Genomic sequencing of a virus representing a novel type within the species Dyopipapillomavirus 1 in an Indian River Lagoon bottlenose dolphin

Arch Virol. 2019 Mar;164(3):767-774. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-04117-5. Epub 2019 Jan 20.

Abstract

Fecal samples collected from free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (BDs) in the Indian River Lagoon of Florida were processed for viral discovery using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach. A 693-bp contig identified in the NGS data was nearly identical to the partial L1 gene sequence of a papillomavirus (PV) previously found in a penile papilloma in a killer whale (Orcinus orca). Based on this partial bottlenose dolphin papillomavirus (BDPV) sequence, a nested inverse PCR and primer-walking strategy was employed to generate the complete genome sequence. The full BDPV genome consisted of 7299 bp and displayed a typical PV genome organization. The BDPV E6 protein contained a PDZ-binding motif, which has been shown to be involved in carcinogenic transformation involving high-risk genital human PVs. Screening of 12 individual fecal samples using a specific endpoint PCR assay revealed that the feces from a single female BD displaying a genital papilloma was positive for the BDPV. Genetic analysis indicated that this BDPV (Tursiops truncatus papillomavirus 8; TtPV8) is a new type of Dyopipapillomavirus 1, previously sequenced from an isolate obtained from a penile papilloma in a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Although only a partial L1 sequence has been determined for a PV detected in a killer whale genital papilloma, our finding of a nearly identical sequence in an Atlantic BD may indicate that members of this viral species are capable of host jumping. Future work is needed to determine if this virus is a high-risk PV that is capable of inducing carcinogenic transformation and whether it poses a significant health risk to wild delphinid populations.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / virology*
  • Female
  • Florida
  • Genomics
  • Papillomaviridae / classification
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics*
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification
  • Phylogeny
  • Rivers / virology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / veterinary*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Viral Proteins