The Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) genome from the frst Mediterranean epidemic (1990-\u201992) is the
only cetacean Morbillivirus that has been completely sequenced. Here, we report the frst application
of next generation sequencing (NGS) to morbillivirus infection of aquatic mammals. A viral isolate,
representative of the 2006-\u201908 Mediterranean epidemic (DMV_IZSPLV_2008), efciently grew on
Vero.DogSLAMtag cells and was submitted to whole genome characterization by NGS. The fnal
genome length was 15,673 nucleotides, covering 99.82% of the DMV reference genome. Comparison
of DMV_IZSPLV_2008 and 1990-\u201992 DMV strain sequences revealed 157 nucleotide mutations and
47 amino acid changes. The sequence similarity was 98.7% at the full genome level. Whole-genome
phylogeny suggested that the DMV strain circulating during the 2006-\u201908 epidemics emerged from the
1990-\u201992 DMV strain. Viral isolation is considered the \u201cgold standard\u201d for morbillivirus diagnostics but
efcient propagation of infectious virus is difcult to achieve. The successful cell replication of this strain
allowed performing NGS directly from the viral RNA, without prior PCR amplifcation. We therefore
provide to the scientifc community a second DMV genome, representative of another major outbreak.
Interestingly, genome comparison revealed that the neglected L gene encompasses 74% of the genetic
diversity and might serve as \u201chypervariable\u201d target for strain characterization
