This was the first description of the complete genome of a coronavirus found in a marine mammal.

This illness was characterised by generalised pulmonary disease and terminal acute liver failure.

Electron microscopy showed many round viral particles measuring around 60–80nm in the liver cytoplasm, but it could not be confirmed whether these corresponded with the RNA identified.

[1] 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.