Viral Disease Identification in Marine Vertebrates

Coastal areas are continuously growing in human population size, and with this growth comes the increased potential for the marine ecosystem to be a reservoir for diseases. With the outbreak of COVID19, it is clear we need more research in emerging infectious diseases (EID) within non-human animal populations. Research into EID is essential for understanding the spread and cause of disease in wildlife populations as well as the potential for zoonosis. However, there is little to no active research in viruses of marine vertebrates (fish, marine mammals, and sea birds). Anthropogenic climate change has been the biggest driver of EID in recent years in both human and animal populations and thus also increases the potential for zoonosis to occur. The VDIMV project aims to use metagenomic sequencing and data analytics to identify and characterize novel viruses in underexplored marine viral reservoirs for the purpose of both wildlife conservation and human health. 

Currently, we are working with collaborators at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to identify the causal agents of Puffy Snout Syndrome (PSS), which is a deformative infectious disease of unknown origin in captive held Scombrids (tunas and mackerels). PSS causes swelling of the facial tissue and leads to occlusion of the eyes, nares, and mouth. This syndrome causes extensive mortality in aquariums and aquaculture facilities and thus is a serious concern for these industries. We hope to use this study as well as our past work in marine mammal virology as a springboard into future investigations of marine vertebrate diseases.

For questions about VDIMV, contact Ph.D. student Savanah Leidholt.