COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF THE ATTACHMENT PROTEIN GENE (H) OF DOLPHIN MORBILLIVIRUS

DMV, dolphin morbillivirus, a paramyxovirus of uncertain origin recent ly emerged in Mediterranean dolphins. This study presents the complete nucleotide sequence of the hemagglutinin (H) gene including the gene boundaries. The single open reading frame of the DMV H gene encodes a protein of 604 residues which exhibits overall sequence characteristic s similar to the H genes of other morbilliviruses. When compared to it s closest homologues, measles virus (MV) and rinderpest virus (RPV), D MV has, respectively, 44 and 46% of amino acid residues in identical p ositions. The primary sequence of the DMV H protein is markedly less c onserved than that of the fusion protein. The comparative data at the genomic level correspond with cross-neutralization studies with differ ent morbilliviruses. Retrospective serogical studies dating back to 19 83 indicate DMV-like infections in whales of the eastern Atlantic. The presented data support and extend previous studies suggesting that th is novel morbillivirus is one of the phylogenetically oldest morbilliv iruses known to circulate today. The relationship of DMV and establish ed morbilliviruses to the newly emerged candidate morbillivirus infect ing horse and man is discussed.