Genomic sequencing of a virus representing a novel typewithin the species Dyopipapillomavirus 1 in an Indian River Lagoonbottlenose dolphin

AbstractFecal samples collected from free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (BDs) in the Indian River Lagoon of Florida wereprocessed for viral discovery using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach. A 693-bp contig identified in the NGSdata was nearly identical to the partial L1 gene sequence of a papillomavirus (PV) previously found in a penile papilloma ina killer whale (Orcinus orca). Based on this partial bottlenose dolphin papillomavirus (BDPV) sequence, a nested inversePCR and primer-walking strategy was employed to generate the complete genome sequence. The full BDPV genome consistedof 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 of12 individual fecal samples using a specific endpoint PCR assay revealed that the feces from a single female BD displaying agenital papilloma was positive for the BDPV. Genetic analysis indicated that this BDPV (Tursiops truncatus papillomavirus8; TtPV8) is a new type of Dyopipapillomavirus 1, previously sequenced from an isolate obtained from a penile papillomain a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Although only a partial L1 sequence has been determined for a PV detected ina killer whale genital papilloma, our finding of a nearly identical sequence in an Atlantic BD may indicate that membersof this viral species are capable of host jumping. Future work is needed to determine if this virus is a high-risk PV that iscapable of inducing carcinogenic transformation and whether it poses a significant health risk to wild delphinid populations