The characterisation of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals

Jahans, Keith; Foster, Geoffrey; Broughton, E.S.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1135(97)00118-1

Cited by 131 publications

(97 citation statements)

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“…For further characterisation, 49 of the isolated marine Brucella strains were investigated by conventional phenotypic methods. All strains demonstrated a CO 2 -dependent growth, a phenomenon previously described in Brucella isolates from seals , 2002, Jahans et al 1997, Payeur et al 1998, Forbes et al 2000. Cetacean strains are usually able to grow without CO 2 supplement; however, the only cetacean strain involved in the present study did not show this ability.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

“…8), none of the tested isolates differed from earlier reports (Garner et al 1997, Jahans et al 1997, Clavareau et al 1998, Payeur et al 1998, Forbes et al 2000 ferentiate the marine Brucella strains, IS711 fingerprinting was carried out. Compared to classical Brucella strains (except B. ovis), all 49 marine isolates from the German North Sea possessed a higher number of IS711 copies in their genome.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…The marine Brucella isolates can be distinguished from the terrestrial Brucella species using conventional phenotypic investigation analyses of, for example, CO 2 requirement, urease activity, H 2 S production, agglutination with monospecific antisera, growth in the presence of different dyes and oxidative metabolism pattern (Alton et al 1988, Garner et al 1997, Jahans et al 1997, Clavareau et al 1998, Forbes et al 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Incidence of Brucella species in marine mammals of the German North Sea

Prenger‐Berninghoff¹,

Siebert²,

Stede³

et al. 2008

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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In this study, organ samples from 426 common seals Phoca vitulina, 298 harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena, 34 grey seals Halichoerus grypus and 10 other marine mammals were assessed for the presence of Brucella species. Forty-seven common seals, 2 harbour porpoises and 1 grey seal were found to be positive for these bacteria. A total of 91 Brucella strains were successfully isolated, due to the fact that Brucella spp. were found in more than one organ sample in 15 animals. The primary organ in which the bacteria were present was the lung. In addition, 2 strains were isolated from lungworms (Parafilaroides spp.). Forty-nine of the isolated strains were selected for further analysis using conventional phenotyping methods. Molecular characterisation was carried out by analysing the IS711 and omp2 loci. With respect to the distribution of the IS711 loci in the genome, the 49 field isolates differed strongly from the terrestrial Brucella species and marginally from the marine Brucella reference strain NCTC12890. Based on the results of the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) investigation of the omp2 locus, the majority of the Brucella field isolates were classified as B. pinnipediae, recently proposed B. pinnipedialis, possessing 1 omp2a gene and 1 omp2b gene. Two field isolates revealed the presence of 2 omp2a genes, as has been described for Brucella ovis. To our knowledge, these results confirm for the first time the presence of Brucella species in the marine mammal population of the German North Sea. These findings highlight the need for additional research on the relevance of these Brucella species for marine hosts and their environment. KEY WORDS: Brucella species · Marine mammals · Phenotypic and molecular investigation · German North Sea Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher OPEN PEN ACCESS CCESS Contribution to DAO Special 3: 'Marine vertebrate zoonoses'Dis Aquat Org 81: [65][66][67][68][69][70][71] 2008 marine Brucella isolates (Clavareau et al. 1998, Bricker et al. 2000, Cloeckaert et al. 2000.A further distinction of the marine Brucella species is possible when analysing the genus-specific omp2-locus. This locus consists of the 2 closely related genes omp2a and omp2b. Both share an approximated 85% DNA homology; they are separated by 900 bp and oriented in opposite directions (Ficht et al. 1989). Current data suggest the gene arrangement is conserved in all Brucella species. Therefore, distinction between the Brucella species and some of their biovars can be performed by PCR-restiction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis (Cloeckaert et al. 1995). In a further study, Cloeckaert et al. (2001) obtained data which led to a subdivision of the marine Brucella isolates into 2 groups. The strains isolated from seals and 1 otter possessed 1 omp2a and 1 omp2b gene, representing the formerly proposed species B. pinnipediae. In contrast, Brucella isolates from dolphins and porpoises possessed no omp2a but 2 omp2b genes, thus iden...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Incidence of Brucella species in marine mammals of the German North Sea

Prenger‐Berninghoff¹,

Siebert²,

Stede³

et al. 2008

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…Bacterial infections such as brucellosis and salmonellosis have been associated with spondylitis in human beings (Govender & Schweitzler 2003, Pappas et al 2005, dogs (Kornegay 1980) and snakes (Isaza et al 2000). Brucella and Salmonella are common pathogens of marine mammals in both cetaceans and pinnipeds (Jahans et al 1997, Higgins 2000; therefore, they are potential etiological agents in the Ecuadorian case. Other conditions considered were: discarthrosis (spondylosis), a degenerative disease occurring only in adult specimens (Kompanje 1995b), which can thus be ruled out; DISH, excluded because the disease is located in the lower spine; and spondylo-osteomyelitis, which does not usually span > 2 vertebrae (Sweeney et al 2005) and is therefore also unlikely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spondylitis in a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the southeast Pacific

Félix

Haase²,

Aguirre³

2007

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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A 7.25 m long male humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) with spondylitis was found beached on August 13, 1994 at Ancon, Ecuador (2°23' S, 80°47' W). The condition involved at least 11 vertebrae, 7 lumbar (L4 to L11) and 4 caudal (Ca1 to Ca4). Partial fusion of vertebrae was observed as a result of intervertebral bony proliferation, likely impeding full motion. The relatively young age of this specimen and the severity of the deformities suggest an infectious, rather than degenerative, process. The gross findings are most consistent with some type of spondyloarthritis. Although this condition has previously been identified in a number of cetacean species, the pathogenesis, population impact and ecologic implications have not been fully assessed. This is the third case described for humpback whales and the first for a humpback whale from the SE Pacific. KEY WORDS: Spondylitis · Humpback whale · Ecuador Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 75: [259][260][261][262][263][264] 2007 1973). Spondyloarthritis can also lead to irregular bone growth with severe pain and loss of mobility. With the exception of DISH, the other 3 conditions have been documented from cetaceans. MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this report we describe a case of severe vertebral deformities in a 7.25 m beached, dead male humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae. The animal was initially observed on August 13, 1994 near Ancon, Ecuador (2°23' S, 80°47' W), and the partially decomposed carcass was examined the following day. The size of the Ecuadorian specimen indicates that this individual was probably an undersized yearling (see Stevick 1999) that had completed the first migrating roundtrip between the breeding area in tropical waters and the feeding area located in waters west of the Antarctic Peninsula (Stevick et al. 2004). RESULTSExternally, there was no evidence of trauma or attempted predation that would indicate a specific cause of death, but the carcass was covered by uncharacteristically large numbers of whale lice (Cyamus sp.), an ectoparasite specialized in feeding on whale skin (Slijper 1979). Lice were particularly abundant over the peduncular and genital remnants, giving the skin a pale brown coloration in these areas (Fig. 1).The most significant gross finding involved the musculoskeletal system and was observed during the flensing process to obtain the skeleton 1. A large portion of the lumbar and caudal vertebrae were fused and covered with a thick layer of irregular bone. The vertebral column was sectioned on the beach into several small blocks to facilitate transportation to a nearby area, where the blocks were buried for natural cleaning. Unfortunately, the block with most of the caudal vertebrae was lost during this period, and the condition of the final part of the spine could not be assessed. The remaining affected vertebral segments included 7 lumbar (L4 to L11) and 4 caudal (Ca1 to Ca4) vertebrae, approximately 1.5 m in total length (Fig. 2). There was a block of ...

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“…A number of recent reports describe the isolation and characterization of Brucella strains from a wide variety of marine mammals [22,32,36]. These strains have been identified as brucellae, however their overall characteristics are not assimilable to those of any of the six recognized Brucella species [22,23,45].…”

Section: Brucellae Taxonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

From the discovery of the Malta fever?s agent to the discovery of a marine mammal reservoir, brucellosis has continuously been a re-emerging zoonosis

et al. 2005

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-Brucellosis is not a sustainable disease in humans. The source of human infection always resides in domestic or wild animal reservoirs. The routes of infection are multiple: foodborne, occupational or recreational, linked to travel and even to bioterrorism. New Brucella strains or species may emerge and existing Brucella species adapt to changing social, cultural, travel and agricultural environment. Brucella melitensis is the most important zoonotic agent, followed by Brucella abortus and Brucella suis. This correlates with the fact that worldwide, the control of bovine brucellosis (due to B. abortus) has been achieved to a greater extent than the control of sheep and goat brucellosis (due to B. melitensis), these latter species being the most important domestic animals in many developing countries. The long duration and high cost of treatment of human brucellosis reduces the efficacy of the therapy. There is no human vaccine for brucellosis and the occurrence of brucellosis is directly linked to the status of animal brucellosis in a region. In this context, the Word Health Organization has defined the development of a human vaccine, besides the implementation of control and eradication programs in animals, as a high priority. The pathogenicity for humans of B. suis biovars 1, 3 and 4 is well established, whereas B. suis biovar 2 seems to be less pathogenic. Indeed, although hunters and pig farmers have repeatably experienced infectious contact with B. suis biovar 2 (found in wild boar and outdoor-rearing pigs in Europe), isolation of B. suis biovar 2 from human samples have only been seldom reported. Marine mammal brucellosis, due to two new proposed Brucella species i.e. B. cetaceae and B. pinnipediae, represents a new zoonotic threat but the pathogenicity for humans of the different Brucella species found in cetaceans and pinnipeds still has to be clearly established.Brucella / animal and human brucellosis / zoonoses / domestic and wildlife reservoir

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The characterisation of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals

Cited by 131 publications

References 10 publications

Incidence of Brucella species in marine mammals of the German North Sea

Incidence of Brucella species in marine mammals of the German North Sea

Spondylitis in a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the southeast Pacific

From the discovery of the Malta fever?s agent to the discovery of a marine mammal reservoir, brucellosis has continuously been a re-emerging zoonosis

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