title: Mustelid herpesvirus-2, a novel herpes infection in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni).
abstract: Oral ulcerations and plaques with epithelial eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions were observed in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) that died or were admitted for rehabilitation after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) in Alaska, USA. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of herpesviral virions. Additionally, a serologic study from 2004 to 2005 found a high prevalence of exposure to a herpesvirus in live-captured otters. Tissues from 29 otters after the EVOS and nasal swabs from 83 live-captured otters in the Kodiak Archipelago were tested for herpesviral DNA. Analysis identified a novel herpesvirus in the gamma subfamily, most closely related to Mustelid herpesvirus-1 from badgers. Results indicated that this herpesvirus is associated with ulcerative lesions but is also commonly found in secretions of healthy northern sea otters.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleetwood
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Verena A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: R Keith
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lipscomb
authors.forename: Jonna A K
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mazet
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D009666:Nose / Q000821:virology; D010041:Otters / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral