Guiana Dolphin Unusual Mortality Event and Link to Cetacean Morbillivirus, Brazil

Abstract

During November–December 2017, a mass die-off of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) began in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Molecular and pathologic investigations on 20 animals indicated that cetacean morbillivirus played a major role. Our findings increase the knowledge on health and disease aspects of this endangered species.

Keywords

• Sotalia guianensis
• Paramyxoviridae
• morbillivirus outbreak
• die-off
• dolphin
• immunosuppression