Molecular Characterization of Poxviruses Associated with Tattoo Skin Lesions in UK Cetaceans

Abstract

There is increasing concern for the well-being of cetacean populations around the UK. Tattoo skin disease (characterised by irregular, grey, black or yellowish, stippled cutaneous lesions) caused by poxvirus infection is a potential health indicatora potential health indicator for cetaceans. Limited sequence data indicates that cetacean poxviruses (CPVs) belong to an unassigned genus of the Chordopoxvirinae. To obtain further insight into the phylogenetic relationships between CPV and other Chordopoxvirinae members we partially characterized viral DNA originating from tattoo lesions collected in Delphinidae and Phocoenidae stranded along the UK coastline in 1998–2008. We also evaluated the presence of CPV in skin lesions other than tattoos to examine specificity and sensitivity of visual diagnosis. After DNA extraction, regions of the DNA polymerase and DNA topoisomerase I genes were amplified by PCR, sequenced and compared with other isolates. The presence of CPV DNA was demonstrated in tattoos from one striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), eight harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and one short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and in one ‘dubious tattoo’ lesion detected in one other porpoise. Seventeen of the 18 PCR positive skin lesions had been visually identified as tattoos and one as a dubious tattoo. None of the other skin lesions were PCR positive. Thus, visual identification had a 94.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The DNA polymerase PCR was most effective in detecting CPV DNA. Limited sequence phylogeny grouped the UK samples within the odontocete poxviruses (CPV group 1) and indicated that two different poxvirus lineages infect the Phocoenidae and the Delphinidae. The phylogenetic tree had three major branches: one with the UK Phocoenidae viruses, one with the Delphinidae isolates and one for the mysticete poxvirus (CPV group 2). This implies a radiation of poxviruses according to the host suborder and the families within these suborders.

Isolation and Molecular Diagnosis of Orf Virus from Small Ruminants and Human in Egypt

“…ELISA was found simples, sensitive and accurate for rapid diagnosis of Orf virus in human and animals in Egypt. Increasing the positive percent of Orf virus antibodies in the serum samples of human and animals may be due to cross reactivity with viruses belong family family Poxviridae this finding is in agreement with that obtained by [4,10].On the other hand this finding is disagreement with [42][43][44].They found that cross immunity between orthopoxvirus and ORF virus do not occur and the diseases caused by Orf virus species are identical in animals & humans.…”

“…Interestingly, results that the isolated ORF virus from human is identical of Orf virus isolated from sheep and goat in Egypt as in Figures 4-6. PCR is a rapid, sensitive and specific tool in identifying several infectious diseases of veterinary importance as mention by [40][41][42][43]. Comparing different serological tests AGPT and IFAT with ELISA for detection of anti Orf virus antibodies.…”

Emerging viruses in marine mammals.

“…Cetacean and pinniped poxviruses are globally widespread and commonly found in regions where these marine mammal species are found. Cetacean poxvirus infections have been described in mysticetes and odontocetes including southern right whales (Eubalaena australis), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), harbour and Burmeister's porpoises and bottlenose, striped, common, dusky (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) and Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) [46,76,[139][140][141][142][143].…”

“…Poxviruses have been considered emerging pathogens in cetaceans and are presently classified into two major lineages: CePV-1 in odontocetes and CePV-2 in mysticetes [154]. Cetacean pox virus causes 'tattoo skin disease' (TSD) which is a poxvirus dermatopathy proposed to be caused by a new genus of Cetaceanpoxvirus most closely related to members of the Orthopoxvirus genus with different cetacean lineages [142,147]. Grossly, TSD cutaneous lesions are typically randomly distributed, multifocal to coalescing, ring to pinhole shaped, flat, soft, black with a light grey margin and nonulcerative, ranging from 0.3 to 1 cm in diameter.…”

Serological Detection of Causative Agents of Infectious and Invasive Diseases in the Beluga Whale Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776) (Cetacea: Monodontidae) from Sakhalinsky Bay

“…When using the beluga whale as an indicator species to assess the state of marine Arctic ecosystems, the tested parameters are spatial distribution, population structure, an individual's hormonal status, and the presence of xenobiotics in tissues (including anthropogenic pollutants), as well as the occurrence of invasions and infections of various etiologies [9,18]. An array of pathogens have been reported to circulate in cetacean populations: Brucella and Toxoplasma species [1,2], mycobacteria [25], cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) [5,15], Otariidae adenovirus (OtAdV) 1 [5,19], influenza A virus [5,13], beluga whale coronavirus SW1 (BWCoV SW1) [5,29], vesicular exanthema MICROBIOLOGY of swine virus (VESV) 2 [5,26], beluga whale herpes virus (BWHV) [14], Phocoena spinipinnis papillomavirus (PsPV) [5], and cetacean poxvirus 1 (CPV-1) [5,16].…”