Evidence of Morbillivirus infection in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded on the Ligurian sea coast of Italy

Present study was aimed at investigating whether Morbillivirus infection is present in stranded dolphins from West Ligurian Sea. From obtained data, it seems more than realistic to believe that a morbilliviral agent took place in at least 4 out of the 8 dolphin analysed. Nevertheless, despite their seropositivity, IIIC, IIF and TR-PCR investigations yealded negative results in all cetaceans. In conclusion, data obtained from the study suggest that, albeit exposure to a morbilliviral agent was documented in half of the animals, one or more factors other that Morbillivirus could have involved in animals' death.