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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长鳍领航鲸（Globicephala melas）中 DMV 相关脑炎的新表现。

鲸类麻疹病毒 (CeMV) 是导致鲸类种群发病和死亡的重要全球原因，具有四种病理表现，包括非化脓性脑炎。我们描述了一个长鳍领航鲸 (Globicephala melas) 中海豚麻疹病毒 (DMV) 相关非化脓性脑炎的不寻常病例，其中病变位于脑室周围白质上，并且在没有显着的多灶性合胞体形成的情况下全身性病变。通过 qRT-PCR 在脑组织中检测到 DMV RNA，麻疹病毒抗原的免疫组织化学在脑室周围部位产生了强烈的合胞体标记，较深的神经实质有稀疏参与。病变的模式增加了病毒通过脑脊液传播的可能性，如犬瘟热病毒所述，表明类似的致病机制可能与病变发展有关。需要进一步研究来确定 CeMV 脑炎的发病机制和病毒在鲸类动物中枢神经系统中的行为。