title: Bartonella species detection in captive, stranded and free-ranging cetaceans.
abstract: We present prevalence of Bartonella spp. for multiple cohorts of wild and captive cetaceans. One hundred and six cetaceans including 86 bottlenose dolphins (71 free-ranging, 14 captive in a facility with a dolphin experiencing debility of unknown origin, 1 stranded), 11 striped dolphins, 4 harbor porpoises, 3 Risso's dolphins, 1 dwarf sperm whale and 1 pygmy sperm whale (all stranded) were sampled. Whole blood (n = 95 live animals) and tissues (n = 15 freshly dead animals) were screened by PCR (n = 106 animals), PCR of enrichment cultures (n = 50 animals), and subcultures (n = 50 animals). Bartonella spp. were detected from 17 cetaceans, including 12 by direct extraction PCR of blood or tissues, 6 by PCR of enrichment cultures, and 4 by subculture isolation. Bartonella spp. were more commonly detected from the captive (6/14, 43%) than from free-ranging (2/71, 2.8%) bottlenose dolphins, and were commonly detected from the stranded animals (9/21, 43%; 3/11 striped dolphins, 3/4 harbor porpoises, 2/3 Risso's dolphins, 1/1 pygmy sperm whale, 0/1 dwarf sperm whale, 0/1 bottlenose dolphin). Sequencing identified a Bartonella spp. most similar to B. henselae San Antonio 2 in eight cases (4 bottlenose dolphins, 2 striped dolphins, 2 harbor porpoises), B. henselae Houston 1 in three cases (2 Risso's dolphins, 1 harbor porpoise), and untyped in six cases (4 bottlenose dolphins, 1 striped dolphin, 1 pygmy sperm whale). Although disease causation has not been established, Bartonella species were detected more commonly from cetaceans that were overtly debilitated or were cohabiting in captivity with a debilitated animal than from free-ranging animals. The detection of Bartonella spp. from cetaceans may be of pathophysiological concern.
authors: Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, Environmental Medicine Consortium, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, USA. craig_harms@ncsu.edu
authors: Craig A
authors: CA
authors: Harms
authors: Ricardo G
authors: RG
authors: Maggi
authors: Edward B
authors: EB
authors: Breitschwerdt
authors: Connie L
authors: CL
authors: Clemons-Chevis
authors: Mobashir
authors: M
authors: Solangi
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Rotstein
authors: Patricia A
authors: PA
authors: Fair
authors: Larry J
authors: LJ
authors: Hansen
authors: Aleta A
authors: AA
authors: Hohn
authors: Gretchen N
authors: GN
authors: Lovewell
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: McLellan
authors: D Ann
authors: DA
authors: Pabst
authors: Teri K
authors: TK
authors: Rowles
authors: Lori H
authors: LH
authors: Schwacke
authors: Forrest I
authors: FI
authors: Townsend
authors: Randall S
authors: RS
authors: Wells
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001473:Bartonella / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D004289:Dolphins; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019576:Porpoises