We isolated a macropodid herpesvirus from a free-ranging eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteous) displaying clinical signs of respiratory disease and possibly neurologic disease. Sequence analysis of the herpesvirus glycoprotein G (gG) and glycoprotein B (gB) genes revealed that the virus was an alphaherpesvirus most closely related to macropodid herpesvirus 2 (MaHV-2) with 82.7% gG and 94.6% gB amino acid sequence identity. Serologic analyses showed similar cross-neutralization patterns to those of MaHV-2. The two viruses had different growth characteristics in cell culture. Most notably, this virus formed significantly larger plaques and extensive syncytia when compared with MaHV-2. No syncytia were observed for MaHV-2. Restriction endonuclease analysis of whole viral genomes demonstrated distinct restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns for all three macropodid herpesviruses. These studies suggest that a distinct macropodid alphaherpesvirus may be capable of infecting and causing disease in eastern grey kangaroos.
VIROLOGY|
January 01 2013
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL HERPESVIRUS FROM A FREE-RANGING EASTERN GREY KANGAROO (MACROPUS GIGANTEUS)
Paola Karinna Vaz;
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
3 Corresponding author (email: devlinj@unimelb.edu)
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Julian Motha;
Julian Motha
2 Centre for AgriBioscience, Department of Primary Industries, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
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Christina McCowan;
Christina McCowan
2 Centre for AgriBioscience, Department of Primary Industries, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
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Nino Ficorilli;
Nino Ficorilli
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Pam Lizette Whiteley;
Pam Lizette Whiteley
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Colin Reginald Wilks;
Colin Reginald Wilks
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Carol Anne Hartley;
Carol Anne Hartley
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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James Rudkin Gilkerson;
James Rudkin Gilkerson
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Glenn Francis Browning;
Glenn Francis Browning
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Joanne Maree Devlin
Joanne Maree Devlin
3
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
3 Corresponding author (email: devlinj@unimelb.edu)
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J Wildl Dis (2013) 49 (1): 143–151.
Article history
Received:
January 20 2012
Accepted:
August 21 2012
Citation
Paola Karinna Vaz, Julian Motha, Christina McCowan, Nino Ficorilli, Pam Lizette Whiteley, Colin Reginald Wilks, Carol Anne Hartley, James Rudkin Gilkerson, Glenn Francis Browning, Joanne Maree Devlin; ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL HERPESVIRUS FROM A FREE-RANGING EASTERN GREY KANGAROO (MACROPUS GIGANTEUS). J Wildl Dis 1 January 2013; 49 (1): 143–151. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/2012-01-027
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