Meningoencephalitis in a common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata associated with Brucella pinnipedialis and gamma-herpesvirus infection

Davison, N. J. , Dagleish, M. P., ten Doeschate, M. , Muchowski, J., Perrett, L. L., Rocchi, M., Whatmore, A. M. and Brownlow, A. (2021) Meningoencephalitis in a common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata associated with Brucella pinnipedialis and gamma-herpesvirus infection. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 144, pp. 231-235. (doi: 10.3354/dao03590) (PMID:34042070)

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Abstract

Fatal marine Brucella infections with histologic lesions specific to the central nervous system (CNS), known as neurobrucellosis, have been described in 5 species of odontocete cetaceans in the UK: striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus, short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis, long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas and Sowerby’s beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens. To date, these CNS lesions have only been associated with Brucella ceti ST26 and not with B. pinnipedialis, which is rarely isolated from cetaceans and, although commonly found in various seal species, has never been associated with any pathology. This paper describes the first report of neurobrucellosis in a common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata which was associated with the isolation of Brucella pinnipedialis ST24 and co-infection with Balaenoptera acutorostrata gamma-herpesvirus 2. This is the first report of neurobrucellosis in any species of mysticete and the first report of Brucella pinnipedialis in association with any pathology in any species of marine mammal, which may be due to co-infection with a herpesvirus, as these are known to be associated with immunosuppression.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Rocchi, Dr Mara and ten Doeschate, Mariel and Davison, Mr Nick and Brownlow, Dr Andrew and Dagleish, Dr Mark
Authors: Davison, N. J., Dagleish, M. P., ten Doeschate, M., Muchowski, J., Perrett, L. L., Rocchi, M., Whatmore, A. M., and Brownlow, A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Publisher:Inter Research
ISSN:0177-5103
ISSN (Online):1616-1580
Published Online:27 May 2021

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