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Padraig J Duignan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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in Coastal Indo-Pacific
2016Co-Authors: Nahiid Stephens, John Bingham, Padraig J Duignan, Jianning Wang, Hugh Finn, Lars Bejder, I. Anthony, P. Patterson, Carly HolyoakeAbstract:Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) has caused several epizootics in multiple species of cetaceans globally and is an emerging disease among cetaceans in Australia. We detected CeMV in 2 stranded coastal Indo-Pacific bottle-nose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Western Australia. Preliminary phylogenetic data suggest that this virus variant is divergent from known strains. Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV; family Paramyxoviri-dae) has caused several epizootics globally during the past 25 years. Three strains of CeMV—porpoise, dolphin, and pilot whale Morbillivirus—are classified as 1 species (1). CeMV is more closely related to ruminant morbillivi-ruses and human measles virus than to canine and phocine distemper viruses (1,2). Recently, a Morbillivirus with phylogenetic similar-ity to dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) caused the death o
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Morbillivirus infection in bottlenose dolphins evidence for recurrent epizootics in the western atlantic and gulf of mexico
Marine Mammal Science, 2006Co-Authors: Padraig J Duignan, Carol House, David J St Aubin, Michael T. Walsh, Bertus K. Rima, Daniel K Odell, Larry J Hansen, Randall S Wells, J. R. GeraciAbstract:Morbillivirus infection is widespread among odontocetes of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Serologic evidence of infection in bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, was first detected during an epizootic along the mid-Atlantic coast in 1987. Here, we report recurrent epizootics in the coastal dolphin population since at least the early 1980s based on serological surveys and regional stranding frequencies. The first observed epizootic of this series occurred in the Indian and Banana Rivers in 1982 and was followed by others on the mid-Atlantic coast in 1987–1988 and in the Gulf of Mexico between 1992 and 1994. This temporal pattern of infection is likely facilitated by the population size and its fragmentation into relatively discrete coastal communities. Introduction of Morbillivirus into a community with a sufficient number of naive hosts may precipitate an epizootic, depending on the potential for transmission within the group. Propagation of an epizootic along the coast is probably determined by frequency of contact between adjacent communities and seasonal migrations. Morbillivirus antibodies were also detected in serum from offshore bottlenose dolphins. The sero-prevalence in the latter may be higher than in coastal dolphins because of their close association with enzootically infected pilot whales (Globicephala spp.). Occasional contact between offshore and coastal dolphins may provide an epizootiologic link between pilot whales and coastal dolphin communities.
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epizootiology of Morbillivirus infection in north american harbor seals phoca vitulina and gray seals halichoerus grypus
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 1995Co-Authors: Padraig J Duignan, Greg Early, Samuel Sadove, David J St Aubin, James A House, Kit M Kovacs, Jeremiah T. Saliki, J. R. GeraciAbstract:A longitudinal study of Morbillivirus infection among harbor (Phoca vitulina) and gray (Halichoerus grypus) seals on the Atlantic coast of North America was carried out between 1980 and 1994. Serology also was carried out on harbor seals from the Pacific northwest coast collected in 1992 and 1993. The prevalence of Morbillivirus neutralizing antibodies was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in gray (73%, n = 296) than in harbor seals (37%, n = 387) from the Atlantic. Titers were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher against phocine distemper (PDV) compared to any other Morbillivirus. Antibodies were not detected in serum from Pacific harbor seals. During the winter of 1991 to 1992 an epizootic occurred among harbor seals on the northeast coast of the United States. The event was characterized by an increase in strandings and by a significant (P = 0.001) increase in PDV antibody prevalence to 83% (n = 36) in seals stranded that winter. Morbillivirus lesions and antigen were observed in six animals found strande...
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Morbillivirus infection in cetaceans of the western atlantic
Veterinary Microbiology, 1995Co-Authors: Padraig J Duignan, Noel Duffy, J. R. Geraci, Greg Early, Carol House, Samuel Sadove, David J St Aubin, Michael T. Walsh, Bertus K. Rima, Heather KoopmanAbstract:Abstract We report serologic evidence of Morbillivirus infection in eleven of fifteen species of odontocete cetaceans from the western Atlantic since 1986. Blood samples were obtained both from free-ranging and stranded animals. Virus neutralizing titers were higher against porpoise and dolphin Morbilliviruses than against peste des petits ruminants virus, phocine distemper virus or canine distemper virus (CDV). Serum from five species, tested in a heterologous immunoprecipitation assay using radio-labelled CDV, precipitated the nucleocapsid (N) protein. Clinical Morbillivirus infection may potentially impact already threatened species such as the harbour porpoise and precipitate mass strandings of socially cohesive odontocetes.
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Morbillivirus infection in two species of pilot whale globicephala sp from the western atlantic
Marine Mammal Science, 1995Co-Authors: Padraig J Duignan, J. R. Geraci, Greg Early, Carol House, Heather G Copland, Carolyn Cray, Samuel Sadove, Gregory D Bossart, Michael T. Walsh, David J St AubinAbstract:We report evidence of enzootic Morbillivirus infection among long-finned, Globicephala melas, and short-finned, G. macrorhynchus, pilot whales in the western Atlantic. A retrospective serologic survey, using five Morbilliviruses, was carried out on 99 G. melas from 14 stranding events between 1982 and 1993 and from 25 G. macrorhynchus stranded in 5 events between 1986 and 1994. A blood sample was also obtained from an adult G. melas by-caught in the western North Atlantic. Tissues were collected from 24 G. melas and 15 G. macrorhynchus for histology and immunoperoxidase staining. Neutralizing antibody titers were found in 92 (92%) of 100 G. melas and 16 (64%) of 25 G. macrorynchus, and titers were highest against cetacean Morbilliviruses. Seroprevalence was similar between age classes and sexes. The earliest evidence of infection was in a G. melas that stranded in 1982. Stable antibody titers were observed in pilot whales under rehabilitation for up to eight months. Clinical disease consistent with Morbillivirus pneumonia was detected in a G. melas calf. Immunoperoxidase staining confirmed that viral antigen was present in the lesions. We propose that enzootic infection in pilot whales is facilitated by population size, social structure, and migration patterns. Furthermore, through mixing with other odontocetes, pilot whales could act as vectors through the Atlantic. Clinical Morbillivirus infection may precipitate mass strandings of highly social odontocetes.
Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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evolutionary evidence for multi host transmission of cetacean Morbillivirus
Emerging microbes & infections, 2018Co-Authors: Wendy K Jo, Jochen Kruppa, A Habierski, Sandro Mazzariol, Thijs Kuiken, Giovanni Di Guardo, Ursula Siebert, Klaus Jung, Albert D. M. E. OsterhausAbstract:Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) has emerged as the pathogen that poses the greatest risk of triggering epizootics in cetacean populations worldwide, and has a high propensity for interspecies transmi...
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complete genome sequence of phocine distemper virus isolated from a harbor seal phoca vitulina during the 1988 north sea epidemic
Genome Announcements, 2013Co-Authors: Rory D De Vries, Joyce R Verburgh, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus, Marco W G Van De Bildt, Rik L De SwartAbstract:Phocine distemper virus (PDV) was identified as the cause of a large Morbillivirus outbreak among harbor seals in the North Sea in 1988. PDV is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Morbillivirus. Until now, no full-genome sequence of PDV has been available.
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Morbillivirus infections of aquatic mammals: newly identified members of the genus
Veterinary Microbiology, 1995Co-Authors: Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus, Rik L De Swart, Peter S. Ross, Marcel Kenter, Thomas BarrettAbstract:Several disease outbreaks, which have caused the deaths of many thousands of seals and dolphins during the last decade, have now been attributed to infections with newly identified Morbilliviruses. Outbreaks in the late eighties amongst harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in northwestern Europe and amongst baikal seals (Phoca sibirica) in Siberia were caused by the newly discovered phocine distemper virus and by a strain of canine distemper virus, respectively. Although closely related these two viruses were not identical. They were more distantly related to the viruses which caused mass mortality amongst striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Mediterranean sea in the early nineties. This dolphin Morbillivirus was shown to be closely related to a virus that was found in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) which had stranded at the coasts of northwestern Europe in the late eighties: porpoise Morbillivirus. The present knowledge of the genetic and antigenic relationships of these apparently new members of the genus Morbillivirus with the established members of the genus is presented. In addition, the origin and epizootiological aspects of these newly discovered viruses are discussed. Finally experimental evidence that environmental pollution may have contributed to the severity and extent of these infections in recent years is presented.
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Characterisation of Morbilliviruses isolated from Lake Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica).
Veterinary microbiology, 1995Co-Authors: L.v. Mamaev, M. Fleming, I K G Visser, Timm C. Harder, B Liess, N.n. Denikina, S.i. Belikov, V.e. Volchkov, Chieko Kai, Albert D. M. E. OsterhausAbstract:Sequence analysis of the haemagglutinin protein (H) gene of the Morbillivirus (PDV-2) isolated from a Siberian seal (Phoca sibirica) during the 1987/1988 epizootic in Lake Baikal revealed that it was most closely related to two recent isolates of canine distemper virus (CDV) from Germany and different from CDV vaccines currently in use in that region. The virus continued to circulate in seals in Lake Baikal after the 1987/1988 epizootic since sera collected from culled seals in the spring of 1992 were positive in Morbillivirus ELISA tests, reacting most strongly with the CDV antigen.
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Morbillivirus infections in aquatic mammals.
Veterinary Research, 1993Co-Authors: I K G Visser, Van Bressem Mf, Thomas Barrett, Albert D. M. E. OsterhausAbstract:: Infections with Morbilliviruses have caused heavy losses among different populations of aquatic mammals during the last 5 years. Two different Morbilliviruses were isolated from disease outbreaks among seals in Europe and Siberia: phocid distemper virus-1 (PDV-1) and phocid distemper virus-2 (PDV-2) respectively. PDV-1 was characterized as a newly identified Morbillivirus, most related to canine distemper virus (CDV), whereas PDV-2 most probably is a strain of CDV. Morbilliviruses were also isolated from porpoises--porpoise Morbillivirus (PMV)--and dolphins--dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV)--which had stranded on the coasts of Europe. PMV and DMV proved to be closely related to, but distinct from 2 ruminant Morbilliviruses, rinderpest virus (RPV) and peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV). Serological surveys carried out among pinniped and cetacean species in the seas of Europe and North America indicated that infections with these newly discovered Morbilliviruses or closely related viruses commonly occur among aquatic mammal species.
Thomas Barrett - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Full genome sequence of peste des petits ruminants virus, a member of the Morbillivirus genus.
Virus Research, 2005Co-Authors: Dalan Bailey, Ashley C. Banyard, Pradyot Dash, Aykut Ozkul, Thomas BarrettAbstract:Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes an acute febrile illness in small ruminant species, mostly sheep and goats. PPRV is a member of the Morbillivirus genus which includes measles, rinderpest (cattle plague), canine distemper, phocine distemper and the Morbilliviruses found in whales, porpoises and dolphins. Full length genome sequences for these Morbilliviruses are available and reverse genetic rescue systems have been developed for the viruses of terrestrial mammals, with the exception of PPRV. This paper presents the first published full length genome sequence for PPRV. The genome was found to be consistent with the rule-of-six and open reading frames (ORFs) were identified that encoded the eight proteins characteristic of Morbilliviruses. At the nucleotide (nt) level, the full length genome of PPRV was most similar to that of rinderpest, the other ruminant Morbillivirus. However, at the protein level five of the six structural proteins and the V protein showed a greater similarity to the dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) while only the C and L proteins showed a high relationship to rinderpest.
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sequence analysis of the phosphoprotein gene of peste des petits ruminants ppr virus editing of the gene transcript
Virus Research, 2003Co-Authors: M Mahapatra, Adama Diallo, Satya Parida, Berhe G Egziabher, Thomas BarrettAbstract:The gene encoding the phosphoprotein of the vaccine strain of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus (Nigeria 75/1 vaccine strain) has been cloned and its nucleotide sequence been determined. This gene is 1655 nucleotides long and encodes two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). Translation from the first AUG would produce a polypeptide of 509 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 54.9 kDa, the longest of the published Morbillivirus P proteins. Translation from the second AUG would produce a protein of 177 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 20.3 kDa, analogous to the C proteins of other Morbilliviruses. Evidence was found for the production of two types of P mRNA transcript, one a faithful transcript of the gene and the other with an extra G residue inserted at position 751. Translation from the first AUG of this second mRNA would produce a protein of 298 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass 32.3 kDa, analogous to the V protein produced by other Morbilliviruses. Sequences of the predicted P, C and V proteins were compared with those of the other Morbillivirus sequences available to date. The P protein was found to be the most poorly conserved of the Morbillivirus proteins, the amino acid identity ranging from 54% in case of Canine distemper virus (CDV) to 60% in the case of the Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV).
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Morbillivirus infections of aquatic mammals: newly identified members of the genus
Veterinary Microbiology, 1995Co-Authors: Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus, Rik L De Swart, Peter S. Ross, Marcel Kenter, Thomas BarrettAbstract:Several disease outbreaks, which have caused the deaths of many thousands of seals and dolphins during the last decade, have now been attributed to infections with newly identified Morbilliviruses. Outbreaks in the late eighties amongst harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in northwestern Europe and amongst baikal seals (Phoca sibirica) in Siberia were caused by the newly discovered phocine distemper virus and by a strain of canine distemper virus, respectively. Although closely related these two viruses were not identical. They were more distantly related to the viruses which caused mass mortality amongst striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Mediterranean sea in the early nineties. This dolphin Morbillivirus was shown to be closely related to a virus that was found in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) which had stranded at the coasts of northwestern Europe in the late eighties: porpoise Morbillivirus. The present knowledge of the genetic and antigenic relationships of these apparently new members of the genus Morbillivirus with the established members of the genus is presented. In addition, the origin and epizootiological aspects of these newly discovered viruses are discussed. Finally experimental evidence that environmental pollution may have contributed to the severity and extent of these infections in recent years is presented.
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cloning and sequence analysis of the matrix m protein gene of rinderpest virus and evidence for another bovine Morbillivirus
Virology, 1994Co-Authors: Michael D. Baron, Lynette Goatley, Thomas BarrettAbstract:We have cloned and sequenced the entire M gene of the vaccine strain of rinderpest virus and that of the virulent Kabete "O" strain from which it was derived. The sequences of these two genes are essentially identical (99% at the nucleotide level), but were very different from a previously published Kabete O M gene sequence (M. Limo and T. Yilma, 1990, Virology 175, 323-327). Inspection of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of known Morbillivirus M genes showed that the earlier sequence was clearly from a Morbillivirus, but neither from rinderpest virus nor from peste des petits ruminants virus.
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Morbillivirus infections in aquatic mammals.
Veterinary Research, 1993Co-Authors: I K G Visser, Van Bressem Mf, Thomas Barrett, Albert D. M. E. OsterhausAbstract:: Infections with Morbilliviruses have caused heavy losses among different populations of aquatic mammals during the last 5 years. Two different Morbilliviruses were isolated from disease outbreaks among seals in Europe and Siberia: phocid distemper virus-1 (PDV-1) and phocid distemper virus-2 (PDV-2) respectively. PDV-1 was characterized as a newly identified Morbillivirus, most related to canine distemper virus (CDV), whereas PDV-2 most probably is a strain of CDV. Morbilliviruses were also isolated from porpoises--porpoise Morbillivirus (PMV)--and dolphins--dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV)--which had stranded on the coasts of Europe. PMV and DMV proved to be closely related to, but distinct from 2 ruminant Morbilliviruses, rinderpest virus (RPV) and peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV). Serological surveys carried out among pinniped and cetacean species in the seas of Europe and North America indicated that infections with these newly discovered Morbilliviruses or closely related viruses commonly occur among aquatic mammal species.
Sandro Mazzariol - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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cetacean Morbillivirus a land to sea journey and back
Virologica Sinica, 2019Co-Authors: Giovanni Di Guardo, Sandro MazzariolAbstract:Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV), the most relevant pathogen impacting the health and conservation of several already threatened cetacean populations worldwide ( Van Bressem et al. 2014 ), has shown in recent years an apparently increased tendency to cross "interspecies barriers" ( Jo et al. 2018a ), thereby giving rise to disease and mortality outbreaks in free-ranging dolphins and whales ( Mazzariol et al. 2016 , 2017 ; Jo et al. 2018b ). Additional cases of infection have been also reported in aquatic mammals with a mixed aquatic-terrestrial ecology like common seals (Phoca vitulina) ( Mazzariol et al. 2013 ) and Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) ( Padalino et al. 2019 ), increasing the overall concern and attention towards this Morbillivirus genus member. Within such context, the demonstrated ability of the dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) strain to utilize both dolphin and seal SLAM/CD150 as host cell receptors ( Jo et al. 2018b ) is biologically relevant and supports cross-species viral transmission events.
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evolutionary evidence for multi host transmission of cetacean Morbillivirus
Emerging microbes & infections, 2018Co-Authors: Wendy K Jo, Jochen Kruppa, A Habierski, Sandro Mazzariol, Thijs Kuiken, Giovanni Di Guardo, Ursula Siebert, Klaus Jung, Albert D. M. E. OsterhausAbstract:Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) has emerged as the pathogen that poses the greatest risk of triggering epizootics in cetacean populations worldwide, and has a high propensity for interspecies transmi...
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Efficient isolation on Vero.DogSLAMtag cells and full genome characterization of Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) by next generation sequencing
Scientific Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Simone Peletto, Claudio Caruso, Francesco Cerutti, Paola Modesto, Alessandra Pautasso, Federica Giorda, Walter Mignone, Cristina Biolatti, Carla Grattarola, Sandro MazzariolAbstract:The Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) genome from the first Mediterranean epidemic (1990-’92) is the only cetacean Morbillivirus that has been completely sequenced. Here, we report the first application of next generation sequencing (NGS) to Morbillivirus infection of aquatic mammals. A viral isolate, representative of the 2006-’08 Mediterranean epidemic (DMV_IZSPLV_2008), efficiently grew on Vero.DogSLAMtag cells and was submitted to whole genome characterization by NGS. The final genome length was 15,673 nucleotides, covering 99.82% of the DMV reference genome. Comparison of DMV_IZSPLV_2008 and 1990-’92 DMV strain sequences revealed 157 nucleotide mutations and 47 amino acid changes. The sequence similarity was 98.7% at the full genome level. Whole-genome phylogeny suggested that the DMV strain circulating during the 2006-’08 epidemics emerged from the 1990-’92 DMV strain. Viral isolation is considered the “gold standard” for Morbillivirus diagnostics but efficient propagation of infectious virus is difficult to achieve. The successful cell replication of this strain allowed performing NGS directly from the viral RNA, without prior PCR amplification. We therefore provide to the scientific community a second DMV genome, representative of another major outbreak. Interestingly, genome comparison revealed that the neglected L gene encompasses 74% of the genetic diversity and might serve as “hypervariable” target for strain characterization.
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Molecular analysis of dolphin Morbillivirus: A new sensitive detection method based on nested RT-PCR
Journal of Virological Methods, 2016Co-Authors: Cinzia Centelleghe, Rossella Zanetti, Valentina Zappulli, Giorgia Beffagna, Giovanni Di Guardo, Sandro MazzariolAbstract:Abstract Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) has been identified as the most pathogenic virus for cetaceans. Over the past three decades, this RNA virus has caused several outbreaks of lethal disease in odontocetes and mysticetes worldwide. Isolation and identification of CeMV RNA is very challenging in whales because of the poor preservation status frequently shown by tissues from stranded animals. Nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) is used instead of conventional RT-PCR when it is necessary to increase the sensitivity and the specificity of the reaction. This study describes a new nested RT-PCR technique useful to amplify small amounts of the cDNA copy of Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) when it is present in scant quantity in whales’ biological specimens. This technique was used to analyze different tissues (lung, brain, spleen and other lymphoid tissues) from one under human care seal and seven cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline between October 2011 and September 2015. A well-characterized, 200 base pair (bp) fragment of the dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) haemagglutinin (H) gene, obtained by nested RT-PCR, was sequenced and used to confirm DMV positivity in all the eight marine mammals under study. In conclusion, this nested RT-PCR protocol can represent a sensitive detection method to identify CeMV-positive, poorly preserved tissue samples. Furthermore, this is also a rather inexpensive molecular technique, relatively easy to apply.
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Mediterranean Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus) Threatened by Dolphin Morbillivirus.
Emerging infectious diseases, 2016Co-Authors: Sandro Mazzariol, Cinzia Centelleghe, Giorgia Beffagna, Cristina Casalone, Michele Povinelli, Giuliana Terracciano, Cristiano Cocumelli, Antonio Pintore, Daniele Denurra, Alessandra PautassoAbstract:During 2011-2013, dolphin Morbillivirus was molecularly identified in 4 stranded fin whales from the Mediterranean Sea. Nucleoprotein, phosphoprotein, and hemagglutinin gene sequences of the identified strain were highly homologous with those of a Morbillivirus that caused a 2006-2007 epidemic in the Mediterranean. Dolphin Morbillivirus represents a serious threat for fin whales.
Walter Mignone - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Efficient isolation on Vero.DogSLAMtag cells and full genome characterization of Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) by next generation sequencing
Scientific Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Simone Peletto, Claudio Caruso, Francesco Cerutti, Paola Modesto, Alessandra Pautasso, Federica Giorda, Walter Mignone, Cristina Biolatti, Carla Grattarola, Sandro MazzariolAbstract:The Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) genome from the first Mediterranean epidemic (1990-’92) is the only cetacean Morbillivirus that has been completely sequenced. Here, we report the first application of next generation sequencing (NGS) to Morbillivirus infection of aquatic mammals. A viral isolate, representative of the 2006-’08 Mediterranean epidemic (DMV_IZSPLV_2008), efficiently grew on Vero.DogSLAMtag cells and was submitted to whole genome characterization by NGS. The final genome length was 15,673 nucleotides, covering 99.82% of the DMV reference genome. Comparison of DMV_IZSPLV_2008 and 1990-’92 DMV strain sequences revealed 157 nucleotide mutations and 47 amino acid changes. The sequence similarity was 98.7% at the full genome level. Whole-genome phylogeny suggested that the DMV strain circulating during the 2006-’08 epidemics emerged from the 1990-’92 DMV strain. Viral isolation is considered the “gold standard” for Morbillivirus diagnostics but efficient propagation of infectious virus is difficult to achieve. The successful cell replication of this strain allowed performing NGS directly from the viral RNA, without prior PCR amplification. We therefore provide to the scientific community a second DMV genome, representative of another major outbreak. Interestingly, genome comparison revealed that the neglected L gene encompasses 74% of the genetic diversity and might serve as “hypervariable” target for strain characterization.
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Detection of Morbillivirus infection by RT-PCR RFLP analysis in cetaceans and carnivores.
Journal of Virological Methods, 2017Co-Authors: Federica Verna, Ilaria Miceli, Angelo Romano, Maria Domenica Pintore, Alessandra Pautasso, Barbara Iulini, Federica Giorda, Walter Mignone, Giovanna Rizzo, Carla GrattarolaAbstract:Morbillivirus genus comprises several members related to specific hosts, such as canine distemper virus (CDV) and cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) in which the dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) is included. Both CDV and DMV are able to cause serious outbreak associated with high morbidity and mortality representing an important conservation threat for terrestrial and aquatic mammalian species. This paper describes a new RT-PCR RFLP technique based on a RT-PCR with degenerate primers targeting a 287 bp fragment located on the conserved N terminus of the Morbillivirus NP gene, followed by MseI RFLP, in order both to confirm the detection of the virus and to distinguish DMV from CDV. Both carnivores and cetaceans tissues (brain, lung and lymph node) presenting evidence of Morbillivirus infection (MI) were analyzed. RT-PCR positive samples were typed by RFLP analysis and then sequenced to confirm the RFLP results. This method was applied during the last Morbillivirus cetacean die-off occurred in the Mediterranean basin in 2013, when there was the urgent need of a rapid and economic method to investigate among causes of death on stranded cetaceans. This new technique has proved to be a valuable, reliable, simple and relatively inexpensive diagnostic tool easily applicable also in limited-resource laboratories.
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retrospective seroepidemiological investigations against Morbillivirus toxoplasma gondii and brucella spp in cetaceans stranded along the italian coastline 1998 2014
Research in Veterinary Science, 2015Co-Authors: Francesca Profeta, Walter Mignone, Fulvio Marsilio, Cristina Esmeralda Di Francesco, Fabio Di Nocera, Esterina De Carlo, Giuseppe Lucifora, Guido Pietroluongo, M Baffoni, Cristiano CocumelliAbstract:This study reports the results of seroepidemiological investigations carried out against Morbillivirus, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. on blood serum samples collected from 70 cetacean specimens found stranded along the Italian coastline between 1998 and 2014. A total number of 23 serum samples (32.8%) obtained from Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Balaenoptera physalus and Globicephala melas harboured anti-Morbillivirus neutralizing antibodies. Ten sera (16%) collected from S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus were found positive against T. gondii, while no antibodies against Brucella spp. were found. These data reveal that stranded cetaceans provide a unique opportunity for monitoring the health status of free-ranging animals living in the Mediterranean Sea, in order to investigate the level of exposure of cetacean populations to selected infectious agents representing a serious threat for aquatic mammals.
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dolphin Morbillivirus and toxoplasma gondii coinfection in a mediterranean fin whale balaenoptera physalus
BMC Veterinary Research, 2012Co-Authors: Sandro Mazzariol, Walter Mignone, Giovanni Di Guardo, Federica Marcer, Laura Serracca, M Goria, Letizia Marsili, Cristina CasaloneAbstract:Although Morbillivirus and Toxoplasma gondii have emerged as important pathogens for several cetaceans populations over the last 20 years, they have never been identified together in a Mysticete. In particular, morbilliviral infection has been never described in the Mediterranean fin whale population. On January 2011 an adult male of fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) stranded along the Tyrrhenian coastline of Italy. During necropsy, tissue samples from heart, skeletal muscle, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney were collected and subsequently analyzed for Morbillivirus and Toxoplasma gondii by microscopic and molecular methods. Following the detailed necropsy carried out on this whale, molecular analysis revealed, for the first time, the simultaneous presence of a Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) and T. gondii infection coexisting with each other, along with high organochlorine pollutant concentrations, with special reference to DDT. This report, besides confirming the possibility for Mysticetes to be infected with DMV, highlights the risk of toxoplasmosis in sea water for mammals, already immunodepressed by concurrent factors as infections and environmental contaminants.
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cerebral toxoplasmosis in striped dolphins stenella coeruleoalba stranded along the ligurian sea coast of italy
Veterinary Pathology, 2010Co-Authors: Umberto Proietto, Walter Mignone, C E Di Francesco, Annalisa Zaccaroni, Dino Scaravelli, Fiona Forster, F Garibaldi, Fulvio Marsilio, Giovanni Di Guardo, S. KennedyAbstract:This article reports the results of necropsy, parasitologic, microbiologic, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, indirect immunofluorescence, biomolecular, and serologic investigations on 8 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded from August to December 2007 on the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy. Severe, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis was found in 4 animals, as characterized by prominent perivascular mononuclear cell cuffing and macrophage accumulations in neuropil. These lesions were associated with mild lymphocytic–plasmacytic infiltration of choroid plexuses in 1 dolphin. Toxoplasma gondii cysts and zoites, confirmed by immunohistochemical labeling, were scattered throughout the brain parenchyma of 2 of the 4 dolphins. No viral inclusions were seen in the brain of any animal. Other findings included severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia and pulmonary atelectasis, consolidation, and emphysema. Parasites were identified in a variety of organs, including lung (Halocerchus lagenorhynchi). Microbiologic and serologic examinations for Brucella spp were negative on all 8 dolphins. The 4 animals with meningoencephalitis had serum antibodies against T gondii (titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:320) but not against Morbillivirus. In contrast, the other 4 dolphins were seropositive for Morbillivirus (with titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:40) but seronegative for T gondii. No Morbillivirus antigen or nucleic acid was detected in the tissues of any dolphin. It is concluded that the severe lung and brain lesions were the cause of death and that T gondii was the likely etiologic agent of the cerebral lesions. Morbillivirus infection was not considered to have contributed to death of these animals.
