SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF MORBILLIVIRUS INFECTION IN SMALL CETACEANS FROM THE SOUTHEAST PACIFIC

The presence of morbillivirus-specific serum antibodies was examined b y an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) and virus neu tralization tests in serum samples from 30 dusky dolphins (Lagenorhync hus obscurus), 8 long-snouted common dolphins (Delphinus capensis), 2 inshore and 6 offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and 20 Burmeister's porpoises (Phocoena spinipinnis) taken in fisheries off central Peru in 1993-1995. The sera from six dusky dolphins, one commo n dolphin and three offshore bottlenose dolphins were positive on a co at of dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) antigen in the iELISA. Several of th ese sera were also positive when tested against peste des petits rumin ants and rinderpest virus antigen. Porpoise morbillivirus and/or DMV n eutralizing antibodies were detected in the sera of two bottlenose and three dusky dolphins that reacted positively with DMV antigen in iELI SA and also in the sera of one common, one dusky and one bottlenose do lphin that were negative in the iELISA. These results strongly suggest that viruses closely related, or identical, to the cetacean morbilliv irus present in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea infect se veral species of Delphinidae of the Southeastern Pacific. No convincin g morbillivirus-specific antibody positive reactions were detected in the sera from either the Burmeister's porpoises or the inshore bottlen ose dolphins. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.