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Phocine Distemper
''Phocine morbillivirus'', formerly ''phocine distemper virus'' (PDV), is a paramyxovirus of the genus ''Morbillivirus'' that is pathogenic for pinniped species, particularly seals. Clinical signs include laboured breathing, fever and nervous symptoms. PDV was first identified in 1988 as the cause of death of 18,000 harbor seals (''Phoca vitulina'') and 300 grey seals (''Halichoerus grypus'') along the northern European coast. In 2002, an epizootic of PDV along the North Sea coast resulted in the deaths of 21,700 seals, estimated to be 51% of the population. Antibodies to PDV have been found in a number of carnivorous mammal species in the Western North Atlantic, including polar bears, and the Atlantic walrus. The suddenness of the emergence of PDV and related viruses in aquatic mammals has implicated environmental changes as the cause. Pollutants have been posited as contributors by interfering with the ability of animals to mount a defense against infection. Alternatively, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polydnavirus
A polydnavirus (PDV) is a member of the family (biology), family ''Polydnaviridae'' of insect viruses. There are two genera in the family: ''Bracovirus'' and ''Ichnovirus''. Polydnaviruses form a symbiotic relationship with parasitoid wasps; (ichnoviruses (IV) occur in Ichneumonidae, ichneumonid wasps and bracoviruses (BV) in Braconidae, braconid wasps). The larvae of wasps in both of those groups are themselves parasitic on Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), and the polydnaviruses are important in circumventing the immune response of their parasitized hosts. Little or no sequence homology exists between BV and IV, suggesting that the two genera have been evolving independently for a long time. Taxonomy The genus contains the following genera: * ''Bracovirus'' * ''Ichnovirus'' Structure Viruses in ''Polydnaviridae'' are viral envelope, enveloped, with prolate ellipsoid and cylindrical geometries. Genomes are circular and segmented, composed of multiple segments of double-str ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
