title: [Viral epizootic in the marine seal calf (Phoca vitulina) in 1988. Epidemiological aspects].
abstract: During the year 1988, an epizootic spread through European populations of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). The first studies shed light on the importance of a new morbillivirus, close to canine distemper virus but different. However, other factors, like pollution by polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds may have played a part in the epizootic by increasing mortality. Up to then virology and pathology of wild populations of seals were not well known. This epizootic was an opportunity to learn about seal virus and their specificity, and to discover some biological and evolutionary implications of such a phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Centre national d'études vétérinaires et alimentaires, laboratoire central de recherches vétérinaires, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moutou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D010252:Paramyxoviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000382:microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
vernacular_title: Epizootie virale chez le phoque veau marin (Phoca vitulina) en 1988. Aspects épidémiologiques.