Cetacean morbillivirus: Current knowledge and future directions

Marie Françoise Van Bressem, Pádraig J. Duignan, Ashley Banyard, Michelle Barbieri, Kathleen M. Colegrove, Sylvain de Guise, Giovanni di Guardo, Andrew P. Dobson, Mariano Domingo, Deborah Fauquier, Antonio Fernandez, Tracey Goldstein, Bryan T. Grenfell, Kátia R. Groch, Frances Gulland, Brenda A. Jensen, Paul D. Jepson, Ailsa Hall, Thijs Kuiken, Sandro MazzariolSinead E. Morris, Ole Nielsen, Juan A. Raga, Teresa K. Rowles, Jeremy Saliki, Eva Sierra, Nahiid Stephens, Brett Stone, Ikuko Tomo, Jianning Wang, Thomas Waltzek, James F.X. Wellehan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

169 Scopus citations

Abstract

We review the molecular and epidemiological characteristics of cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) and the diagnosis and pathogenesis of associated disease, with six different strains detected in cetaceans worldwide. CeMV has caused epidemics with high mortality in odontocetes in Europe, the USAand Australia. It represents a distinct species within the Morbillivirusgenus. Although most CeMV strains are phylogenetically closely related, recent data indicate that morbilliviruses recovered from Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), from Western Australia, and a Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), from Brazil, are divergent. The signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) cell receptor for CeMV has been characterized in cetaceans. It shares higher amino acid identity with the ruminant SLAM than with the receptors of carnivores or humans, reflecting the evolutionary history of these mammalian taxa. In Delphinidae, three amino acid substitutions may result in a higher affinity for the virus. Infection is diagnosed by histology, immunohistochemistry, virus isolation, RT-PCR, and serology. Classical CeMV-associated lesions include bronchointerstitial pneumonia, encephalitis, syncytia, and lymphoid depletion associated with immunosuppression. Cetaceans that survive the acute disease may develop fatal secondary infections and chronic encephalitis. Endemicallyinfected, gregarious odontocetes probably serve as reservoirs and vectors. Transmission likely occurs through the inhalation of aerosolized virus but mother to fetus transmission was also reported.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5145-5181
Number of pages37
JournalViruses
Volume6
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 22 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Keywords

  • Cetacean morbillivirus
  • Diagnosis
  • Endemic infections
  • Epidemics
  • Mass stranding
  • Pathogenesis
  • Phylogeny
  • SLAM

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