Viral Metagenomic Survey of Caspian Seals

© 2024. Kobey Karamendin (1), * Simon J. Goodman (2), Yermukhammet Kasymbekov (1), Marat Kumar (1), Sardor Nuralibekov (1), Aidyn Kydyrmanov (1). *
(1) Laboratory of Viral Ecology, Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Department of Virology, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
(2) School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
*Correspondence: Kobey Karamendin (kobey.karamendin@gmai.com); Aidyn Kydyrmanov (aidyn.kydyrmanov@gmai.com).


Viral metagenomic survey of Caspian seals

Abstract

Introduction. Viral diseases of pinnipeds cause substantial mortality and morbidity and can influence population demography. Viral metagenomic studies can therefore play an important role in pinniped health assessments and disease surveillance relevant to both individual species and in a “One Health” context (One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment – Kaspika’s note).
Methods. This study used a metagenomic approach with high throughput sequencing to make the first assessment of viral diversity in the Caspian seal (Pusa caspica), the only marine mammal species endemic to the Caspian Sea.
Results. Sequencing libraries from 35 seals sampled 2009–2020 were analysed, finding sequences from the viral families Circoviridae, Parvoviridae, Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, Cruciviridae, Anelloviridae, Smacoviridae, and Orthomyxoviridae, with additional detection of Adenoviridae via PCR. The similarity of viral contigs from Caspian seal to sequences recovered from other pinnipeds ranged from 63.74 % (San Miguel sea lion calicivirus) to 78.79 % (Seal anellovirus 4).
Discussion. Some findings represent novel viral species, but overall, the viral repertoire of Caspian seals is similar to available viromes from other pinnipeds. Among the sequences recovered were partial contigs for influenza B, representing only the second such molecular identification in marine mammals. This work provides a foundation for further studies of viral communities in Caspian seals, the diversity of viromes in pinnipeds more generally, and contributes data relevant for disease risk assessments in marine mammals.
Read more on Frontiers web-site.

Citation: Karamendin K., Goodman S.J., Kasymbekov Y., Kumar M., Nuralibekov S., Kydyrmanov A. (2024) Viral metagenomic survey of Caspian seals. Front. Vet. Sci. 11:1461135. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1461135.

 

The text for publishing on Kaspika Caspian Seals Conservation Agency web-site was provided by Kobey Karamendin, Senior Researcher, Ph.D. (Veterinary), Laboratory of Viral Ecology, Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Department of Virology, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The photos by Anatoliy Ustinenko, Seals in the Caspian.

Seals in the Caspian. Photo by Anatoliy Ustinenko.

 

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