Emerging Viruses in Marine Mammals
- Infectious disease
Abstract
Emerging infectious disease has become a serious concern that has consequences for human, animal and environmental health on a global scale. During the past two decades, it has become clear that viruses are emerging in terrestrial environments from the human–animal interface at an unprecedented rate. Thus, the understanding of complex diseases associated with emerging zoonotic pathogens and the creation and execution of strategies to deal with this issue has assumed new public health importance, requiring a One Health approach involving multiple health disciplines. Similar infectious disease trends involving emerging viruses are now being documented in aquatic ecosystems and are impacting marine mammals. As in terrestrial species, emerging viruses in marine mammals may be associated with neoplasia, epizootics and zoonotic disease and involve a complex pathogenesis involving noninfectious cofactors such as anthropogenic toxins, biotoxins, immunologic suppression and other environmental stressors. Among the viruses recently isolated from marine mammals are influenza viruses, morbilliviruses, papillomaviruses, herpesviruses, arboviruses, caliciviruses and others. Many of these emerging marine mammal viruses are associated with disease and specific pathologic findings. In other cases, the disease significance of these novel viruses is unknown and requires further research. In this report, we briefly review emerging viruses that have disease significance for marine mammals and/or public health. Novel concurrent clinicopathologic data will be presented when available broadening the understanding of disease pathogenesis. References will help provide more in-depth information. Additionally, this review has demonstrated that marine mammals may be important sentinel animals that indicate environmental health concerns and parallel emerging public health issues.
Bossart, G.D. and Duignan, P.J. Emerging viruses in marine mammals. CAB Reviews 13(052): DOI: 10.1079/PAVSNNR2019 13052
Pádraig Duignan
Meet The Experts
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/Padraig Duignan-0-56-635-496-1601760621.jpg","alt":"Padraig Duignan","title":"P\u00e1draig Duignan","text":"Director of Pathology","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/padraig-duignan","link_text":"Read Bio"}
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Other species\/nz-sea-lion-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"New Zealand sea lion","title":"Causes of Death in Two Populations of New Zealand Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/causes-of-death-in-two-populations-of-new-zealand-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-6.jpg","alt":"California sea lions","title":"Zoonotic Bacteria Persistence and Susceptibility","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/zoonotic-bacteria-persistence-and-susceptibility","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/csl-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-12.jpg","alt":"two California sea lions","title":"Multi-Phase Muscle Breakdown in California Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/multi-phase-muscle-breakdown-in-california-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Other species\/nz-sea-lion-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"New Zealand sea lion","title":"Tuberculosis in New Zealand Seals, Sea Lions and Dolphins","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/tuberculosis-in-new-zealand-seals-sea-lions-and-dolphins","label":"Research Paper"}
Recent News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2020\/cropped-images\/hs-barnwood-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-315-0-3299-2577-1607370547.jpg","alt":"harbor seal Barnwood","title":"Last-Minute Gift Guide \u2013 Top Gifts that Give Back to Marine Animals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/last-minute-gift-guide","label":"News Update","date":"2023-12-07 01:00:00"}
Last-Minute Gift Guide – Top Gifts that Give Back to Marine Animals
December 7, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor porpoise\/cropped-images\/harbor-porpoise-photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-12-0-1228-959-1604684911.jpg","alt":"harbor porpoise surfacing with Golden Gate Bridge in the background","title":"SFGATE: The Secret Sex Lives of Harbor Porpoises Under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/sfgate-the-secret-sex-lives-of-harbor-porpoises-under-san-franciscos-golden-gate-bridge","label":"In the News","date":"2023-12-07 01:00:00"}
SFGATE: The Secret Sex Lives of Harbor Porpoises Under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge
December 7, 2023
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Releases\/cropped-images\/es-and-csl-at-release-by-joanne-lasnier-c-the-marine-mammal-center-218-0-3804-2971-1700180094.jpg","alt":"An adult elephant seal and two California sea lions approach the water's edge","title":"Seal vs. Sea Lion: Your Guide to Knowing the Difference","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/seal-vs-sea-lion-your-guide-to-knowing-the-difference","label":"News Update","date":"2023-11-28 01:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2023\/cropped-images\/hms-rh38-ct-scan-by-sophie-whoriskey-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-530-435-2813-2197-1700599392.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal RH38 gets a CT scan","title":"Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Heads Home to Kaua\u02bbi After Receiving Life-Saving Care","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-heads-home-to-kauai-after-receiving-life-saving-care","label":"Press Release","date":"2023-11-21 01:00:00"}
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Heads Home to Kauaʻi After Receiving Life-Saving Care
November 21, 2023
Read More