Exposure to novel parainfluenza virus and clinical relevance in 2 bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations.
Parainfluenza virus (PIV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections in humans. A novel virus closely related to human and bovine parainfluenza viruses types 3 (HPIV-3 and BPIV-3), named Tursiops truncatus parainfluenza virus type 1 (TtPIV-1), was isolated from a dolphin with respiratory disease. We developed a dolphin-specific ELISA to measure acute- and convalescent-phase PIV antibodies in dolphins during 1999-2006 with hemograms similar to that of the positive control. PIV seroconversion occurred concurrently with an abnormal hemogram in 22 animals, of which 7 (31.8%) had respiratory signs. Seroprevalence surveys were conducted on 114 healthy bottlenose dolphins in Florida and California. When the most conservative interpretation of positive was used, 11.4% of healthy dolphins were antibody positive, 29.8% were negative, and 58.8% were inconclusive. PIV appears to be a common marine mammal virus that may be of human health interest because of the similarity of TtPIV-1 to BPIV-3 and HPIV-3.
Venn-Watson
Stephanie
S
US Navy Marine Mammal Program, SSC San Diego, 53560 Hull St, Code 71510, San Diego, CA 92152, USA. stephanie.wong@navy.mil
Rivera
Rebecca
R
Smith
Cynthia R
CR
Saliki
Jeremiah T
JT
Caseltine
Shannon
S
St Leger
Judy
J
Yochem
Pam
P
Wells
Randall S
RS
Nollens
Hendrik
H
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000821:virology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D018108:Respirovirus / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral