Identification of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with (muco)cutaneous lesions in harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena )

Herpesviruses infect a wide range of vertebrates, including toothed whales of the order Cetacea . One of the smallest toothed whales is the harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ), which is widespread in the coastal waters of the northern hemisphere, including the North Sea. Here, we describe the detection and phylogenetic analysis of a novel gammaherpesvirus associated with mucocutaneous and skin lesions in stranded harbour porpoises along the Dutch coast, tentatively designated phocoenid herpesvirus 1 (PhoHV1). Phylogenetically, PhoHV1 forms a monophyletic clade with all other gammaherpesviruses described in toothed whales ( Odontoceti ) to date, suggesting a common evolutionary origin.