title: Phocine herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) in harbor seals from Svalbard, Norway.
abstract: Phocine herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) infections in seals are associated with disease and sometimes high mortality, primarily in young animals. PhHV-1 has been detected in seals from European waters as well as in waters on both coasts of North America. Serological surveys of various pinniped species have indicated a wide geographical distribution of PhHV-1. A quantitative and sensitive real-time PCR assay targeting the gene encoding glycoprotein B of PhHV-1 was developed for detection of PhHV-1 in ocular and nasal swab samples from wild harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from Svalbard (Norway). PhHV-1 DNA was detected in samples from 6 (8%) seals collected in 2009 and 2 (3%) in 2010; all had herpesvirus DNA in the ocular swab sample, whereas only one of these animals also had herpesvirus DNA in the nasal swab sample. Four PCR positive animals were approximately 1 year of age and four were pups of the year. Serum samples obtained in 1998 (n=59), 1999 (n=74), 2000 (n=81), 2009 (n=69) and 2010 (n=83) were tested for anti-PhHV-1 antibodies in an indirect ELISA. The PhHV-1 seroprevalence in the population remained high throughout this period, varying from 77 to 100% between years. No eye disease was observed in this harbor seal population, but the ELISA and PCR findings reported here suggest that PhHV-1 is endemic in this globally northernmost harbor seal colony, and that the virus is shed on the mucosa of the eye and nose.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Swaantje J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: B Karsten
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tischer
authors.forename: Kit M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lydersen
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osterrieder
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tryland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005123:Eye / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D009664:Norway; D046049:Phoca / Q000821:virology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013538:Svalbard; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C104210:glycoprotein B, phocid herpesvirus 1