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Identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with (muco)cutaneous lesions in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

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Abstract

Herpesviruses infect a wide range of vertebrates, including toothed whales of the order Cetacea. One of the smallest toothed whales is the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), which is widespread in the coastal waters of the northern hemisphere, including the North Sea. Here, we describe the detection and phylogenetic analysis of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with mucocutaneous and skin lesions in stranded harbour porpoises along the Dutch coast, tentatively designated phocoenid herpesvirus 1 (PhoHV1). Phylogenetically, PhoHV1 forms a monophyletic clade with all other gammaherpesviruses described in toothed whales (Odontoceti) to date, suggesting a common evolutionary origin.

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Acknowledgments

This report was only possible thanks to finding and securing of the harbour porpoise carcasses by the EHBZ Dutch stranding network, including the additional organizations and institutes involved. Harbour porpoise necropsies were funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (grant number 140000353). The staff of the VPDC histology lab are acknowledged for making the histological slides. Marco Viveen (UMC Utrecht) is acknowledged for technical assistance with the electron microscopy. The authors thank Dr. R. Thomas for proofreading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology Division, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.158, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Steven J. van Beurden, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Geert de Vrieze, Andrea Gröne & M. Hélène Verheije

  2. Molecular Host Defence Division, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.158, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Soledad R. Ordonez

  3. Institut für Virologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 109, 35392, Giessen, Germany

    Christine Förster

  4. Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.158, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Andrea Gröne & Marja Kik

Authors
  1. Steven J. van Beurden
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  2. Lonneke L. IJsseldijk
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  3. Soledad R. Ordonez
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Correspondence to Steven J. van Beurden.

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van Beurden, S.J., IJsseldijk, L.L., Ordonez, S.R. et al. Identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with (muco)cutaneous lesions in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Arch Virol 160, 3115–3120 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-015-2607-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-015-2607-8

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