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Morbillivirus in common seals stranded on the coasts of Belgium and northern France during summer 1998
Jauniaux, T.; Boseret, G.; Desmecht, M.; Haelters, J.; Manteca, C.; Tavernier, J.; Van Gompel, J.; Coignoul, F. (2001). Morbillivirus in common seals stranded on the coasts of Belgium and northern France during summer 1998. Vet. Rec. 148(19): 587-591. https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.148.19.587
In: The Veterinary Record. British Veterinary Association: London. ISSN 0042-4900; e-ISSN 2042-7670
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 242655 [ download pdf ]
Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Authors  Top 
  • Jauniaux, T.
  • Boseret, G.
  • Desmecht, M.
  • Haelters, J.
  • Manteca, C.
  • Tavernier, J.
  • Van Gompel, J.
  • Coignoul, F.
Abstract
    Sixteen common seals (Phoca vitulina) were stranded on the Belgian and northern French coasts during the summer of 1998. Eleven (10 pups and one adult) were sampled for histopathological, immunohistochemical, serological. bacteriological, parasitological and virological investigations. The main gross findings were severe emaciation, acute haemorrhagic enteritis, acute pneumonia, interstitial pulmonary emphysema and oedema, and chronic ulcerative stomatitis. Microscopical lung findings were acute to subacute pneumonia with interstitial oedema and emphysema. Severe lymphocytic depletion was observed in lymph nodes. Severe acute to subacute meningoencephalitis was observed in one animal. Specific staining with two monoclonal antibodies directed against canine distemper virus (CDV) and phocine distemper virus was observed in a few lymphocytes in the spleen and lymph nodes of three seals. Anti-CDV neutralising antibodies were detected in sera from six animals. Seven of the seals were positive by reverse transcriptase-PCR for the morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene. The lesions observed were consistent with those in animals infected by a morbillivirus, and demonstrated that distemper has recently recurred in North Sea seals.
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