Despite not being considered a mayor threat for animal populations, pathogens have been implicated in various mass mortalities, being their study an important tool for wildlife conservation. In marine mammals, infectious diseases, especially viral diseases due to their high degree of mutation, remains a concern. The aim of this project is the analysis of the prevalence of morbillivirus, herpesvirus, and influenza virus in the population of fin whales from north-central Chile, specifically in Chañaral del Aceituno. This area is a feeding site for a large number of cetaceans, including fin whales, due to a strong and persistent upwelling which creates a highly productive system. Blow sampling has been used to determine respiratory virome and was collected non-invasively using a 5m pole with a petri plaque attached to its end. Virus prevalence was detected using DNA extraction and PCR amplification. Our results show that any animal was infected by herpesvirus or morbillivirus, whereas influenza was present in 18.18% of the samples. This study shows non-invasive techniques to assess cetaceans’ health, and the importance of the virome analysis for wildlife conservation. Moreover, the presence of influenza virus on fin whales, raises concern on the impact of this disease on Chilean wildlife.
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