Morbillivirus infection in a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the coast of Italy
Di Guardo, G.; Agrimi, U.; Amaddeo, D.; McAliskey, M.; Kennedy, S.
Veterinary Record 130(26): 579-580
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 1496772 Document Number: 397745
PM examination of a striped dolphin found stranded on the coast of Latium, Italy in September 1991 revealed severe bilateral pneumonia and emphysema; histopathology showed a chronic bronchiolo-interstitial pneumonia, diffuse hepatitis and multifocal nephritis. Escherichia coli was isolated from the liver. Sections of paraffin embedded tissues were examined for the presence of morbillivirus antigen using an immunoperoxidase method with a monoclonal antibody to the phosphoprotein of phocine distemper virus; specific staining of morbillivirus antigen was seen in bronchial, bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium and intrabroncheolar and intra-alveolar macrophages and syncytia. Intensely stained intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions were frequently seen in these cells. Morbillivirus antigen was not detected in any other tissue. Attempts to isolate morbillivirus from tissues of this dolphin are in progress.