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Vargas-Castro I, Peletto S, Mattioda V, Goria M, Serracca L, Varello K, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Puleio R, Nocera FD, Lucifora G, Acutis P, Casalone C, Grattarola C, Giorda F. Epidemiological and genetic analysis of Cetacean Morbillivirus circulating on the Italian coast between 2018 and 2021. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1216838. [PMID: 37583469 PMCID: PMC10424449 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1216838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) has caused several outbreaks, unusual mortality events, and interepidemic single-lethal disease episodes in the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2012, a new strain with a northeast (NE) Atlantic origin has been circulating among Mediterranean cetaceans, causing numerous deaths. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of CeMV in cetaceans stranded in Italy between 2018 and 2021 and characterize the strain of CeMV circulating. Out of the 354 stranded cetaceans along the Italian coastlines, 113 were CeMV-positive. This prevalence (31.9%) is one of the highest reported without an associated outbreak. All marine sectors along the Italian coastlines, except for the northern Adriatic coast, reported a positive molecular diagnosis of CeMV. In one-third of the CeMV-positive cetaceans submitted to a histological evaluation, a chronic form of the infection (detectable viral antigen, the absence of associated lesions, and concomitant coinfections) was suspected. Tissues from 24 animals were used to characterize the strain, obtaining 57 sequences from phosphoprotein, nucleocapsid, and fusion protein genes, which were submitted to GenBank. Our sequences showed the highest identity with NE-Atlantic strain sequences, and in the phylogenetic study, they clustered together with them. Regarding age and species, most of these individuals were adults (17/24, 70.83%) and striped dolphins (19/24, 79.16%). This study improves our understanding on the NE-Atlantic CeMV strain in the Italian waters, supporting the hypothesis of an endemic circulation of the virus in this area; however, additional studies are necessary to deeply comprehend the epidemiology of this strain in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Vargas-Castro
- VISAVET Center and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Simone Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Virginia Mattioda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Goria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Serracca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Katia Varello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lucifora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Naples, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Acutis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
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Magnet A, Izquierdo F. Epidemiology of Wildlife Infectious Diseases. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050332. [PMID: 37235415 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise of infectious diseases in wildlife has become a severe concern recently, not only in relation to wildlife preservation but also for human health [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Magnet
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Monteprincipe, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Fernando Izquierdo
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Monteprincipe, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Spain
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Felipe-Jiménez I, Fernández A, de Quirós YB, Arregui-Gil M, Puig-Lozano R, Arbelo M, Sierra E. Cerebral nasitremiasis in a Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) stranded in the Canary Islands. Res Vet Sci 2023; 158:56-64. [PMID: 36934640 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Ten species within the genus Nasitrema (subfamily Nasitrematinae, family Brachycladiidae) have been reported infecting a wide variety of odontocetes worldwide, although there is still a lack of information about their presence in beaked whales (BWs). Nasitrema spp. are commonly described inhabiting the pterygoid sinus, the tympanic cavities, and the middle and inner ear; although aberrant migrations through the brain have been also reported. This trematode may cause different type of lesions, ranging from mild to severe saculitis, neuritis, otitis, and/or meningoencephalitis that may impede cetaceans to survive in the wild, resulting in incoordination, loss of equilibrium, and echolocation dysfunction ending in a stranding event. The presence of Nasitrema sp. was found in an adult female Blainville beaked whale stranded death in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, on November 2016. The most relevant gross finding was a severe chronic-active multifocal pyogranulomatous and necrotizing encephalitis. Histologically, multiple areas of necrosis, pyogranulomatous and eosinophilic inflammation, haemorrhages and occasional cholesterol crystals were found associated with parasitic structures compatible with an adult trematode and its eggs. Molecular analysis, based on a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of the brain tissue sample detected 99% homology with a partial sequence of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 (ND3) gene of Nasitrema delphini. In addition, liver, kidney, prescapular lymph node and brain samples were positive to herpesvirus (conventional nested PCR). Evidence of the presence of this parasite was not found in any of the 54 beaked whales (n = 54) stranded on the Canary Islands between 1999 and 2017, specifically 35 Cuvier's BWs and 19 specimens belonging to the Mesoplodon genus. To our knowledge, the current study represents the first description of a nasitremiasis in a member of the Ziphiidae family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idaira Felipe-Jiménez
- Division of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, University Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, Arucas 35413, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Division of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, University Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, Arucas 35413, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Yara Bernaldo de Quirós
- Division of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, University Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, Arucas 35413, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Marina Arregui-Gil
- Division of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, University Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, Arucas 35413, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Raquel Puig-Lozano
- Division of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, University Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, Arucas 35413, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Division of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, University Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, Arucas 35413, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Eva Sierra
- Division of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, University Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, Arucas 35413, Canary Islands, Spain
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Wu Q, Wang Y, Zhang X, Gu X, He H, Jin X. Pyogranulomatous dermatitis with Enterococcus faecalis in a spotted seal (Phoca larga). Vet Med Sci 2023; 9:985-991. [PMID: 36253881 PMCID: PMC10029880 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cutaneous infections are important diseases in captive and free-ranging pinnipeds and are associated with various causative agents. Some special agents, such as fungi, morbillivirus and mycobacteria, can cause cutaneous specific granulomatous inflammation. OBJECTIVES To identity the cause of chronic dermatitis in a spotted seal in an aquarium. METHODS Herein, we analyze the clinical history and cutaneous samples of the spotted seal through differential diagnosis (histopathology, microorganism culture, special histochemical staining methods, PCR), and antibiotic susceptibility test. RESULTS This is a rare pyogranulomatous dermatitis case caused by E. faecalis in a captive adult male spotted seal (Phoca largha) in an aquarium. CONCLUSIONS We provide a meaningful approach to the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial dermatitis in pinnipeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoxing Wu
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China
| | | | - Xinke Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | | | - Hongxuan He
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuelin Jin
- Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China
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