CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION OF THE PROSTATE IN THE DASYURID MARSUPIALS, Phascogale tapoatafa AND Antechinus stuartii

Abstract

Infection by a herpesvirus producing cytomegalic disease in the prostate was demonstrated in the dasyurid marsupials, Phascogale tapoatafa and Antechinus stuartii. The prevalence of lesions among the latter was highest in mature animals during breeding, when the animals are known to be under stress, and in animals treated daily with high levels of exogenous corticosteroid. Occasional cytomegaly was observed in the kidneys of some A. stuartii and may represent a site of latent infection. Virus particles of herpes type were demonstrated by electron microscopy in the nucleus and cytoplasm of infected prostatic cells. It is suggested that the infection may be venereal.

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Herpesvirus From a Free-Ranging Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus Giganteus)

“…This is the first isolation of a herpesvirus from a free-ranging macropod with clinical signs of disease. Serologic studies have shown that a number of different freeranging Australian marsupial species, including EGKs, possess neutralizing antibodies against MaHV-1 and MaHV-2, but the clinical significance of infection with herpesviruses in these free-ranging populations is not known (Webber and Whalley, 1978;Barker et al, 1981;Rothwell et al, 1988). Because these earlier reports were based on detection of antibody and not isolation of the viruses that induced them, it is not known exactly which herpesviruses were present because cross-neutralization has been reported frequently between herpesviruses from related and distant hosts (Wilks et al, 1981).…”

“…In Australian marsupials, electron microscopy and serologic surveys have detected evidence of herpesvirus infection in possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), dasyurids (Phascogale tapoatafa and Antechinus stuartii), and wombats (Vombatus ursinus), but no sequence data from these viruses have been reported (Webber and Whalley, 1978;Barker et al, 1981;Rothwell et al, 1988;Rice and Wilks, 1996). Most recently, two novel gammaherpesviruses (phascolarctid herpesviruses 1 and 2, PhaHV-1 and PhaHV-2) have been detected in wild koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) by partial sequencing of the conserved region of the DNA polymerase gene (Vaz et al, , 2012.…”

Detection and Identification of a Gammaherpesvirus inAntechinusspp. in Australia

“…Electron microscopy showed viral particles consistent with herpesvirus virions, and the virus was described as a cytomegalovirus based on the observation of enlarged cells containing intranuclear inclusions, characteristic of cytomegalovirus infection. Cytomegaly was also observed in the kidneys of some male agile antechinus, and small eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were also rarely observed within hepatocytes (Barker et al 1978(Barker et al , 1981. No inflammatory response was observed, and apart from displacement of normal glandular prostatic tissue, the authors concluded that infection did not appear to be detrimental to the host (Barker et al 1981).…”

“…Cytomegaly was also observed in the kidneys of some male agile antechinus, and small eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were also rarely observed within hepatocytes (Barker et al 1978(Barker et al , 1981. No inflammatory response was observed, and apart from displacement of normal glandular prostatic tissue, the authors concluded that infection did not appear to be detrimental to the host (Barker et al 1981). Similar lesions have been observed in the prostate of the dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii) by Munday and Obendorf (1983), and it was hypothesized that stress and hyperadrenocorticism in postbreeding male antechinus may lead to enhanced reactivation and replication of latent viral infections (Munday and Obendorf 1983).…”

“…In their investigations into postmating male mortality, Barker et al (1981) observed evidence of cytomegaloviral infection in the prostate of two small dasyurid species: the brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and the agile antechinus (Antechinus stuartii; now known as Antechinus agilis). Electron microscopy showed viral particles consistent with herpesvirus virions, and the virus was described as a cytomegalovirus based on the observation of enlarged cells containing intranuclear inclusions, characteristic of cytomegalovirus infection.…”