Molecular Characterization of Herpesviral Encephalitis in Cetaceans: Correlation with Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Findings
Eva Sierra,
Antonio Fernández,
Carolina Fernández-Maldonado,
Simona Sacchini,
Idaira Felipe-Jiménez,
Simone Segura-Göthlin,
Ana Colom-Rivero,
Nakita Câmara,
Raquel Puig-Lozano,
Anna Maria Rambaldi,
Cristian Suárez-Santana,
Manuel Arbelo
Affiliations
Eva Sierra
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Antonio Fernández
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Carolina Fernández-Maldonado
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Simona Sacchini
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Idaira Felipe-Jiménez
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Simone Segura-Göthlin
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Ana Colom-Rivero
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Nakita Câmara
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Raquel Puig-Lozano
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Anna Maria Rambaldi
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Cristian Suárez-Santana
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Manuel Arbelo
Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
Herpesviruses are causative agents of meningitis and encephalitis in cetaceans, which are among the main leading known natural causes of death in these species. Brain samples from 103 stranded cetaceans were retrospectively screened for the presence of herpesvirus DNA in the brain. Molecular detection of Cetacean Morbillivirus was performed in HV positive brain cases. Histopathologic evaluation of brain samples included the presence or absence of the following findings (n = 7): meningitis, perivascular cuffings, microgliosis, intranuclear inclusion bodies, malacia, neuronal necrosis and neurophagic nodules, and haemorrhages. Histological evidence of the involvement of other etiological agents led to complementary analysis. We detected the presence of alpha and gamma-HVs in 12 out of 103 (11.6%) brain samples from stranded cetaceans of five different species: one bottlenose dolphin, six striped dolphins, three Atlantic spotted dolphins, one Cuvier’s beaked whale, and one common dolphin. Pathogenic factors such as viral strain, age, sex, and the presence of co-infections were analysed and correlated with the brain histopathological findings in each case. Herpesvirus was more prevalent in males, juveniles, and calves and a 41.6% incidence of co-infections in the brain was detected in our study: three with Dolphin Morbillivirus, one with Staphilococcus aureus septicaemia and one with Brucella spp.
