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Fecal samples collected from free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (BDs) in the Indian River Lagoon of Florida were processed for viral discovery using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach. A 693-bp contig identified in the NGS data was nearly identical to the partial L1 gene sequence of a papillomavirus (PV) previously found in a penile papilloma in a killer whale (Orcinus orca). Based on this partial bottlenose dolphin papillomavirus (BDPV) sequence, a nested inverse PCR and primer-walking strategy was employed to generate the complete genome sequence. The full BDPV genome consisted of 7299 bp and displayed a typical PV genome organization. The BDPV E6 protein contained a PDZ-binding motif, which has been shown to be involved in carcinogenic transformation involving high-risk genital human PVs. Screening of 12 individual fecal samples using a specific endpoint PCR assay revealed that the feces from a single female BD displaying a genital papilloma was positive for the BDPV. Genetic analysis indicated that this BDPV (Tursiops truncatus papillomavirus 8; TtPV8) is a new type of Dyopipapillomavirus 1, previously sequenced from an isolate obtained from a penile papilloma in a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Although only a partial L1 sequence has been determined for a PV detected in a killer whale genital papilloma, our finding of a nearly identical sequence in an Atlantic BD may indicate that members of this viral species are capable of host jumping. Future work is needed to determine if this virus is a high-risk PV that is capable of inducing carcinogenic transformation and whether it poses a significant health risk to wild delphinid populations.

In 2018, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 12 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are the most prevalent cetaceans in the North Sea. The fecal viral flora of 21 harbour porpoises stranded along the Dutch coastline was analyzed by a metagenomics approach. Sequences of a novel cetacean mastadenovirus, designated harbour porpoise adenovirus 1 (HpAdV-1), were detected. The sequence of a 23-kbp genomic region, spanning the conserved late region, was determined using primer walking. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that HpAdV-1 is most closely related to bottlenose dolphin adenovirus and clusters with Cetartiodactyla adenoviruses. The prevalence of HpAdV-1 was low (2.6%) based on targeted PCR-screening of the intestinal contents of 151 harbour porpoises stranded between 2010 and 2013.