Contribution to Herpesvirus Surveillance in Beaked Whales Stranded in the Canary Islands
Idaira Felipe-Jiménez,
Antonio Fernández,
Marisa Andrada,
Manuel Arbelo,
Simone Segura-Göthlin,
Ana Colom-Rivero,
Eva Sierra
Affiliations
Idaira Felipe-Jiménez
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
Antonio Fernández
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
Marisa Andrada
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
Manuel Arbelo
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
Simone Segura-Göthlin
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
Ana Colom-Rivero
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
Eva Sierra
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
Herpesviruses (HVs) (Alpha- and Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies) have been detected in several species of cetaceans with different pathological implications. However, available information on their presence in beaked whales (BWs) is still scarce. In this study, a total of 55 BWs (35 Ziphius cavirostris and 20 animals belonging to the Mesoplodon genus) were analyzed. Samples (n = 294) were obtained from BWs stranded along the coasts of the Canary Islands (1990–2017). Molecular detection of HV was performed by means of a conventional nested PCR based on the DNA polymerase gene. Herpesvirus was detected in 14.45% (8/55) of the analyzed BWs, including 2 positive animals from a previous survey. A percentage positivity of 8.57% was found within the Cuvier’s BW group, while the percentage of positivity rose to 25% within the Mesoplodon genus group (three M. densirostris, one M. europaeus, and one M. bidens). All the obtained sequences from this study belonged to the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily, from which three are considered novel sequences, all of them within the Mesoplodon genus group. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first description of HV infection in Gervais’ and Sowerby’s BWs. Three out of eight HV-positive BWs displayed histopathological lesions indicative of active viral replication.
