Phocine herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) in harbor seals from Svalbard, Norway

Phocine herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) infections in seals are associated with disease and sometimes high mortality, primarily in young animals. PhHV-1 has been detected in seals from European waters as well as in waters on both coasts of North America. Serological surveys of various pinniped species have i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary microbiology 2013-06, Vol.164 (3-4), p.286-292, Article 286
Main Authors: Roth, Swaantje J., Tischer, B. Karsten, Kovacs, Kit M., Lydersen, Christian, Osterrieder, Nikolaus, Tryland, Morten
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies, Viral - blood
Arctic
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Eye - virology
Female
Herpesviridae - genetics
Herpesviridae - physiology
Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology
Herpesviridae Infections - veterinary
Herpesvirus
Male
Nasal Mucosa - virology
Norway
Ocular disease
PhHV-1
Phoca - virology
Phoca vitulina
Pinniped
Pinnipedia
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Seal
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Svalbard
Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics
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Summary:Phocine herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) infections in seals are associated with disease and sometimes high mortality, primarily in young animals. PhHV-1 has been detected in seals from European waters as well as in waters on both coasts of North America. Serological surveys of various pinniped species have indicated a wide geographical distribution of PhHV-1. A quantitative and sensitive real-time PCR assay targeting the gene encoding glycoprotein B of PhHV-1 was developed for detection of PhHV-1 in ocular and nasal swab samples from wild harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from Svalbard (Norway). PhHV-1 DNA was detected in samples from 6 (8%) seals collected in 2009 and 2 (3%) in 2010; all had herpesvirus DNA in the ocular swab sample, whereas only one of these animals also had herpesvirus DNA in the nasal swab sample. Four PCR positive animals were approximately 1 year of age and four were pups of the year. Serum samples obtained in 1998 (n=59), 1999 (n=74), 2000 (n=81), 2009 (n=69) and 2010 (n=83) were tested for anti-PhHV-1 antibodies in an indirect ELISA. The PhHV-1 seroprevalence in the population remained high throughout this period, varying from 77 to 100% between years. No eye disease was observed in this harbor seal population, but the ELISA and PCR findings reported here suggest that PhHV-1 is endemic in this globally northernmost harbor seal colony, and that the virus is shed on the mucosa of the eye and nose.
ISSN:0378-1135
1873-2542
DOI:10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.03.008