Abstract
Herpesviruses are significant vertebrate pathogens that are highly host specific. There are two herpesvirus subfamilies that have been identified in marine mammal hosts: alphaherpesvirinae and gammaherpesvirinae.1,2 Some herpesviruses are associated with oncogenic conversion. In marine mammals, the most notable example is the association between otarine herpesvirus-1 and urogenital carcinoma in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).3,4,5 Typical transmission of herpesvirus requires close mucosal contact.1,2 Orogenital papillomatous lesions6 associated with gammaherpesvirus have been observed in both captive and wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)7,8. The geographic range of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) overlaps with bottlenose dolphins and copulation between the two species has been observed, making it possible for transmission of venereal herpesviruses.9 The DNA polymerase gene (Dpol) is the most conserved gene in herpesviruses and is most commonly used for initial characterization of herpesviruses.10 We report the identification of a gammaherpesvirus in a vaginal tumor of a stranded striped dolphin. Through conventional PCR, the virus polymerase had 100% nucleotide homology to a gammaherpesvirus from a striped dolphin in Spain (GenBank #AIU98069) and 95.3% nucleotide homology/94.6% amino acid (aa) homology with Delphinid gammaherpesvirus 1 (DeGHV1, formerly known DeHV4, GenBank #APG38170). For comparison, Human herpesvirus 1 (HHV1) and HHV2, two very closely related viruses, show 89.3% nucleotide identity and 94.9% aa identity. For further characterization, we amplified and sequenced the glycoprotein M (GlyM) and latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) genes. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that this virus is a distinct species and suggests that these marine mammal herpesviruses may represent a novel genus.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Aquatic Animal Health Program for their financial support for this research.
* Presenting author
+ Student presenter
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