SEROLOGIC SURVEY FOR PHOCID HERPESVIRUS-1 AND HERPESVIRUS-2 IN MARINEMAMMALS FROM ALASKA AND RUSSIA

Blood samples were collected from 1,042 marine mammals off the coast o f Alaska (USA) and Russia during the period 1978 to 1994. Eight specie s of pinnipeds were represented. Sera were tested for presence of neut ralizing antibodies to both the PB84 isolate of phocid herpesvirus-1 ( PhHV-1) and the 7848/Han90 strain of phocid herpesvirus-2 (PhHV-2). Sp ecies-specific antibody prevalences ranged from 22% to 77% for PhHV-1 and 11% to 50% for PhHV-2. Species-specific antibody prevalences for P hHV-1 were greater than or equal to prevalences for PhHV-2. For both v iruses and each host species, differences in antibody prevalences were not related to: (1) sex, (2) location of capture, or (3) year of coll ection. Antibody prevalence of PhHV-1 in walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) could be quantitatively predicted as a function of age. These two viru ses have distinct biological properties and based on current data the epizootiology of the two viruses is different, as well. No evidence of herpesvirus-induced mortality has been detected in areas included in this survey. Based on results of this survey, neither PhHV-1 nor PhHV- 2 are considered significant mortality factors in mammals which inhabi t the marine environment off the coast of Alaska or Russia.