[Jimbuna]

Deadly brain-attacking dolphin virus found in animal poo - and humans can catch it

Top boffins have found traces of a deadly disease in the poo of one of the world's most loved animals.

Expert researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi Health and Stranding Lab have announced that they managed to find traces of a disease called Fraser's Morbillivirus in the faeces of dolphins. The virus – which is a strain of human measles – has a significant impact on dolphins, and other marine animals, causing issues with breathing and the brain.

It is normally found in Fraser's dolphins, which are usually found in the Pacific Ocean, but are seen in the Indian and Atlantic oceans, too. And the experts are worried about the new findings leading to an outbreak in the disease in those areas which would have a “devastating” effect.

The discovery was made after they collected the poo from stranded dolphins, and found that it was present in the samples. They also found that they could even detect it in seawater – without having to extract poo from dolphins.

The report, published in Marine Mammal science stated: “We report on the successful detection of Fraser's dolphin Morbillivirus in the faeces of an infected animal where (the virus) was amplified . . . up to a simulated seawater dilution of 1:1,000. This demonstrates the potential for disease screening of wild cetacean faecal samples that could be used to study the spread of pathogens and serve as an important diagnostic tool to assess cetacean health.”

And Kristi West, lead author and an associate researcher explained: “This is the first time that a pathogen responsible for mass mortalities of dolphins and whales, and that affects multiple organ systems other than the digestive tract, has been demonstrated in the faeces of whales and dolphins.

“Morbilliviruses have been responsible for mass mortalities of dolphins and whales during outbreak events. This study recommends that permitted research vessels studying dolphins and whales collect faecal samples using flasks and nets to test for disease.”

Despite morbiliviruses being found in humans, there have been no cases of animal to human infection so far.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/wor...virus-31941636