Herpesviruses including novel gammaherpesviruses are widespread among phocid seal species in Canada

Little is known about herpesviruses in Canadian pinnipeds. We measured prevalence of antibodies to herpesviruses in the sera from Canadian phocid seals by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Wild harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and captive harbor seals were positive for antibodies to Phocid herpesvirus 1 (PhoHV-1) at prevalences of 91% and 100%, respectively. Sera from wild hooded seals (Cystophora cristata), harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandica), and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were positive for antibodies to PhoHV-1 antigenically related herpesvirus antigens at 73%, 79%, and 96%, respectively. We isolated new herpesviruses in cell culture from two hunter-harvested ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in poor body condition from Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada; one lethargic hooded seal from the St. Lawrence Estuary, Québec, Canada; and one captive, asymptomatic harp seal from the Magdalen Islands, Québec. Partial sequencing of the herpesvirus DNA polymerase gene revealed that all four virus isolates were closely related to PhoHV-2, a member of the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily, with nucleotide similarity ranging between 92.8% and 95.3%. The new seal herpesviruses were genetically related to other known pinniped herpesviruses, such as PhoHV-1, Otariid herpesvirus 3, Hawaiian monk (Monachus schauinslandi) seal herpesvirus, and Phocid herpesvirus 5 with 47–48%, 55%, 77%, and 70–77% nucleotide similarities, respectively. The harp seal herpesvirus and both ringed seal herpesviruses were almost identical to each other, whereas the hooded seal herpesvirus was genetically different from the three others (92.8% nucleotide similarity), indicating detection of at least two novel seal herpesviruses. These findings are the first isolation, partial genome sequencing, and identification of seal gammaherpesviruses in three species of Canadian phocid seals; two species of which were suspected of exposure to one or more antigenically related herpesviruses based on serologic analyses

\u3ci\u3eAnophryocephalus inuitorum\u3c/i\u3e sp. nov. and \u3ci\u3eA. arcticensis\u3c/i\u3e sp. nov. (Eucestoda: Tetrabothriidae) in Ringed Seals (\u3ci\u3ePhoca hispida hispida\u3c/i\u3e) and Harp Seals (\u3ci\u3ePhoca groenlandica\u3c/i\u3e) from High-Latitude Seas of Eastern Canada and the Arctic Basin

Anophryocephalus inuitorum sp. nov. and A. arcticensis sp. nov. are described from ringed seals (Phoca hispida hispida) in the eastern Canadian Arctic; the latter species is also reported from harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Anophryocephalus inuitorum is most similar to A. skrjabini, but can be distinguished by fewer testes (14-27) and smaller dimensions of the strobila, neck (3.0-5.9 mm long), and cirrus sac (31-70 μm long), diameter of the genital atrium (44 -68 pm), and length of the male canal (23-42 μm long). Anophyrocephulus arcticensis resembles A. nunivakensis in the structure of the scolex, but is readily distinguished by a longer neck (8.9-14.7 mm), an elongate cirrus sac (60-98 x 44-73 μm) with a substantially thicker muscular wall, a more globular vitelline gland, and larger embryophores (29-41 μm long) and oncospheres (24-34 μm long). These are the first species of Anophryocephalus to be described from phocines in the eastern Canadian Arctic, and are included in a revised key for the genus. French abstract: On trouvera ici la description d’Anophryocephalus inuitorum sp. nov. et d’A. arcticensis sp. nov., rencontrés chez des Phoques annelés (Phoca hispida hispida) dans l’est de l’Arctique canadien; la seconde espèce a également été trouvée chez des Phoques du Groenland (Phoca groenlandica) dans le golfe du Saint-Laurent. Anophryocephalus inuitorum s’apparente surtout à A. skrjabini, mais s’en distingue par le nombre plus restreint de ses testicules (14-27) et les dimensions plus réduites des composantes de son strobila, cou (3,0-5,9 mm longueur), sac du cirre (31-70 μm), atrium génital (44-68 μm de diamètre), canal mâle (23-42 μm de longueur). Anophyocephulus articensis ressemble à A. nunivakensis par la structure de son scolex, mais s’en distingue facilement par un cou plus long (8,9-14,7 mm de longueur), par son sac du cirre allongé (60-98 x 44-73 μm) à la paroi musculaire beaucoup plus épaisse, par sa glande vitelline plus globuleuse et par la taille plus importante de ses embryophores (29-41 μm de longueur) et de ses oncosphères (24-34 μm de longueur). Il s\u27agit là des premieres espkces d’Anophyocephulus jamais trouvées chez des Phocinae dans l\u27est de l’Arctique canadien; la clé du genre a été amendée de façon à inclure les nouvelles espèces

Stranding of a Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps, in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada

A Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps, stranded alive and later died in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, Canada on 28 August 2001. This is the northern-most stranding of this species in the western Atlantic. The whale was estimated to be approximately 3 m long and a longitudinal section from one tooth (31 mm long and 5.0 mm in diameter) revealed 3.5 growth layer groups

Antibodies against influenza virus types a and b in Canadian seals

Influenza viruses have been reported from marine mammals worldwide, particularly in pinnipeds, and have caused mass mortalities of seals in North America and Europe. Because influenza viruses in marine mammals can be zoonotic, our objective was to examine Canadian phocids for exposure to influenza A and B viruses in order to understand health risks to wild populations as well as to humans who consume or handle these animals. Blood was collected from 394 seals in eastern Canada from 1994 to 2005. Sera were screened for exposure to influenza viruses in three resident species of seals: harbour, Phoca vitulina (n¼66); grey, Halichoerus grypus (n¼82); ringed, Phoca hispida (n¼2); and two migrant species: harp, Pagophilus groenlandica (n¼206) and hooded, Cystophora cristata (n¼38). Included were samples from captive grey (n¼1) and harbour seals (n¼8) at two aquaria. Sera were prescreened using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and antibodies against influenza A virus were confirmed using a commercial competitive ELISA (IDEXX Europe B.V.). A subset of influenza A virus positive sera was used to determine common virus subtypes recognized by sera using reference strains. All positive sera in the indirect ELISA reacted with influenza A virus subtypes H3, H4, and H10 using a hemagglutination inhibition assay. Sera from harbour, grey, harp, and hooded seals had antibodies against influenza A and influenza B viruses (some cross-reactivity occurred). Overall, 33% (128/385) of wild seals were seropositive to influenza viruses, with the highest seroprevalence in harp (42%) followed by harbour (33%), grey (23%), and hooded (11%) seals. Antibodies were detected in both sexes and most age classes of wild seals. Two of eight captive harbour seals were seropositive to influenza B virus and four had cross-reactions to influenza A and B viruses. This study reports antibodies against influenza A and B viruses in four seal species from the same geographic area in eastern Canada

PHILOMETRA RUBRA (NEMATODA: PHILOMETRIDAE) - FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE MALE FROM STRIPED BASS, MORONE SAXATILIS, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RE-INTRODUCTION OF AN EXTIRPATED POPULATION

Philometra rubra (Leidy, 1856) is a pathogenic parasitic nematode infecting striped bass [Morone saxatilis (Walbaum, 1792)] in eastern North America. Identification of philometrids is difficult, male P. rubra have never been found and transmission is poorly understood. To re-establish the â Extirpatedâ striped bass population in the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE), Quebec young-of-the-year (YOY) striped bass from the Miramichi River, New Brunswick were collected and released into the SLE. The present study was undertaken to find Philometra in striped bass from the Miramichi River, for identification, description, and examine transmission and lesions. Philometra rubra was identified in 100% of 32 YOY (intensity=26 to 125) and 100% of nine 1-year-old (intensity=4 to 25 in five striped bass) striped bass collected in summer 2011. The swim bladder and body cavity were sites of infection in YOY with no tissue response observed histopathologically. Gravid P. rubra females occurred in the body cavity and swim bladder with males predominately in the latter site. Males were short-lived being absent in 1-year-old bass. Adult male and adult female P. rubra are described. Males of P. rubra can be distinguished from other described species based on spicule, gubernaculum and body length measurements. This parasite may have implications for the re-introduction program and conservation of striped bass in the SLE and in other populations.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

The effects of two dosages of midazolam on short-duration anesthesia in the juvenile Harp seal (Phoca groenlandica)

Copyright permission granted to include this article in the Institutional Repository November 30, 2010.Ye

Influence of anthropogenic activities on marine mammal strandings in the estuary and northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, 1994–2008

Stranding records have long been used to monitor marine mammal mortalities and to help identify threats to populations. In coastal areas, marine mammals face numerous anthropogenic threats such as marine traffic and commercial fishing. The objective of this study was to investigate marine mammal stranding records from the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) and the northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NWGSL), Quebec, Canada from 1994 to 2008 for evidence of anthropogenic trauma caused by entanglement in fishing gear, ship collisions and gunshots. Of 1,590 marine mammal stranding records, 12% (n = 192) had evidence of anthropogenic trauma, most incidents being reported during summer when activities such as marine traffic, most commercial fishing and recreational boating, occurred and a greater number of species were present in the area. These incidents were classified into five categories (Incidental catch, Ship collision, Severe injury, Gunshot, Other). There were 1,245 mortalities and observations on carcasses suggested that anthropogenic trauma led to the death of 11% (141/1,245) of marine mammals: 14% (87/627) of cetaceans and 9% (54/618) of seals. Mortality of seals due to anthropogenic trauma was low, involving mainly Gunshot for grey (26% or 8/31) and harbour seals (26% or 8/31). Over the study period, marine mammal incidents with evidence of anthropogenic trauma increased significantly, driven by an increase in Incidental catch for two mysticete species, the common minke whale, 42% (39/92) and humpback whale, 13% (12/92) and Other for harbour porpoise 67% (16/24). Ship collision was the most common anthropogenic trauma for fin whales (22% or 8/36) and SLE beluga5 (22% or 8/36). Severe injury was reported for 22% (2/9) of small cetaceans and 78% (7/9) of seals. Evidence from some harbour porpoise stranding records (categorised as Other) suggests illegal hunting, incidental catch, predation or scavenging by grey seals in a marine protected area. The observed increase in Incidental catch of common minke and humpback whales may be due to: (1) a shift in distribution of these two species into the SLE and NWGSL, possibly related to changes in the ecosystem; (2) changes in fishery practices; and (3) an increase in detection of marine mammal strandings. Anthropogenic trauma affecting marine mammals was documented including some species at risk, such as the harbour porpoise, the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga population, blue and North Atlantic right whales, in the St. Lawrence ecosystem including in a marine protected area. This study demonstrates the usefulness of stranding records in helping to monitor human-caused mortality in marine mammal populations. -- Keywords : Strandings ; Incidental catches ; Trends ; Atlantic Ocean ; Conservation