New recognition of Enterovirus infections in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
An enterovirus was cultured from an erosive tongue lesion of a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The morphology of virions on negative staining electron microscopy was consistent with those of enteroviruses. Analysis of 2613 bp of the polyprotein gene identified the isolate as a novel enterovirus strain, tentatively named bottlenose dolphin enterovirus (BDEV), that nests within the species Bovine enterovirus. Serologic evidence of exposure to enteroviruses was common in both free-ranging and managed collection dolphins. Managed collection dolphins were more likely to have high antibody levels, although the highest levels were reported in free-ranging populations. Associations between enterovirus antibody levels, and age, sex, complete blood counts, and clinical serum biochemistries were explored. Dolphins with higher antibody levels were more likely to be hyperproteinemic and hyperglobulinemic.
Nollens
Hendrik H
HH
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. NollensH@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
Rivera
Rebecca
R
Palacios
Gustavo
G
Wellehan
James F X
JF
Saliki
Jeremiah T
JT
Caseltine
Shannon L
SL
Smith
Cynthia R
CR
Jensen
Eric D
ED
Hui
Jeffrey
J
Lipkin
W Ian
WI
Yochem
Pamela K
PK
Wells
Randall S
RS
St Leger
Judy
J
Venn-Watson
Stephanie
S
D000818:Animals; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000821:virology*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D029650:Enterovirus, Bovine / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014059:Tongue / Q000821:virology