title: A novel gammaherpesvirus in a large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) with blepharitis.
abstract: A novel gammaherpesvirus was identified in a large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) with conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and meibomianitis by nested polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of 472 base pairs of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase gene were used to identify a novel herpesvirus. Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses indicated that the virus is a member of the genus Percavirus in the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae. Additional research is needed regarding the association of this virus with conjunctivitis and other ocular pathology. This virus may be useful as a biomarker of stress and may be a useful model of virus recrudescence in Pteropus spp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. brockp@ufl.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paige Brock
authors.forename: Galaxia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cortés-Hinojosa
authors.forename: Caryn E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Shannon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Roff
authors.forename: April L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Childress
authors.forename: James F X
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wellehan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002685:Chiroptera; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny
keywords: Conjunctivitis; Percavirus; Pteropus vampyrus; herpesvirus; large flying fox