Neutralizing antibodies to phocine distemper virus in Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from Arctic Canada.
The first evidence of phocine distemper virus (PDV) infection in Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from Nottingham Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, is reported. Blood samples were collected from three male walruses killed by Inuit hunters in the fall of 1990. Differential virus neutralization test for each animal yielded higher titers against PDV than against other members of the Morbillivirus genus including canine distemper, peste des petits ruminants, rinderpest and measles viruses. Thus, PDV infection may be enzootic in walruses of the eastern Canadian Arctic.
Duignan
P J
PJ
Department of Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
Saliki
J T
JT
St Aubin
D J
DJ
House
J A
JA
Geraci
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D018104:Distemper Virus, Phocine / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018185:Morbillivirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D015873:Northwest Territories / Q000453:epidemiology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014856:Walruses
D000914:Antibodies, Viral