Beluga whale coronavirus SW1
Beluga whale coronavirus SW1 | |
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Virus classification | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Pisuviricota |
Class: | Pisoniviricetes |
Order: | Nidovirales |
Family: | Coronaviridae |
Genus: | Gammacoronavirus |
Subgenus: | Cegacovirus |
Species: | Beluga whale coronavirus SW1
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Beluga whale coronavirus SW1 (Whale-CoV SW1) is a mammalian Gammacoronavirus, an RNA virus, discovered through genome sequencing in the liver of a single deceased beluga whale and first described in 2008. This was the first description of the complete genome of a coronavirus found in a marine mammal.[1]
The captive-born whale was male and died at age 13 after a short illness. This illness was characterised by generalised pulmonary disease and terminal acute liver failure. The liver demonstrated pathological signs, including areas of
A genetic analysis showed the virus to be highly divergent, but closest to the Gammacoronavirus group.[1] A closely related virus was subsequently reported in bottlenose dolphins, with the authors proposing that both should be included in the same species, Cetacean coronavirus.[2]
See also
- Animal viruses
- Avian infectious bronchitis virus
- RNA virus