Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks

Thompson, Laura A.; Goertz, Caroline E. C.; Quakenbush, Lori T.; Huntington, Kathy Burek; Suydam, Robert; Stimmelmayr, Raphaela

doi:10.3390/ani12151932

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Abs were detected in 59% of the white whale serum samples that were investigated in our study. This is in accordance with a recent study involving 167 white whales from Bristol Bay and the eastern Chukchi Sea, Alaska, USA, where an overall seroprevalence of 63% was found [ 63 ]. It is, therefore, not very surprising that white whales in Svalbard are exposed to Brucella spp.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…B. ceti has also been associated with mastitis, placentitis, endometritis, genital ulcers, abortion, and testicular abscess in cetaceans [ 41 , 94 ]. It is unknown whether white whales have pathological changes that are similar to those found in other cetacean species that are infected with Brucella spp., however a high prevalence of seropositivity (59%) combined with a low level of PCR (14%) and culture (0%) positive results in Alaskan white whales suggested widespread exposure, but a lack of clinical disease [ 63 ]. The three Brucella -isolates that have been retrieved from white whales belonged to a distinct B. pinnipedialis ST (ST25) that is normally associated with true seals and sea otters ( Enhydra lutris ) [ 62 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathogen Exposure in White Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway

Nymo

Siebert²,

Baechlein

et al. 2022

Pathogens

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The Svalbard white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population is one of the smallest in the world, making it particularly vulnerable to challenges such as climate change and pathogens. In this study, serum samples from live captured (2001–2016) white whales from this region were investigated for influenza A virus (IAV) antibodies (Abs) (n = 27) and RNA (n = 25); morbillivirus (MV) Abs (n = 3) and RNA (n = 25); Brucella spp. Abs; and Toxoplasma gondii Abs (n = 27). IAV Abs were found in a single adult male that was captured in Van Mijenfjorden in 2001, although no IAV RNA was detected. Brucella spp. Abs were found in 59 % of the sample group (16/27). All MV and T. gondii results were negative. The results show that Svalbard white whales have been exposed to IAV and Brucella spp., although evidence of disease is lacking. However, dramatic changes in climate and marine ecosystems are taking place in the Arctic, so surveillance of health parameters, including pathogens, is critical for tracking changes in the status of this vulnerable population.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogen Exposure in White Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway

Nymo

Siebert²,

Baechlein

et al. 2022

Pathogens

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“…A serological screening of white whales from Bristol Bay and the Chukchi Sea confirmed the presence of Brucella antibodies, indicating widespread exposure to the bacteria. However, the low level of rtPCR and lack of positive culture results demonstrated that clinical Brucellosis was not prevalent in Alaska [ 98 , 99 ]. Blood samples from 339 narwhal samples between 1984 and 2003 confirmed antibody presence to Brucella [ 100 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Health—A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change

et al. 2023

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The impacts of climate change on the health of marine mammals are increasingly being recognised. Given the rapid rate of environmental change in the Arctic, the potential ramifications on the health of marine mammals in this region are a particular concern. There are eleven endemic Arctic marine mammal species (AMMs) comprising three cetaceans, seven pinnipeds, and the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). All of these species are dependent on sea ice for survival, particularly those requiring ice for breeding. As air and water temperatures increase, additional species previously non-resident in Arctic waters are extending their ranges northward, leading to greater species overlaps and a concomitant increased risk of disease transmission. In this study, we review the literature documenting disease presence in Arctic marine mammals to understand the current causes of morbidity and mortality in these species and forecast future disease issues. Our review highlights potential pathogen occurrence in a changing Arctic environment, discussing surveillance methods for 35 specific pathogens, identifying risk factors associated with these diseases, as well as making recommendations for future monitoring for emerging pathogens. Several of the pathogens discussed have the potential to cause unusual mortality events in AMMs. Brucella, morbillivirus, influenza A virus, and Toxoplasma gondii are all of concern, particularly with the relative naivety of the immune systems of endemic Arctic species. There is a clear need for increased surveillance to understand baseline disease levels and address the gravity of the predicted impacts of climate change on marine mammal species.

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“…Although B. ceti infection is of increasing concern among free-ranging cetaceans in most oceans across the world [ 9 , 29 , 41 ] there is limited information about isolates from Mediterranean Sea cetaceans. B. ceti was first isolated in 2009 from a striped dolphin stranded along the Spanish Catalonian coast [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brucella ceti Infection in Striped Dolphins from Italian Seas: Associated Lesions and Epidemiological Data

et al. 2023

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Brucella ceti infections have been increasingly reported in cetaceans. In this study, we analyzed all cases of B. ceti infection detected in striped dolphins stranded along the Italian coastline between 2012 and 2021 (N = 24). We focused on the pathogenic role of B. ceti through detailed pathological studies, and ad hoc microbiological, biomolecular, and serological investigations, coupled with a comparative genomic analysis of the strains. Neurobrucellosis was observed in 20 animals. The primary histopathologic features included non-suppurative meningoencephalitis (N = 9), meningitis (N = 6), and meningoencephalomyelitis (N = 5), which was also associated with typical lesions in other tissues (N = 8). Co-infections were detected in more than half of the cases, mostly involving Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV). The 24 B. ceti isolates were assigned primarily to sequence type 26 (ST26) (N = 21) and, in a few cases, ST49 (N = 3). The multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) based on whole genome sequencing (WGS) data showed that strains from Italy clustered into four genetically distinct clades. Plotting these clades onto a geographic map suggests a link between their phylogeny and the topographical distribution. These results support the role of B. ceti as a primary neurotropic pathogen for striped dolphins and highlight the utility of WGS data in understanding the evolution of this emerging pathogen.

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Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks

Cited by 6 publications

References 42 publications

Pathogen Exposure in White Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway

Pathogen Exposure in White Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway

A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Health—A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change

Brucella ceti Infection in Striped Dolphins from Italian Seas: Associated Lesions and Epidemiological Data

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