Partial characterization of a novel gammaherpesvirus isolated from a European badger (Meles meles)

• Published in: Journal of general virology 2002-06, Vol.83 (6), p.1325-1330
• Main Authors: Banks, Malcolm, King, Donald P, Daniells, Clare, Stagg, David A, Gavier-Widen, Dolores
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Carnivora - virology; Cell Line; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase - genetics; Europe; Gammaherpesvirinae - classification; Gammaherpesvirinae - genetics; Gammaherpesvirinae - isolation & purification; Genome, Viral; Glycoproteins - genetics; Lung; Mink; Molecular Sequence Data; Sequence Alignment; Species Specificity; Viral Proteins - genetics
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-83-6-1325

Virology 1 and Biotechnology 2 Departments, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK Division of Wildlife, SVA (National Veterinary Institute), PO Box 7073, S-75007 Uppsala, Sweden 3 Author for correspondence: Malcolm Banks. Fax [phone]. e-mail mbanks.vla{at}gtnet.gov.uk A herpesvirus causing a cytopathic effect was isolated from pulmonary fibroblast cultures established from a European badger ( Meles meles ). A study was undertaken to classify and to assess some in-vitro growth characteristics of this virus. From a panel of 27 mammalian cell lines, in-vitro replication of the badger herpesvirus (BadHV) was only demonstrated with a mink lung cell line, suggesting a high degree of host specificity. Using PCR with degenerate primers, three independent fragments of the BadHV genome were sequenced. The largest of these fragments comprised a 6·2 kb segment including the DNA polymerase and glycoprotein B genes. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences demonstrated that the BadHV is novel and clearly grouped with members of the Gammaherpesvirinae . In view of the oncogenic and immunosuppressive potential of many related herpesviruses, it is possible that BadHV can impact on existing acute or chronic disease in badgers.