Viral emergence in marine mammals in the North Pacific may be linked to Arctic sea ice reduction
Abstract
Climate change-driven alterations in Arctic environments can influence habitat availability, species distributions and interactions, and the breeding, foraging, and health of marine mammals. Phocine distemper virus (PDV), which has caused extensive mortality in Atlantic seals, was confirmed in sea otters in the North Pacific Ocean in 2004, raising the question of whether reductions in sea ice could increase contact between Arctic and sub-Arctic marine mammals and lead to viral transmission across the Arctic Ocean. Using data on PDV exposure and infection and animal movement in sympatric seal, sea lion, and sea otter species sampled in the North Pacific Ocean from 2001–2016, we investigated the timing of PDV introduction, risk factors associated with PDV emergence, and patterns of transmission following introduction. We identified widespread exposure to and infection with PDV across the North Pacific Ocean beginning in 2003 with a second peak of PDV exposure and infection in 2009; viral transmission across sympatric marine mammal species; and association of PDV exposure and infection with reductions in Arctic sea ice extent. Peaks of PDV exposure and infection following 2003 may reflect additional viral introductions among the diverse marine mammals in the North Pacific Ocean linked to change in Arctic sea ice extent.
Citation
VanWormer , E , Mazet , J A K , Hall , A , Gill , V A , Boveng , P L , London , J M , Gelatt , T , Fadely , B S , Lander , M E , Sterling , J , Burkanov , V N , Ream , R R , Brock , P M , Rea , L D , Smith , B R , Jeffers , A , Henstock , M , Rehberg , M J , Burek-Huntington , K A , Cosby , S L , Hammond , J A & Goldstein , T 2019 , ' Viral emergence in marine mammals in the North Pacific may be linked to Arctic sea ice reduction ' , Scientific Reports , vol. 9 , 15569 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51699-4
Publication
Scientific Reports
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2045-2322Type
Journal article
Description
This study was supported by the Morris Animal Foundation (grant D09ZO-019), whose mission is to advance the science of animal health, and the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Graduate Traineeship Program. Additional support was provided by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Laboratory and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. JAH and MH were supported by UKRI-BBSRC awards BBS/E/I/00007030, BBS/E/I/00007037, BBS/E/I/00007038 and BBS/E/I/00007039.Collections
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