First report of Brucella ceti-associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas.
Fatal Brucella ceti infection with histological lesions specific to the central nervous system has been described in only 3 species of cetaceans: striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus and short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis. This paper describes the first report of a B. ceti-associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas, showing the increasing range of species susceptibility. Brucella was recovered in larger numbers from cerebrospinal fluid than from brain tissue and is the sample of choice for isolation.
Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SAC Consulting, Veterinary Services, Drummondhill, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 4JZ, UK.
Nicholas J
NJ
Davison
Andrew
A
Brownlow
Barry
B
McGovern
Mark P
MP
Dagleish
Lorraine L
LL
Perrett
Emma-Jane
EJ
Dale
Mark
M
Koylass
Geoffrey
G
Foster
D000818:Animals; D002002:Brucella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D050686:Whales, Pilot