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MORBILLIVIRUS INFECTION IN MANATEES |
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| Authors: | Pádraig J Duignan Carol House Michael T Walsh Terry Campbell Gregory D Bossart Noel Duffy Peter J Fernandes Bert K Rima Scott Wright Joseph R Geraci |
| Institution: | Department of Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1;National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Foreign Animal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory, Greenport, New York 11944, U.S.A.;Sea World of Florida, 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, Florida 32821-8097, U.S.A.;Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, Florida 33149, U.S.A. and University of Miami Medical School, Department of Pathology, Miami, Florida 33101, U.S.A.;Division of Molecular Biology, Medical Biology Centre, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland;School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2015 Linden Drive West, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1102, U.S.A.;Division of Molecular Biology, Medical Biology Centre, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland;Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3700 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33711, U.S.A.;Department of Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 |
| Abstract: | The first evidence of exposure of free-ranging Florida manatees ( Trichechus manatees latirostris ) to a morbillivirus is reported. Blood samples were collected from 148 Florida manatees between 1977 and 1994. The sample included manatees that were under rehabilitation (n = 97), free-ranging (n = 40) and fresh necropsy specimens (n = 11). Serum from six animals (4%) neutralized porpoise and dolphin morbilliviruses to a higher titer than any other member of the Morbillivirus genus. Antibodies were not detected in sera from 12 free-ranging Antillean manatees ( T. manatus manatus ) from Guyana sampled in 1992 or from 12 hand-reared Amazonian manatees ( T. inunguis ) sampled in 1984. Immunoprecipitation studies using radio-labelled canine distemper virus protein and serum from Florida manatees showed precipitation of the nucleo-capsid (N) protein. The combination of low antibody titers and absence of clinical disease suggest that the Florida manatee is a dead-end host. Sporadic infection may occur following contact with another species in which infection is enzootic. Morbillivirus could, either by fatal infection or more insidious effects on the immune system or reproduction, pose a problem to this already threatened species. |
| Keywords: | manatee Trichechus manatus Trichechus inunguis morbillivirus infection serology virus neutralization test immunoprecipitation nucleoprotein |