title: Molecular identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus in the endangered Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes).
abstract: We report the detection and characterization of a novel gammaherpesvirus in the critically endangered Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes; syn. Pseudalopex fulvipes) on Chiloé Island, Chile. Out of 28 analysed blood samples stored in alcohol, four were positive for this herpesvirus using a previously described pan-herpesvirus PCR assay targeting the herpesvirus DNA polymerase. Positive samples were subsequently characterized by means of a PCR targeting a 500 bp fragment of the glycoprotein B of the gammaherpesviruses. This novel herpesvirus was most closely related to other gammaherpesviruses from terrestrial carnivores, and is tentatively named Darwin's fox gammaherpesvirus. No apparent lesions were observed in the surveyed foxes. This is the first report of a gammaherpesvirus infecting a canid worldwide, and also of one infecting a carnivore from South America.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Chiloe-Silvestre, Las Américas 1060, Ancud, Chiloé, Chile.|Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (UCLM, CSIC, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cabello
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), 28130 Valdeolmos, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esperón
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular & Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: Conservation and Research Department (CIBZ), Parque Zoológico Buin Zoo, Panamericana Sur Km 32 Buin, Chile.
authors.forename: Ezequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (UCLM, CSIC, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.affiliation: Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS) (Wildlife Diseases Research Group), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millán
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D056727:Endangered Species; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000821:virology*; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase