Abstract
Herpesviruses are enveloped large double stranded DNA viruses with high host fidelity.6 In marine mammals, at least 19 herpesviruses have been characterized with partial polymerase sequences.5,8 Three have been reported from otariids; Otarine herpesvirus 1 (OtHV1) is strongly associated with urogenital carcinoma in California sea lions (CSL, Zalophus californianus),4 a major cause of mortality in some populations.1 OtHV2 was identified from an ocular swab of a CSL with conjunctivitis, and OtHV3 was found in 30.7% of CSL samples surveyed.8
In this work we report a new Otarine herpesvirus found in Northern fur seals (NFS, Callorhinus ursinus), here termed OtHV4. This virus was initially found in a vaginal swab of a female NFS in 2011. We obtained partial sequences of the polymerase gene and the glycoprotein B gene using established protocols.2,7 OtHV4 is closely related to OtHV1. There are reports of breeding between CSL and NFS,3 and this may represent a host jump. Alternatively, these viruses may have codiverged with their hosts. We developed qPCR assays to determine the prevalence of OtHV1 and OtHV4 in NFS. OtHV4 has not been associated with urogenital carcinoma. Comparative genomics of OtHV1 and OtHV4 may identify candidate oncogenic genes. OtHV4 may have utility as a potential vaccine to prevent OtHV1 infection.
Acknowledgements
This work was funded by a NMFS-Prescott award to Dr. Gulland. The authors would like to thank Tom Gelatt and Michelle Barbieri from The Marine Mammal Center for their assistance in sample collection. We would also like to thank Linda Archer and Dr. Thomas Waltzek from the University of Florida for their assistance in the laboratory.
* Presenting author
Literature Cited
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