Antigenic and nucleotide characterization of a herpesvirus isolated from pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsii)

• Published in: Archives of virology Vol. 143; no. 10; pp. 2021 - 2027
• Main Authors: King, D.P, Parselles, R, Gulland, F.M.D, Lapointe, J.M, Lowenstine, L.J, Ferrick, D.A, Stott, J.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austria Springer Nature B.V 01-01-1998
• Subjects: Adrenal Glands - virology; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antigens, Viral - analysis; Base Sequence; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; genbank/u92269; genbank/u92270; genbank/u92271; Herpesviridae; Herpesviridae - genetics; Herpesviridae - immunology; Herpesviridae - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus; Molecular Sequence Data; nucleotide sequences; Phoca vitulina; Phoca vitulina richardsii; Phylogeny; Seals, Earless - virology; USA, California
• ISSN: 0304-8608; 1432-8798
• DOI: 10.1007/s007050050438

This report describes the antigenic and nucleotide characterization of a herpes-like virus that has been isolated from the adrenal tissues of neonatal Pacific harbor seals. Infection with this virus has been previously implicated as a major cause of death of animals undergoing rehabilitation. Comparison and phylogenetic analysis of sequenced fragments of the DNA polymerase, glycoprotein B and glycoprotein D genes, and immunofluorescence assay using herpesvirus-specific monoclonal antibodies, demonstrated close similarity of the Pacific harbor seal herpesvirus to European isolates of phocid herpesvirus-1 (PHV-1) and other alpha-herpesviruses affecting terrestrial carnivores.