Chronic Meningoencephalitis Associated with Brucella sp. Infection in Live-stranded Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba)

A chronic, non-suppurative meningoencephalitis was found in three young striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) during routine neuropathological examination of marine mammals live-stranded on the Scottish coast. In all three dolphins the lesions were associated with the isolation of a Brucella sp....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of comparative pathology 2002-02, Vol.126 (2-3), p.147-152
Main Authors: González, L., Patterson, I.A., Reid, R.J., Foster, G., Barberán, M., Blasco, J.M., Kennedy, S., Howie, F.E., Godfroid, J., MacMillan, A.P., Schock, A., Buxton, D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies, Bacterial - immunology
Antigens, Bacterial - analysis
Brain - immunology
Brain - microbiology
Brain - pathology
Brucella - immunology
Brucella - isolation & purification
Brucellosis - immunology
Brucellosis - pathology
Brucellosis - veterinary
Chronic Disease
Dolphins
Immunohistochemistry - veterinary
Meningoencephalitis - immunology
Meningoencephalitis - pathology
Meningoencephalitis - veterinary
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Summary:A chronic, non-suppurative meningoencephalitis was found in three young striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) during routine neuropathological examination of marine mammals live-stranded on the Scottish coast. In all three dolphins the lesions were associated with the isolation of a Brucella sp. from the brain and with the immunohistochemical detection of brucella antigen. Moreover, antibodies to Brucella spp. were detected in the two dolphins that were subjected to serological examination. Immunohistochemical and serological examinations for morbillivirus antigen and antibodies, respectively, were negative in all cases. Although brucella infection of marine mammals has been extensively documented in recent years, its association with lesions and disease is less well recognized. The present report provides the first description of an association between Brucella sp. infection and neuropathological changes in a cetacean species.
ISSN:0021-9975
1532-3129
DOI:10.1053/jcpa.2001.0535