Genital Herpesvirus in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus): Cultivation, Epidemiology, and Associated Pathology

Abstract

ABSTRACT:We studied the pathology, epidemiology, and clinical significance of genital herpesvirus infection in a zoo collection of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Samples from the genital mucosa of male (n521) and female (n515) dolphins were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the DNA polymerase of herpesvirus. Herpesvirus infection was significantly associated with the occurrence of mucosal plaques on penis (n53) or vulva (n54). Biopsies from a penile plaque showed epithelial hyperplasia by histology, contained herpesvirus-like particles by electron microscopy, and tested positive for herpesvirus by PCR. Herpesvirus was successfully cultivated from penile plaque samples and identified as a member of the Gammaherpesvirinae by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We used the newly cultivated bottlenose dolphin herpesvirus (TTHV) to develop a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-TTHV antibodies in banked sera of these dolphins. The percentage of positive samples was higher in adults (20/21, 95%) than in juveniles (7/15, 47%). Seroconversion occurred around the age of onset of sexual behavior. Although herpesvirus infection has been associated with abortion, perinatal mortality, and urogenital neoplasia in other species, we found no evidence of herpesvirus infection by PCR in tissues from six cases of abortion and perinatal mortality, and no diagnoses of urogenital tumors in 24 bottlenose dolphins from this zoo collection that died since 1990. Together, we here report the first successful cultivation from bottlenose dolphins of a herpesvirus that probably causes benign genital plaques, is endemic in this group of dolphins, and is likely transmitted by sexual contact.

Viral molecular and pathological investigations ofCanid herpesvirus1 infection associated respiratory disease and acute death in dogs

“…Compared with herpesvirus infections in other animals, most clinical signs after infection were involving the respiratory system according to its host cellular tropism and host restrictive property [1]. However, other clinical signs affecting other organs were reported such as ocular diseases in feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection [1], cardiac injuries in calves with bovine herpesvirus-1(BHV-1) infection [23], caulifl ower-like mass on the skin and genital tract in dolphins with bottlenose dolphin herpesvirus (TTHV) infection [24], and abortion with encephalomyelitis in equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection [25].…”

Health and Environmental Risk Assessment Project for bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from the southeastern USA. I. Infectious diseases

“…The role played by human HVs such as herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) as co-factors in such cancers remains unclear, although HSV2 co-infection is regularly found in PV-induced cervical carcinomas. Eight species-specific viruses, 7 PVs, and 2 HVs have now been separately shown to be associated with genital tumors in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins: TtPV1-6, as well as HVs provisionally assigned the names DeHV4 and -5 (delphinid HVs) (Van Elk et al 2009, Rehtanz et al 2012. Therefore, it appears that the viral causality in tumor development is complex since 'hit and run' (i.e.…”

Isolation and Identification of Herpesvirus in the Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) of Terminos Lagoon, Campeche, Mexico

“…However, systemic disease or internal lesions attributable to herpesvirus have been described only sporadically in cetaceans (Blanchard et al 2001), one Cuvier's beaked whale and harbour porpoise. One disseminated herpesvirus infection was observed in two bottlenose dolphins with necrotizing lesions and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in multiple organs (Van Elk et al 2009). Previous studies have associated the presence of herpesvirus in the skin lesions of fatal systemic diseases in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Smolarek et al 2006).…”

“…In addition to EM, immunoperoxidase staining (Soto et al 2011), serum neutralization and enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assays have been used as indicators for the presence of herpesviruses in cetaceans (Van Elk et al 2009). In this report, we document the presence of herpesvirus in free-ranging dolphins from Mexico in order to obtain information about the health status in this population in the southern Gulf of Mexico support future stranding events causes.…”

“…Alphaherpesviruses have been associated with fatal systemic infections in Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), in a Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), and in cutaneous lesions in Bottlenose dolphins (Blanchard et al 2001). Gammaherpesviruses have been identified in mucosal lesions in Bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), dwarf sperm whales (Kogiasima) and Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris; Smolarek et al 2006;Bossart 2007;Van Elk et al 2009). In addition, nonpurulent encephalitis associated with herpesvirus infection has been described in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).…”