Uruguayan Pinnipeds (Arctocephalus australis and Otaria flavescens): Evidence of Influenza Virus and Mycobacterium pinnipedii Infections

Arbiza, Juan; Blanc, Andrea; Castro-Ramos, Miguel; Katz, Hélèna; León, Alberto Ponce de; Clara, Mario

doi:10.5772/54214

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 68 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although some fur seals may reach the coast to rest, several are found dead or debilitated along the shore and the cause of their weakness or death cannot always be determined [ 4 , 5 ]. Few studies have attempted to identify the pathogens that infect these populations and their roles as etiological agents of diseases and as potential zoonotic agents, especially those concerned with viruses [ 6 – 10 ]. While the virome of marine mammals has already been investigated [ 11 ], these studies have been restricted to species native to the northern hemisphere.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metagenomic Survey of Viral Diversity Obtained from Feces of Subantarctic and South American Fur Seals

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Brazilian South coast seasonally hosts numerous marine species, observed particularly during winter months. Some animals, including fur seals, are found dead or debilitated along the shore and may harbor potential pathogens within their microbiota. In the present study, a metagenomic approach was performed to evaluate the viral diversity in feces of fur seals found deceased along the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The fecal virome of two fur seal species was characterized: the South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) and the Subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis). Fecal samples from 10 specimens (A. australis, n = 5; A. tropicalis, n = 5) were collected and viral particles were purified, extracted and amplified with a random PCR. The products were sequenced through Ion Torrent and Illumina platforms and assembled reads were submitted to BLASTx searches. Both viromes were dominated by bacteriophages and included a number of potentially novel virus genomes. Sequences of picobirnaviruses, picornaviruses and a hepevirus-like were identified in A. australis. A rotavirus related to group C, a novel member of the Sakobuvirus and a sapovirus very similar to California sea lion sapovirus 1 were found in A. tropicalis. Additionally, sequences of members of the Anelloviridae and Parvoviridae families were detected in both fur seal species. This is the first metagenomic study to screen the fecal virome of fur seals, contributing to a better understanding of the complexity of the viral community present in the intestinal microbiota of these animals.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metagenomic Survey of Viral Diversity Obtained from Feces of Subantarctic and South American Fur Seals

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Viruses capable of infecting and replicating in pinnipeds may be more adapted to mammalian than avian hosts (20). In addition to serving as a spillover host, other influenza subtypes could be endemic in Uruguayan pinnipeds (53), providing genetic reassortment opportunities. Lastly, the AIV interspecies transmission should be closely monitored through continued surveillance and containment measures to restrict transmission.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infections in pinnipeds and seabirds in Uruguay: a paradigm shift to virus transmission in South America

Tomás,

Marandino,

Panzera

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented deaths in South American wild birds, poultry, and marine mammals. In September 2023, pinnipeds and seabirds appeared dead on the Uruguayan Atlantic coast. Sixteen influenza virus strains were characterized by real-time reverse transcription PCR and genome sequencing in samples from sea lions (Otaria flavescens), fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), and terns (Sterna hirundinacea). Phylogenetic and ancestral reconstruction analysis showed that these strains have pinnipeds as the most likely ancestral host, representing a recent introduction of the clade 2.3.4.4b in Uruguay. The Uruguayan and closely related strains from Peru (sea lions) and Chile (sea lions and a human case) carry mammalian adaptative residues 591K and 701N in the viral polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2). Our findings suggest that the clade 2.3.4.4b strains in South America may have spread from mammals to mammals and seabirds, revealing a new transmission route.

show abstract

“…Secondly, in the case of adult SAFSs, their predominantly piscivorous diet, fast digestion rates (Helm, 1984), and/or the last feeding event occurring far from the coast could contribute to the occurrence of empty stomachs. Additionally, we cannot disregard the possibility of sicknesses such as influenza virus and Mycobacterium pinnipedii (Tuberculosis) infections (Arbiza et al, 2012; Bastida et al, 1999). However, the health status of pinnipeds stranded in southern Rio Grande do Sul has not been assessed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding habits of South American and sub‐Antarctic fur seals during their nonbreeding season in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Lima

Albernaz

Secchi

et al. 2023

Marine Mammal Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stomach contents of South American (Arctocephalus australis) (n = 219) (SAFS) and sub‐Antarctic (A. tropicalis) (n = 37) (SFS) fur seals were opportunistically sampled from 1980 to 2021 to examine their feeding habits and resource partitioning in southern Brazil while in their nonreproductive periods. SAFSs mainly consumed abundant coastal pelagic species, such as Anchoa marinii and Doryteuthis sanpaulensis, resulting in high sexual trophic niche overlap. The frequency of occurrence (%FO) of fish prey, especially the overexploited Micropogonias furnieri, decreased between 1980–1992 and 2007–2021, while squid increased. For SFSs, offshore squids such as Ommastrephes bartramii and Illex argentinus were the most important prey considering both sexes in the long‐term. The interspecific trophic niche overlap was low, but it is likely underestimated since it increased with the inclusion of scat samples from SFSs. This sample‐size effect was also observed in Shannon's diversity index, which was lower for underrepresented SFSs. Marine debris ingestion was detected in both species (SAFS %FO = 2.7; SFS %FO = 8.3), with only flexible plastic material found. This study brings novel information on feeding habits of fur seal species in the extreme south of Brazil, as well as unprecedented information about their ecology during the nonreproductive period.

show abstract

Uruguayan Pinnipeds (Arctocephalus australis and Otaria flavescens): Evidence of Influenza Virus and Mycobacterium pinnipedii Infections

Cited by 15 publications

References 68 publications

Metagenomic Survey of Viral Diversity Obtained from Feces of Subantarctic and South American Fur Seals

Metagenomic Survey of Viral Diversity Obtained from Feces of Subantarctic and South American Fur Seals

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infections in pinnipeds and seabirds in Uruguay: a paradigm shift to virus transmission in South America

Feeding habits of South American and sub‐Antarctic fur seals during their nonbreeding season in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About