Seroepidemiological survey of sealpox virus infection in marine mammals

Abstract

The current study conducted a seroepidemiological survey of sealpox virus infection in marine mammals in Japan. A total of 112 serum/plasma samples from 23 marine mammal species (pinnipeds, cetaceans, marine fissipeds, and sirenians) from 16 aquaria in Japan were collected and subjected to an improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting antibodies against sealpox virus, employing the recombinant major envelope protein of the virus produced in Escherichia coli. Results revealed that the tested marine mammals were seronegative, indicating that these mammals housed in various aquaria in Japan show no detectable serological evidence of the current or past infection. Results suggest that a low prevalence or absence of active infection may lead to a low risk of transmission to humans.