Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is an important global cause of morbidity and mortality in cetacean populations, with four pathological presentations including non-suppurative encephalitis. We describe an unusual case of dolphin morbillivirus (DMV)-associated non-suppurative encephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), in which the lesions were orientated on the periventricular white matter and comprised prominent multifocal syncytia formation in the absence of systemic lesions. DMV RNA was detected in brain tissue by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry for morbillivirus antigen yielded intense labelling of syncytia in periventricular sites, with sparse involvement of the deeper neuroparenchyma. The pattern of lesions raises the possibility of viral dissemination through the cerebrospinal fluid, as described for canine distemper virus, suggesting that similar pathogenic mechanisms may be implicated in lesion development. Further investigation is required to establish the pathogenesis of CeMV encephalitis and the behaviour of the virus within the central nervous system of cetaceans.

中文翻译：

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DMV相关性脑炎的新型表现，在长尾的鲸鱼（Globicephala melas）中。

鲸类科动物脊髓灰质炎病毒（CeMV）是鲸类科动物发病率和死亡率的重要的全球性病因，有四种病理表现，包括非化脓性脑炎。我们描述了一个不寻常的案例，在长翅鲸（Globicephala melas）中，海豚结核菌病毒（DMV）相关的非化脓性脑炎，其中病变位于脑室白质上，并且在缺乏全身性病变。通过qRT-PCR在脑组织中检测到DMV RNA，免疫组织化学检测到轮状病毒抗原在脑室周围部位产生强烈的合胞体标记，而较稀疏的神经实质实质受累。病变的模式增加了通过脑脊液传播病毒的可能性，如针对犬瘟热病毒所述，表明相似的致病机制可能与病变的发展有关。建立CeMV脑炎的发病机制和鲸类中枢神经系统中病毒的行为还需要进一步的研究。