Morbillivirus and coronavirus survey in stranded cetaceans, Brazil

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316050
• Publication Date: 2025-03-10T17:21:38Z
• Authors: Samira Costa-Silva; Carlos Sacristán; Arícia Duarte-Ben...; Ana Carolina Ewbank; Rodrigo M. Soares; Vitor L. Carvalho; Pedro V. Castilho; Marta J. Cremer; Jenyffer V. Vieira; Giulia G. Lemos; Jéssica R. Moreira; Gladys D. Rogge R...; Cristiane K. M. K...; Natalia S. Peres; Thalita Faita; Larissa Pavaneli; Joana Ikeda; Adriana C. Colosio; Milton C. C. Marc...; Angélica M. Sánch...; Carla B. Barbosa; Raquel B. Ferioli; Vanessa L. Ribeiro; Carolina P. Bertozzi; Caroline F. Pessi; Henrique Chupill; José L. Catão-Dias; Lara B. Keid
• Keywords: Morbillivirus; Bottlenose dolphin; Coronavirus; Cetacea

Since 2010, Guiana dolphin morbillivirus (GDMV; family Paramyxoviridae , genus Morbillivirus species ceti syn. Cetacean ) is recognized as the cause of death multiple cetacean along Brazilian coast, including an unusual mortality event in Rio de Janeiro state. Coronaviruses Gammacoronavirus (family Coronaviridae have been previously detected cetaceans northern hemisphere. After emergence severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for COVID-19 pandemic and with potential to affect several mammal species, there increased concern about risk infection aquatic mammals. The goal this study was molecularly screen presence infections stranded regions coast order determine their occurrence rates, pathogenicity, range potentially susceptible species. We tested tissue samples 118 cetaceans, belonging 20 found Brazil, between 2015 2022. Overall, 2.5% (3/118) analyzed were positive GDMV infection: a ( Sotalia guianensis ), Atlantic spotted Stenella frontalis humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae ). None animals coronavirus. Our findings indicate that sequence type identified Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus Australia our sequences from Brazil belong same strain. systematic monitoring morbilliviruses recommended properly estimate rate, pathogenicity evolution these viruses, which may help anticipate novel epizooties reduce impact on endangered populations.