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Virologist Identifies Cause of Navy Dolphins’ Illness

Journal of the AVMA (Aug. 12) – Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego developed acute-onset illness with lack of appetite, diarrhea, and lethargy in April and May 2019. Initial checks for Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, herpesviruses, Salmonella, and other known pathogens turned up no results, according to Dr. Leyi Wang, a veterinary virologist at the University of Illinois. Whole-genome sequencing on fecal samples helped identify a coronavirus.

https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2020-09-01/dolphins-navy-program-sickened-gammacoronavirus