Isolation of St. Louis encephalitis virus from a killer whale

C Buck; G P Paulino; D J Medina; G D Hsiung; T W Campbell; M T Walsh

doi:10.1016/0928-0197(93)90018-z

Isolation of St. Louis encephalitis virus from a killer whale

Clin Diagn Virol. 1993 Jul;1(2):109-12. doi: 10.1016/0928-0197(93)90018-z.

Authors

C Buck¹, G P Paulino, D J Medina, G D Hsiung, T W Campbell, M T Walsh

Affiliation

¹ Virology Department, American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.

PMID: 15566723
DOI: 10.1016/0928-0197(93)90018-z

Abstract

We report the isolation of St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) virus from a mature male killer whale (Orcinus orca). This represents the first isolation of SLE virus from a marine mammal. The animal presented with reduced appetite, rapidly became lethargic and subsequently died. Virus-induced CPE was observed in a dolphin cell line, SP-1K (ATCC CCL 78), inoculated with brain, kidney, and lung tissues obtained at necropsy. Electron microscopy of infected SP-1K cells revealed the presence of virions having morphology and size resembling members of the Flaviviridae. Final identification as SLE virus was made by neutralization and immunofluorescence staining tests.