Herpes virus infection associated with interstitial nephritis in a beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)

Abstract

BackgroundThe capacity for herpesvirus to cause disease in cetaceans is unclear and may be varied depending on the different conditions of individuals and between different species. Kidney pathology and intralesional virus-associated infection have been rarely reported in cetaceans.ResultOn April 2004, an old adult male Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) 420 cm long with a poor body condition was stranded on Tenerife Island. During necropsy, no gross lesions were observed in the kidneys. However, membranous glomerulonephritis, multifocal interstitial lymphoplasmacytic nephritis and acute multifocal necrotizing tubulointerstitial nephritis with intranuclear inclusion bodies was diagnosed by histological analysis. Tissue samples were submitted for bacteriological analysis and molecular viral screening.ConclusionA novel alpha herpesvirus associated with interstitial nephritis was identified in an old adult male Blainville's beaked whale (M. densirostris) with a poor body condition stranded in the Canary Islands. This report suggests that identification of herpesvirus infection could be used as a differential diagnosis for interstitial nephritis in cetaceans.

Retrospective Study of Etiologic Agents Associated with Nonsuppurative Meningoencephalitis in Stranded Cetaceans in the Canary Islands

“…However, although HV infections are often not associated with clinical signs, severe diseases can occur. Evidence of herpesviral pathogenicity has been described in cetaceans, with the main lesions being cellular necrosis and viral intranuclear inclusions (12,(48)(49)(50)55).…”

Alphaherpesvirus: Isolation, Identification, Partial Characterisation, Associated Pathologic Findings and Epidemiology in Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Alaska and Arctic Canada

“…Virus isolation and propagation in cell cultures of herpesviruses from cetaceans have not been reported, probably due to the lack of available permissive cell lines. Other pathologies associated with herpesvirus infection in cetaceans include proliferative dermatitis in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) , penile lesions in a dead stranded beluga, from the St. Lawrence River Estuary (Bellehumeur et al 2015), encephalitis in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (Kennedy et al 1992), interstitial nephritis in a beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) (Arbelo et al 2012), and lymphoid necrosis, also in a beaked whale (Arbelo et al 2010). A pan-herpesvirus nested PCR assay performed on a frozen tissue lesion from the beluga from the St. Lawrence River was positive, and sequencing of the amplified DNA fragment revealed the identity to be an alphaherpesvirus tentatively named beluga whale herpes virus (BWHV).…”

HERPESVIRUS-ASSOCIATED GENITAL LESIONS IN A STRANDED STRIPED DOLPHIN (STENELLA COERULEOALBA) IN THE CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN

“…Herpesvirus infections have been described in five families of cetaceans: Phocoenidae, Monodontidae, Delphinidae, Kogiidae, and Ziphiidae (Martineau et al 1988;Smolarek Benson et al 2006;Arbelo et al 2010Arbelo et al , 2012. These viruses in cetaceans have been associated with localized infections of the skin and genital mucosa and with systemic or organ system infections.…”

“…Molecular studies also have described alphaherpesviruses associated with fatal systemic infections in two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Blanchard et al 2001), a localized infection of the lymphoid system in a Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris; Arbelo et al 2010), and acute multifocal necrotizing tubulointerstitial nephritis in a Blainville's beaked whale (Arbelo et al 2012). …”