Coxiella burnetii exposure in northern sea otters Enhydra lutris kenyoni

Duncan, Colleen; Gill, Verena A.; Worman, Kristin; Burek‐Huntington, Kathleen A.; Pabilonia, Kristy L.; Johnson, Sam; Fitzpatrick, Kelly A.; Weller, Christina B.; Kersh, Gilbert J.

doi:10.3354/dao02857

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Despite a wide host range, domestic livestock (sheep, cattle, and goats) are most commonly affected, with weak newborns and abortion or stillbirths being the most common clinical signs. Reports in marine mammals are rare but do exist, as shown by positive serology in sea otters ( Enhydra lutris ), harbour seals, and northern fur seals and the detection of Coxiella sp in placenta by PCR in harbour seals, northern fur seals, harbour porpoise, and Steller sea lions [ 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 ]. Cold Arctic air temperatures have likely limited the spread of Q fever, but it has been documented in cattle in Greenland and is therefore worth further investigation as temperatures in the Arctic continue to warm [ 122 , 123 ].…”

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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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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“…were detected by PCR in northern sea otters at a higher rate in AK than in California; however, a direct correlation to Strep syndrome was not found (Carrasco et al, 2014a;Carrasco et al, 2014b). Coxiella burnetii was not detected in heart valve lesions by PCR (Duncan et al, 2015). Immunosuppression could be an explanation for the frequency of Strep syndrome in northern sea otters, and possible causes include malnutrition, viral infections such as by morbilliviruses or retroviruses, organohalogen contaminants, and decreased population genetic variability.…”

Section: Strep Syndromementioning

confidence: 88%

“…in dogs (Lepidi et al, 2000;Pesavento et al, 2005), and Coxiella spp. are associated with IE and thought to be primary pathogens (Duncan et al, 2015). Bartonella spp.…”

Section: Strep Syndromementioning

confidence: 99%

Causes of Mortality of Northern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska From 2002 to 2012

Huntington¹,

Gill

Berrian

et al. 2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Most of the world’s sea otters reside in Alaska, but there has never been an assessment of long-term mortality patterns for this keystone predator. We examined data collected from 780 northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) carcasses recovered in Alaska from 2002 to 2012 to evaluate the causes of mortality and risk factors associated with death. A smaller group (n = 144, 18%) of fresh non-frozen carcasses were included in a more detailed mortality analysis. Forty-four% of the fresh dead otters were determined to have died from infectious endocarditis, meningoencephalitis, and/or septicemia due to systemic streptococcosis (“Strep syndrome”). Streptococcus lutetiensis, a member of the Streptococcus bovis/equinus (SB/E) group was most commonly isolated, although other members of the SB/E group were identified. There were fewer cases where S. phocae and other streptococci were isolated. A regression analysis revealed age and location risk factors for Strep syndrome. Subadults were the highest risk age group, and otters recovered from the Kachemak Bay region were 3.6 times (95% CI: 2.2–5.9) more likely to die from Strep syndrome than otters recovered elsewhere. Diagnosis of this Strep syndrome had not been reported in other marine mammals in Alaska. Sporadic cases of septicemia and infectious endocarditis due to S. lutetiensis have been seen in the southern sea otter population in California. Other causes of death for the fresh otters included neurologic diseases (10%), trauma (8%), nutritional diseases (7%), cardiovascular diseases (7%), gastrointestinal diseases /parasites (6%), undetermined (5%), septicemia (3%), and neoplasia (3%). All other causes of death (oiling, hepatobiliary, fungal, marine biotoxins, pulmonary) were at or below 1%. Twenty percent of fresh animals were positive for phocine distemper virus (PDV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR, 11/55), 18% seropositive for PDV (7/38), and paramyxovirus-like particles were demonstrated by electron microscopy within inclusion bodies from one animal. Low concentrations of the harmful algal bloom toxins domoic acid and saxitoxin were also detected in 26% and 22% of fresh animals, respectively. Protozoal disease was rare. These patterns of disease differ from sea otters in other regions and possible reasons are discussed.

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“…However, some bacteria, such as C. burnetii, cannot be cultured by standard bacteriological methods as the bacterium requires cell cultures for propagation due to its intracellular nature. Studies specifically targeting C. burnetii in bovine endocarditis cases have not been done, but the hypothesis of C. burnetii being associated with endocarditis in animals has been tested in northern sea otters, which inhabit an environment where marine mammals are exposed to C. burnetii ; however C. burnetii was not found in cases of endocarditis [18]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Presence of Coxiella burnetii DNA in inflamed bovine cardiac valves

et al. 2016

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BackgroundBacterial endocarditis is a recognised disease in humans and animals. In humans, infection with Coxiella burnetii can cause endocarditis, but this has not been investigated thoroughly in animals. Endocarditis in cattle is a common post-mortem finding in abattoirs and studies have identified Trueperella pyogenes as a major cause. Despite exposure of cattle to C. burnetii, the significance of this particular bacterium for development and progression of endocarditis has not been studied in detail. Cardiac valves of cattle affected with endocarditis (n = 100) were examined by histology, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum was examined for anti-C. burnetii antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsSerology revealed that 70% of the cattle were positive for antibodies to C. burnetii, while PCR analysis identified 25% of endocarditis valve samples as being positive. C. burnetii was not detected by FISH, probably due to the low infection levels. Most cattle had chronic valvular vegetative endocarditis with lesions being characterised by a core of fibrous tissue covered by significant amounts of fibrin, sometimes with areas of liquefaction, and with a coagulum covering the surface. In a few cases, including the case with the highest infection level, lesions were characterized by extensive fibrosis and calcification. Histologically, bacteria other than C. burnetii were observed in most cases.ConclusionsThe presence of C. burnetii DNA is relatively common in cattle affected with valvular endocarditis. The role of C. burnetii remains however unknown as lesions did not differ between C. burnetii infected and non-infected cattle and because T. pyogenes–like bacteria were present in the inflamed valves; a bacterium able to induce the observed lesions. Heart valves of normal cattle should be investigated to assess if C. burnetii may be present without preexisting lesions.

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Coxiella burnetii exposure in northern sea otters Enhydra lutris kenyoni

Cited by 6 publications

References 22 publications

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

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

Causes of Mortality of Northern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska From 2002 to 2012

Presence of Coxiella burnetii DNA in inflamed bovine cardiac valves

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