Isolation of Brucella ceti from long-finned pilot whales (Globicephela melas) and a Sowerby‘s beaked whale (Mesoploden bidens)

Citation

Foster G, Whatmore AM, Dagleish MP, Baily J, Deaville R, Davison N, Koylass MS, Perrett LL, Stubberfield EJ, Reid RJ & Brownlow A (2015) Isolation of Brucella ceti from long-finned pilot whales (Globicephela melas) and a Sowerby‘s beaked whale (Mesoploden bidens). Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 51 (4), pp. 868-871. https://doi.org/10.7589/2014-04-112

Abstract
Brucella cetiis an emerging zoonotic pathogen that has been recovered from several species of cetaceans in the world’s oceans over the past 20 yr. We report the recovery ofB. cetifrom a Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoploden bidens) and a long-finned pilot whale (Globicehala melas). Recovery from the testis of a long-finned pilot whale provides further evidence of potential forB. cetiinfection to impact the reproductive success of cetaceans, many of which are threatened species. The addition of another two cetacean species to the growing number from whichB. cetihas been recovered also further emphasizes the concern for human infections with this organism.

Keywords
Brucella ceti; brucellosis; Globicephala melas; Mesoploden bidens; multilocus sequence typing; whales

Journal
Journal of Wildlife Diseases: Volume 51, Issue 4