First molecular determination of herpesvirus from two mysticete species stranded in the Mediterranean Sea.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Herpesvirus can infect a wide range of animal species: mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and bivalves. In marine mammals, several alpha- and gammaherpesvirus have been identified in some cetaceans and pinnipeds species. To date, however, this virus has not been detected in any member of the Balaenoptera genus.

Case presentation

Herpesvirus was determined by molecular methods in tissue samples from a male fin whale juvenile (Balaenoptera physalus) and a female common minke whale calf (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) stranded on the Mediterranean coast of the Region of Valencia (Spain). Samples of skin and penile mucosa from the fin whale and samples of skin, muscle and central nervous system tissue from the common minke whale tested positive for herpesvirus ba

SUBMITTER: Melero M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4647621 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature