title: Investigation for presence of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella-species infection in killer whales (Orcinus orca) mass-stranded on the coast of Shiretoko, Hokkaido, Japan.
abstract: Twelve killer whale (Orcinus orca) were hemmed in by ice floes, and nine died on the Aidomari coast in the Nemuro Strait in Rausu, Shiretoko, Hokkaido, Japan on 8 February 2005. Tissue samples collected from 8 whales were tested for Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Brucella species DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Gamma-globulin isolated from blood samples by ammonium sulfate precipitation was tested for antibodies to these pathogens by means of agglutination tests and immunoblotting. None of the 8 tissue samples had antibodies to the pathogens, when subjected to agglutination tests. In immunoblotting, one sample (sample No.5) showed antibody binding to N. caninum antigens. In the PCR assay, none of the samples was positive. Further study is necessary to examine the prevalence of the pathogens in marine mammals inhabiting this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Veterinary Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Omata
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Umeshita
authors.forename: Masahisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watarai
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Tadasu K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002002:Brucella / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D050685:Whale, Killer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan