title: Central nervous system disease and genital disease in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are associated with different herpesviruses.
abstract: Herpesvirus infection causes disease of variable severity in many species, including cetaceans. However, little is known about herpesvirus infection in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), despite being widespread in temperate coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, we examined harbor porpoises that stranded alive in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany between 2000 and 2014 for herpesvirus infection and associated disease. Porpoises that died or had to be euthanized were autopsied, and samples were collected for virological and pathological analyses. We found one known herpesvirus (Phocoena phocoena herpesvirus type 1, PPHV-1)--a gammaherpesvirus--and two novel herpesviruses (PPHV-2 and PPHV-3)--both alphaherpesviruses--in these porpoises. A genital plaque, in which PPHV-1 was detected, occurred in 1% (1/117) of porpoises. The plaque was characterized by epithelial hyperplasia and intranuclear inclusion bodies that contained herpesvirus-like particles, and that stained positive by a PPHV-1-specific in situ hybridization test. PPHV-2 occurred in the brain of 2% (1/74) of porpoises. This infection was associated with lymphocytic encephalitis, characterized by neuronal necrosis and intranuclear inclusion bodies containing herpesvirus-like particles. PPHV-3 had a prevalence of 5% (4/74) in brain tissue, 5% (2/43) in blowhole swabs, and 2% (1/43) in genital swabs, but was not associated with disease. Phylogenetically, PPHV-1 was identical to a previously reported herpesvirus from a harbor porpoise, PPHV-2 showed closest identity with two herpesviruses from dolphins, and PPHV-3 showed closest identity with a cervid herpesvirus. In conclusion, harbor porpoises may be infected with at least three different herpesviruses, one of which can cause clinically severe neurological disease.
authors: Dolfinarium Harderwijk, Strandboulevard Oost 1, 3841 AB, Harderwijk, The Netherlands. Niels.van.Elk@dolfinarium.nl.
authors: Cornelis
authors: C
authors: van Elk
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.vandebildt@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: van de Bildt
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. p.vanrun@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: van Run
authors: Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.a.w.dejong@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Anton
authors: A
authors: de Jong
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. s.getu@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Getu
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. g.verjans@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Georges
authors: G
authors: Verjans
authors: Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 2, 30559, Hannover, Germany. Albert.Osterhaus@tiho-hannover.de.
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Osterhaus
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. t.kuiken@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Thijs
authors: T
authors: Kuiken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D050741:Phocoena; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins