a wide range of species: herpesvirus genetic material has been detected and amplified in five species of the superfamily Pinnipedia; poxvirus genetic material, in eight species of Pinnipedia. To date, however, genetic material of these viruses has not been detected in walrus (Odobenus rosmarus), another marine mammal of the Pinnipedia clade, even though anti-herpesvirus antibodies have been detected in these animals.

Case presentation

In February 2013, a 9-year-old healthy captive female Pacific walrus died unexpectedly at L’Oceanografic (Valencia, Spain). Herpesvirus was detected in pharyngeal tonsil tissue by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the virus belongs to the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae. Poxvirus was also detected by PCR in skin, pre-scapular and tracheobronchial lymph nodes and tonsils. Gross lesions were not detected in any tissue, but histopathological analyses of pharyngeal tonsils and lymph nodes revealed remarkable lymphoid depletion and lymphocytolysis. Similar histopathological lesions have been previously described in bovine calves infected with an alphaherpesvirus, and in northern elephant seals infected with a gammaherpesvirus that is closely related to the herpesvirus found in this case. Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies, consistent with poxviral infection, were also observed in the epithelium of the tonsilar mucosa.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first molecular identification of herpesvirus and poxvirus in a walrus. Neither virus was likely to have contributed directly to the death of our animal.

Background

Herpesvirus can infect multiple animal species: mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, frogs and bivalves [1]. The order Herpesvirales consists of three families, Herpesviridae, Alloherpesviridae and Malacoherpesviridae, and the Herpesviridae family comprises three subfamilies: Alphaherpesvirinae, Betaherpesvirinae and Gammaherpesvirinae [2]. To date, all herpesviruses detected in marine mammals belong to either the Alpha- or Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies [3].

Within the order Carnivora, in the suborder Caniformia, herpesvirus has been described in 11 species [4]-[10], five of which belong to the superfamily Pinnipedia: three form part of the family Phocidae [harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) [11]-[14], Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) [15], northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) [16]], and two belong to the family Otariidae [California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) [17],[13],[3] and South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) [18]]. Antibodies against phocine herpesvirus (PhHV) 1 and 2 have been detected in walruses from Alaska and Russia with high seroprevalence [189/341 (55.42%) for PhHV-1, 98/341 (28.74%) for PhHV-2, 61/341 (17.89%) for both viruses in the same sample and 115/341 (33.72%) were negative] [19]. However, we are unaware of studies examining the molecular detection and sequencing of herpesvirus genetic material from walrus.

Poxviruses are pathogens that affect humans and numerous species of wild and domestic animals [20]. While some are species-specific, others can infect a broad species range [21]. Poxvirus has been identified in eight species of the superfamily Pinnipedia [22]: five belong to the family Phocidae [grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) [23]-[28], harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) [29],[30],[28], Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) [31], spotted seal (Phoca largha) [32],[33] and Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) [34]], and three belong to the family Otariidae [California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) [28], Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) [35],[32] and South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) [36]]. Some of these pinniped poxviruses have zoonotic potential and can cause lesions in humans, mostly on the skin [23],[37].

This article reports the first detection of herpesvirus and poxvirus in a walrus, as well as the first herpesvirus sequences from the family Odobenidae.

Case presentation

An adult female Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens, Illiger, 1815), born in June 2003 and housed at L’Oceanografic (Valencia, Spain), died unexpectedly on February 18, 2013. A full necropsy was performed early the next day according to the protocol of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution [38]. The animal presented good nutritional condition and moderate postmortem autolysis. Lungs were diffusely dark red and heavy and a clear fluid and foam oozed from a surface cut. No other significant gross lesions were observed.

Representative samples from several organs were collected during necropsy: skin; blubber; muscle; pharyngeal tonsils; thyroid; thymus; tracheobronchial, pre-scapular and mesenteric lymph nodes; lung; heart; stomach; gut; liver; pancreas; spleen; adrenal glands; kidneys; urinary bladder; ovary; genital mucosa; mammary gland; brain; and spinal cord. Three sets of tissue samples and swabs were collected and processed in different ways: one set was used for general bacteriology and stored in transport medium, one was used for virology analysis and stored at −80°C and one was used for conventional histopathology analysis and preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin.

Formalin-fixed samples were subsequently dehydrated through graded alcohols before being embedded in paraffin wax. Several 4 μm-thick sections were cut from each sample and stained using hematoxylin and eosin.

Lung histology showed diffuse congestion with multifocal hemorrhages. In the alveolar spaces, large amounts of homogeneous eosinophilic material and numerous bacteria were observed in the absence of an associated inflammatory reaction. Pharyngeal tonsils and lymph nodes showed marked lymphoid depletion with lymphocytolysis, which was more evident at the germinal core and was characterized by pyknosis, karyorrhexis and macrophage phagocytosis of cellular debris (Figure 1A). Small round eosinophilic structures were also observed within the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in the tonsilar mucosa (Figure 1B). These findings were consistent with poxviral intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. No other findings were observed in any tissue.

Figure 1
figure 1

Odobenus rosmarus divergens . Pharyngeal tonsil. (A) Numerous swollen cells showing condensed chromatin at the periphery of the cell (karyorrhexis) in the germinal center of a lymphoid follicle. (B) Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies (arrow) are observed within epithelial cells. Hematoxylin and eosin.

Full size image

For virology analysis, samples of all necropsied tissues were homogenized using a Bullet Blender™ (Next Advance, Averill Park, NY, USA), diluting samples 1:10. DNA of homogenates was extracted using the High Pure Template Preparation Mix (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany), and total RNA was extracted using the NucleoSpin RNA II Kit (Macherey-Nagel, Düren, Germany) following the manufacturers’ instructions.

Samples were analyzed for the presence of herpesvirus, poxvirus and calicivirus.

For herpesvirus detection, a previously described pan-herpesvirus nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the DNA polymerase (DNApol) gene was performed for DNA extracts of all sampled tissues [39], and the reactions were positive only for tonsilar tissue. The PCR product was purified by a PCR Purification kit (Qiagen, Germantown, USA) and sequenced to yield a 212-bp sequence, excluding primers (GenBank acc. no. KF972426). Sequence analysis confirmed the herpesvirus diagnosis and revealed the virus to be closely related to gammaherpesvirus. For more detailed virus characterization, a genus-specific PCR for gammaherpesvirus was performed to amplify a region of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene using the set of primers GH1, as previously described [6]. The PCR product was again purified and sequenced, yielding a 453-bp fragment, excluding primers (GenBank acc. no. KF972425).

Phylogenetic analysis of both herpesvirus sequences was carried out using MEGA 5.2 software [40]. In order to evaluate the accuracy of alignments and therefore their capability to produce reliable phylogenetic trees, average amino acid identity was evaluated [41],[42]. Average amino acid p-distances (1-amino acid identity) were 0.5068 for the DNApol alignment and 0.4882 for the gB alignment. Since the acceptance threshold was <0.8 for the average p-distance, both sequence alignments were considered adequate. Moreover, in both alignments, each sequence from the databases was compared with the novel sequence from walrus tonsilar tissue in order to calculate the amino acid p-distance between them.

Phylogenetic trees based on amino acid sequences were constructed using MEGA 5.2 with the maximum parsimony (MP) method and the subtree-pruning-and-regrafting (SPR) algorithm [40]. A bootstrap consensus tree from 500 replications was inferred.

The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the virus belongs to the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae and suggested that the virus is a member of the genus Percavirus (Figure 2). The following sequences in GenBank are most closely related to the herpesvirus DNApol gene sequence from our walrus, based on amino acid p-distances: Hawaiian monk seal herpesvirus [GenBank acc. no. DQ093191.1; amino acid (aa) p-distance 0.2545], northern elephant seal herpesvirus (DQ183057.1; aa p-distance 0.2778) and otariid herpesviruses 3 (DQ789370.2) and 4 (JX244190.1) (nearly identical for this gene region; aa p-distance 0.3818) (Figure 2A). Sequences from the gB gene were unavailable for the four viruses with the most similar DNApol sequences to that of our isolate from walrus, preventing us from analyzing whether the four viruses also encoded similar gB. Among deposited gB gene sequences, the ones closest to our isolate are from mustelid herpesvirus 1 (AF376034.1; aa p-distance 0.1400) and canid herpesvirus 2 (KF471019.1; aa p-distance 0.1467) (Figure 2B). The DNApol gene sequence of Odobenus rosmarus herpesvirus showed an aa p-distance of 0.4909 from mustelid herpesvirus 1 and 0.5091 from canid herpesvirus 2.

Figure 2
figure 2

Phylograms representing the relationships between herpesvirus from Odobenus rosmarus and from other animal species. Phylogenetic trees were inferred by the maximum parsimony method using the amino acid sequences encoded by the DNA polymerase gene (A) and the glycoprotein B gene (B). The results of the bootstrap analysis (500 replications) are indicated at the tree nodes. Each sequence is named according to the virus name and GenBank accession number. Odobenus rosmarus herpesvirus is highlighted in bold. The Alpha- (A, B) and Betaherpesvirus (B) sequences are used as an outgroup in order to root the phylograms. Herpesvirus genera (B) are indicated for sequences, as previously assigned by Davison [2].

Full size image

Phylogenetic branching of herpesvirus resembles that of its hosts [43],[13],[10]. Consistent with this idea, the DNApol sequences from Genbank most closely related to our isolate are from pinnipeds. Moreover, among the few available gB sequences, the ones most similar to our isolate belong to the same Suborder (Caniformia).

In order to determine whether the herpesvirus in our walrus was actively replicating or was in a period of latency at the time of death, the RNA extract from the tonsil sample was used as template in a retrotranscription step with the enzyme Affinity Script QPCR cDNA Synthesis kit (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA) following the manufacturer’s instructions. The cDNA was used in pan-herpesvirus nested PCR targeting the DNApol gene [39]. Although the PCR clearly gave the expected product, the band in the agarose gel was considerably less intense than that obtained with the DNA sample (data not shown). This result suggests that the herpesvirus was replicating at the time of death in the sampled tonsil tissue as messenger RNA (mRNA) with the herpesvirus sequence was detected.

To evaluate the immune response that our Odobenus rosmarus herpesvirus can cause, two direct ELISAs were performed, one for detecting anti-canine herpesvirus immunoglobulin G (IgG) and another for detecting anti-canine herpesvirus immunoglobulin M (IgM). Serum samples were collected from the studied walrus and three other walruses in the captive population of five animals at appoximately 2, 6 and 15 months before the studied animal’s death. The fifth walrus in the population could not be sampled at the same points because it died before the animal under study; instead, we analyzed a serum sample from the fifth animal that had been collected 20 months before the studied animal died. Based on the criterion that positive samples have an optical density of at least 1.00, all samples that we tested were negative for anti-canine herpesvirus IgG.

When the ELISA to detect anti-canine herpesvirus IgM was performed, serum samples from the studied walrus were positive while all remaining samples from other individuals were negative. Given that IgM is the earliest immunoglobulin to be up-regulated after an infection, and no IgG increase was detected in our walrus, it appears that our case was in an early stage of infection involving only a primary immune response at the time of its death.

All tissue samples were tested for the presence of poxvirus using two conventional PCRs targeting the poxvirus DNApol gene or the parapoxvirus DNApol gene, as previously described [32]. Skin and pre-scapular lymph nodes were strongly positive for the desired poxvirus DNApol gene amplicon, while tracheobronchial lymph nodes and tonsil were weakly positive. PCR products were purified and sequenced, yielding a 497-bp sequence from the poxvirus DNApol gene (excluding primers). The viral sequences from the various positive tissues were identical, confirming a diagnosis of poxviral infection.

Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA 5.2 software, which evaluated average amino acid identity and produced a p-distance of 0.3159. Since this p-distance is still less than 0.8, the approach offers acceptable alignment to produce reliable phylogenetic trees. The phylogenetic tree (Figure 3) was constructed using the MP method equipped with the SPR algorithm and a bootstrap test of 500 replications.

Figure 3
figure 3

Phylogram representing relationships between the sequences encoded by the poxvirus DNA polymerase gene from different host species. This unrooted phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum parsimony method based on amino acid sequences. The results of the bootstrap analysis (500 replications) are indicated at the tree nodes. Each sequence name is composed of the virus name and the GenBank accession number. Poxvirus from walrus is highlighted in bold.

Full size image

Phylogenetic analysis showed the poxvirus sequence from our walrus to differ by only three nucleotides from the otherwise identical amino acid sequence of a Cetacean poxvirus 1 from a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (GenBank KC409049.1) (Figure 3). In order to verify whether this result was due to sample contamination, poxvirus analysis in the walrus samples was repeated twice independently; DNA was homogenized and extracted with no positive controls, and the same result was obtained as described above. This striking sequence similarity between cetacean poxvirus 1 and our walrus isolate suggests that this poxvirus may have a broad host range. The walrus in our study lived in the same building with two beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Although the water and enclosures were different for both species and direct contact was impossible, the trainers were the same, suggesting that they may be the source of poxvirus cross-contamination among species. Poxviruses are enveloped viruses and most can persist in the environment for long periods of time [44]-[46], which increases the risk of viral spread via fomites. The mechanical transport of viruses by trainers is possible. In addition, some marine mammal poxviruses have been described as zoonotic [23],[37], and in this case, the virus may have also infected the trainers and remained latent or replicated slowly, without causing injury.

To test this hypothesis, poxvirus was determined in samples of healthy skin, skin lesions and blood from the two beluga whales. These animals shared the same facility with the walrus during almost 8 years. Oral swabs from the three trainers were collected using the same protocol as for the walrus samples. All samples were negative for cetacean poxvirus. From this analysis of only two tissues at a single point in time, we cannot rule out beluga whales as the source of infection, especially since the animals shared the same building for 8 years, so transmission could have occurred at any point. All the animals were housed at the Oceanografic of Valencia, and all the national and international permits were in order. No special permits were required for this research because serum samples from the walruses (antibodies against herpesvirus determination) and blood and skin samples from the beluga whales (poxvirus determination) were performed within the Oceanografic’s routine procedures.

In order to complete the viral diagnosis, RNA of all the samples was tested for calicivirus by real-time PCR as described [47], and all samples were negative for calicivirus determination.

General bacteriology analysis of different tissue samples did not identify any potential pathogens; some bacteria were found but these were thought to be either components of the normal bacterial flora or post mortem contaminants. These results are consistent with histopathological findings, which detected no tissue damage or inflammatory reaction associated with in vivo bacterial infection.

Although the histological findings observed in pharyngeal tonsil and lymph nodes were nonspecific, lymphoid depletion and lymphocytolysis have previously been associated with viral infections in other mammals, such as in calves experimentally infected with alphaherpesvirus [48],[49], or northern elephant seals infected with gammaherpesvirus [16], which are closely related phylogenetically to the Odobenus rosmarus herpesvirus reported here (Figure 2A). Although no typical intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in the examined organs, herpesviral inclusion bodies are known to be frequent in the very early stages of infection, but they are rarely observed beyond day 7 post-infection [50].

Based on clinical history and necropsy findings, the sudden death of this walrus was likely due to drowning and not to the herpesvirus or poxvirus infections described in this paper.

Conclusions

Histopathology and identification and phylogenetic characterization of herpesvirus and poxvirus in our case, together with the presence of RNA with the herpesvirus sequence, indicate that gammaherpesvirus is the most probable etiologic agent responsible for the microscopic lesions of the tonsil and lymph nodes, and that poxvirus is the most likely cause of the intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies found in the tonsil mucosa. To the best of our knowledge, this report describes the first detection and characterization of herpesvirus and poxvirus in walrus.

Abbreviations

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

PhV:

Phocine herpesvirus

DNApol:

DNA polymerase

gB:

Glycoprotein B

MP:

Maximum parsimony

SPR:

Subtree-pruning-and-regrafting

aa:

Amino acid

IgG:

Immunoglobulin G

IgM:

Immunoglobulin M

References

  1. Davison AJ, Eberle R, Ehlers B, Hayward GS, McGeoch DJ, Minson AC, Pellett PE, Roizman B, Studdert MJ, Thiry E: The order Herpesvirales . Arch Virol. 2009, 154: 171-177. 10.1007/s00705-008-0278-4.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Davison AJ: Herpesvirus systematics. Vet Microbiol. 2010, 143: 52-69. 10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.02.014.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Venn-Watson S, Benham C, Gulland FM, Smith CR, St Leger J, Yochem P, Nollens H, Blas-Machado U, Saliki J, Colegrove K, Wellehan JF, Rivera R: Clinical relevance of novel Otarine herpesvirus-3 in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): lymphoma, esophageal ulcers, and strandings. Vet Res. 2012, 43: 85-10.1186/1297-9716-43-85.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Banks M, King DP, Daniells C, Stagg DA, Gavier-Widen D: Partial characterization of a novel gammaherpesvirus isolated from a European badger (Meles meles). J Gen Virol. 2002, 83: 1325-1330.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. King DR, Mutukwa N, Lesellier S, Cheeseman C, Chambers MA, Banks M: Detection of mustelid herpesvirus-1 infected European badgers (Meles meles) in the British Isles. J Wildl Dis. 2004, 40: 99-102. 10.7589/0090-3558-40.1.99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ehlers B, Dural G, Yasmum N, Lembo T, de Thoisy B, Ryser-Degiorgis MP, Ulrich RG, McGeoch DJ: Novel mammalian herpesviruses and lineages within the Gammaherpesvirinae: cospeciation and interspecies transfer. J Virol. 2008, 82: 3509-3516. 10.1128/JVI.02646-07.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dandár E, Szabó L, Heltai M, Doszpoly A: Adenovírusok és herpesvírusok előfordulásának felmérése emlős ragadozók (Carnivora) mintáinak PCR-vizsgálatával: borz-herpesvírus első kimutatása Magyarországon. (PCR screening of mammalian predators (Carnivora) for adenoviruses and herpesviruses: the first detection of a mustelid herpesvirus in Hungary./in Hungarian/). Magyar Állatorvosok Lapja. 2010, 132: 302-308.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gagnon CA, Tremblay J, Larochelle D, Music N, Tremblay D: Identification of a novel herpesvirus associated with cutaneous ulcers in a fisher (Martes pennanti). J Vet Diagn Invest. 2011, 23: 986-990. 10.1177/1040638711418615.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Tseng M, Fleetwood M, Reed A, Gill VA, Harris RK, Moeller RB, Lipscomb TP, Mazet JA, Goldstein T: Mustelid herpesvirus-2, a novel herpes infection in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni). J Wildl Dis. 2012, 48: 181-185. 10.7589/0090-3558-48.1.181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cabello J, Esperón F, Napolitano C, Hidalgo E, Dávila JA, Millán J: Molecular identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus in the endangered Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes). J Gen Virol. 2013, 94: 2745-2749. 10.1099/vir.0.057851-0.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. King DP, Parselles R, Gulland FM, Lapointe JM, Lowenstine LJ, Ferrick DA, Stott JL: Antigenic and nucleotide characterization of a herpesvirus isolated from Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsii). Arch Virol. 1998, 143: 2021-2027. 10.1007/s007050050438.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Himworth CG, Haulena M, Lambourn DM, Gaydos JK, Huggins J, Calambokidis J, Ford JK, Zaremba K, Raverty S: Pathology and epidemiology of phocid herpesvirus-1 in wild and rehabilitating harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) in the northeastern Pacific. J Wildl Dis. 2010, 46: 1046-1051. 10.7589/0090-3558-46.3.1046.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Maness HT, Nollens HH, Jensen ED, Goldstein T, LaMere S, Childress A, Sykes J, St Leger J, Lacave G, Latson FE, Wellehan JF: Phylogenetic analysis of marine mammal herpesviruses. Vet Microbiol. 2011, 149: 23-29. 10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.09.035.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Roth SJ, Tischer BK, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Osterrieder N, Tryland M: Phocine herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) in harbor seals from Svalbard, Norway. Vet Microbiol. 2013, 164: 286-292. 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.03.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Goldstein T, Gulland FMD, Braun RC, Antonelis GA, Kashinsky L, Rowles TK, Mazet JAK, Dalton LM, Aldridge BM, Stott JL: Molecular identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi). Mar Mamm Sci. 2006, 22: 465-471. 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2006.00025.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Goldstein T, Lowenstine LJ, Lipscomb TP, Mazet JA, Novak J, Stott JL, Gulland FM: Infection with a novel gammaherpesvirus in northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). J Wildl Dis. 2006, 42: 830-835. 10.7589/0090-3558-42.4.830.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lipscomb TP, Scott DP, Garber RL, Krafft AE, Tsai MM, Lichy JH, Taubenberger JK, Schulman FY, Gulland FM: Common metastatic carcinoma of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): evidence of genital origin and association with novel gammaherpesvirus. Vet Pathol. 2000, 37: 609-617. 10.1354/vp.37-6-609.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Dagleish MP, Barrows M, Maley M, Killick R, Finlayson J, Goodchild R, Valentine A, Saunders R, Willoughby K, Smith KC, Stidworthy MF: The first report of otarine herpesvirus-1-associated urogenital carcinoma in a South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis). J Comp Pathol. 2013, 149: 119-125. 10.1016/j.jcpa.2012.10.002.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Zarnke RL, Harder TC, Vos HW, Ver Hoef JM, Osterhaus DME: Serologic survey for Phocid Herpesvirus-1 and −2 in marine mammals from Alaska and Russia. J Wildl Dis. 1997, 33: 459-465. 10.7589/0090-3558-33.3.459.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Baker KS, Murcia PR: Poxviruses in bats … so what?. Viruses. 2014, 6: 1564-1577. 10.3390/v6041564.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Haller SL, Peng C, McFadden G, Rothenburg S: Poxviruses and the evolution of host range and virulence. Infect Genet Evol. 2014, 21: 15-40. 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.10.014.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Roess AA, Levine RS, Barth L, Monroe BP, Carroll DS, Damon IK, Reynolds MG: Sealpox virus in marine mammal rehabilitation facilities, North America, 2007–2009. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011, 17: 2203-2208. 10.3201/eid1712.101945.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hicks BD, Worthy GA: Sealpox in captive grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and their handlers. J Wildl Dis. 1987, 23: 1-6. 10.7589/0090-3558-23.1.1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Osterhaus AD, Broeders HW, Visser IK, Teppema JS, Vedder EJ: Isolation of an orthopoxvirus from pox-like lesions of a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Vet Rec. 1990, 127: 91-92.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Stack MJ, Simpson VR, Scott AC: Mixed poxvirus and calicivirus infections of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in Cornwall. Vet Rec. 1993, 132: 163-165. 10.1136/vr.132.7.163.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Osterhaus AD, Broeders HW, Visser IK, Teppema JS, Kuiken T: Isolation of a parapoxvirus from pox-like lesions in grey seals. Vet Rec. 1994, 135: 601-602.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Simpson VR, Stuart NC, Stack MJ, Ross HA, Head JC: Parapox infection in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in Cornwall. Vet Rec. 1994, 134: 292-296. 10.1136/vr.134.12.292.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Nollens HH, Gulland FM, Jacobson ER, Hernandez JA, Klein PA, Walsh MT, Condit RC: Parapoxviruses of seals and sea lions make up a distinct subclade within the genus Parapoxvirus. Virology. 2006, 349: 316-324. 10.1016/j.virol.2006.01.020.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Becher P, König M, Müller G, Siebert U, Thiel HJ: Characterization of sealpox virus, a separate member of the parapoxviruses. Arch Virol. 2002, 147: 1133-1140. 10.1007/s00705-002-0804-8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Müller G, Gröters S, Siebert U, Rosenberger T, Driver J, König M, Becher P, Hetzel U, Baumgärtner W: Parapoxvirus infection in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German North Sea. Vet Pathol. 2003, 40: 445-454. 10.1354/vp.40-4-445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Toplu N, Aydoğan A, Oguzoglu TC: Visceral leishmaniosis and parapoxvirus infection in a Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). J Comp Pathol. 2007, 136: 283-287. 10.1016/j.jcpa.2007.02.005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Bracht AJ, Brudek RL, Ewing RY, Manire CA, Burek KA, Rosa C, Beckmen KB, Maruniak JE, Romero CH: Genetic identification of novel poxviruses of cetaceans and pinnipeds. Arch Virol. 2006, 151: 423-438. 10.1007/s00705-005-0679-6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Ohno Y, Inoshima Y, Maeda K, Ishiguro N: Molecular analysis of parapoxvirus from a spotted seal Phoca largha in Japan. Dis Aquat Organ. 2011, 97: 11-16. 10.3354/dao02405.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tryland M, Klein J, Nordøy ES, Blix AS: Isolation and partial characterization of a parapoxvirus isolated from a skin lesion of a Weddell seal. Virus Res. 2005, 108: 83-87. 10.1016/j.virusres.2004.08.005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Burek KA, Beckmen K, Gelatt T, Fraser W, Bracht AJ, Smolarek KA, Romero CH: Poxvirus infection of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska. J Wildl Dis. 2005, 41: 745-752. 10.7589/0090-3558-41.4.745.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Wilson TM, Poglayen-Neuwall I: Pox in South American sea lions (Otaria byronia). Can J Comp Med. 1971, 35: 174-177.

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Clark C, McIntyre PG, Evans A, McInnes CJ, Lewis-Jones S: Human sealpox resulting from a seal bite: confirmation that sealpox virus is zoonotic. Br J Dermatol. 2005, 152: 791-793. 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06451.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Pugliares KR, Bogomolni A, Touhey KM, Herzig SM, Harry CT, Moore MJ: Marine mammal necropsy: an introductory guide for stranding responders and field biologists. Woods Hole Oceanog. Inst. Tech. Rept. WHOI-2007-06. 2007

    Google Scholar 

  39. VanDevanter DR, Warrener P, Bennett L, Schultz ER, Coulter S, Garber RL, Rose TM: Detection and analysis of diverse herpesviral species by consensus primer PCR. J Clin Microbiol. 1996, 34: 1666-1671.

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Tamura K, Peterson D, Peterson N, Stecher G, Nei M, Kumar S: MEGA5: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis using maximum likelihood, evolutionary distance, and maximum parsimony methods. Mol Biol Evol. 2011, 28: 2731-2739. 10.1093/molbev/msr121.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Thompson JD, Plewniak F, Poch O: A comprehensive comparison of multiple sequence alignment programs. Nucleic Acids Res. 1999, 27: 2682-2690. 10.1093/nar/27.13.2682.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ogden TH, Rosenberg MS: Multiple sequence alignment accuracy and phylogenetic inference. Syst Biol. 2006, 55: 314-328. 10.1080/10635150500541730.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Pellet P, Roizman B: Herpesviridae: a brief introduction. In Fields Virology.5th edition. Edited by Howley P. Philadelphia: Lippincott; 2007:2480–2499.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Harper GJ: Airborne micro-organisms: survival tests with four viruses. J Hyg. 1961, 59: 479-486. 10.1017/S0022172400039176.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Kennedy-Stoskopf S: Viral diseases. CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine. Edited by: Dierauf LA, Gulland FMD. 2001, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 285-307. 10.1201/9781420041637.sec3. 2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  46. Wood JP, Choi YW, Wendling MQ, Rogers JV, Chappie DJ: Environmental persistence of vaccinia virus on materials. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2013, 57: 399-404. 10.1111/lam.12126.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Reid SM, King DP, Shaw AE, Knowles NJ, Hutchings GH, Cooper EJ, Smith AW, Ferris NP: Development of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of marine caliciviruses (genus Vesivirus). J Virol Methods. 2007, 140: 166-173. 10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.11.010.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Schuh JC, Bielefeldt Ohmann H, Babiuk LA, Doige CE: Bovine herpesvirus-1-induced pharyngeal tonsil lesions in neonatal and weanling calves. J Comp Pathol. 1992, 106: 243-253. 10.1016/0021-9975(92)90053-W.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Winkler MT, Doster A, Jones C: Persistence and reactivation of bovine herpesvirus 1 in the tonsils of latently infected calves. J Virol. 2000, 74: 5337-5346. 10.1128/JVI.74.11.5337-5346.2000.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Caswell JL, Williams KJ: Respiratory system. In Jubb, Kennedy and Palmer’sn Pathology of Domestic Animals. 5th edition. Edited by Maxie MG. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2007:523–653.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Rocío Sánchez from VISAVET for her exceptional laboratory technical assistance and the entire Arctic and Veterinary Team of the Oceanografic for its excellent work and commitment to provide the best care to the animals. The authors are very grateful to Francisco Javier García Peña, Head of the Bacteriology Service of the Central Veterinary Laboratory of Algete, for performing the general bacteriology analyses. The authors also thank Mario Soriano-Navarro, from the Electron Microscopy Service of the Principe Felipe Research Center, for his excellent technical assistance. The authors thank Penta Laboratory, mainly Ángela Sastre, for IgG and IgM against herpesvirus determination. This work was supported by a collaborative agreement involving the Oceanografic Aquarium of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (Valencia), the VISAVET Center of Complutense University of Madrid and the Pfizer Foundation. CRG is the recipient of an FPU grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education. MM is the recipient of a PhD student grant from the Complutense University of Madrid.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VISAVET Center, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, ᅟ, Madrid, 28040, Spain

    Mar Melero, Consuelo Rubio-Guerri, Belén Rivera-Arroyo & José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno

  2. Veterinary Services, Oceanografic, Parques Reunidos Valencia, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, ᅟ, Valencia, 46013, Spain

    Daniel García-Párraga & José Luis Crespo

  3. Biomedical Sciences Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology Group), Veterinary School, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Av, Seminario s/n, Moncada, Valencia, 46113, Spain

    Juan Manuel Corpa & Joaquín Ortega

Authors
  1. Mar Melero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel García-Párraga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Juan Manuel Corpa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joaquín Ortega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Consuelo Rubio-Guerri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. José Luis Crespo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Belén Rivera-Arroyo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mar Melero.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

MM contributed to writing the manuscript. DGP, JMC, JO, CRG, JLC and BRA helped draft the manuscript. DGP, JMC, JO and JLC contributed to clinical diagnosis and necropsy performance and evaluation. JMC and JO contributed by performing the histopathology analysis. MM, CRG and BRA contributed with virology determinations. MM performed phylogenetic analyses. JMSV contributed to coordinating and reviewing the whole process. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Melero, M., García-Párraga, D., Corpa, J.M. et al. First molecular detection and characterization of herpesvirus and poxvirus in a Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). BMC Vet Res 10, 968 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-014-0308-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-014-0308-2

Keywords

  • Herpesvirus
  • Poxvirus
  • Walrus
  • Pinniped

BMC Veterinary Research

ISSN: 1746-6148

Contact us