Identification of novel alpha- and gammaherpesviruses from cutaneous and mucosal lesions of dolphins and whales.

Total DNA extracted from mucosal and skin lesions of captive and stranded cetaceans was analyzed for herpesvirus DNA by nested and direct polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The targeted sequences corresponded to a region of the DNA polymerase gene containing multiple conserved amino acid motifs. Herpesvirus genomic DNA fragments (222-244 bp) were amplified from 11 lesions by nested PCR and from eight lesions ( approximately 730 bp) using direct PCR from US cetaceans.