title: Meningoencephalitis and Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. coinfection in a dolphin in Italy.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. can infect a wide range of species, including humans. In cetaceans, meningoencephalitis has been associated with T. gondii and Brucella spp. infection, whereas to our knowledge, L. monocytogenes infection has not previously been reported. Meningoencephalitis and L. monocytogenes, T. gondii and Brucella spp. were identified by means of both direct and indirect laboratory techniques in an adult female striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba found stranded in January 2015 on the Ligurian Sea coast, northwestern Italy. The animal was emaciated, and histopathology disclosed severe meningoencephalitis. The nature of the inflammatory response and intra-lesional protozoa were consistent with a mixed infection by L. monocytogenes, T. gondii and Brucella spp. We believe this is an unprecedented case of infection by 3 zoonotic pathogens and also the first bacteriologically confirmed case report of neurolisteriosis in cetaceans. Cerebral toxoplasmosis and neurobrucellosis may have led to the animal's disorientation and stranding, with L. monocytogenes having likely exacerbated the coinfection leading to the demise of this dolphin.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grattarola
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giorda
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iulini
authors.forename: Maria Domenica
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pintore
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pautasso
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoppi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goria
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peletto
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Varello
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garibaldi
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garofolo
authors.forename: Cristina Esmeralda
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Di Francesco
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozzetta
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Guardo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dondo
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mignone
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casalone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002002:Brucella; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060085:Coinfection; D004289:Dolphins; D005260:Female; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology