First report of Brucella ceti-associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas

Nicholas J. Davison; Andrew Brownlow; Barry McGovern; Mark P. Dagleish; Lorraine L. Perrett; Emma-Jane Dale; Mark Koylass; Geoffrey Foster

doi:10.3354/dao02926

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Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

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DAO 116:237-241 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02926

NOTE
First report of Brucella ceti-associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas

Nicholas J. Davison^1,*^,, Andrew Brownlow^1,, Barry McGovern^1,4,, Mark P. Dagleish^2,, Lorraine L. Perrett^3,, Emma-Jane Dale^3,, Mark Koylass^3,5, Geoffrey Foster^1,**

¹Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, SAC Consulting, Veterinary Services, Drummondhill, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 4JZ, UK
²Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, Scotland EH26 0PZ, UK
³Department of Bacteriology and TB, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
⁴Present address: Namibian Dolphin Project, Meersig Lagoon, Walvis Bay, Namibia
⁵Present address: Laboratory Services, Genomics, LGC, Unit 1-2 Trident Industrial Estate, Pindar Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 0WZ, UK

*Corresponding author: nick.davison@sruc.ac.uk
**These authors contributed equally to this article

ABSTRACT: 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.

KEY WORDS: Globicephala melas · Isolation · Brucella ceti · Meningoencephalitis · UK

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Cite this article as: Davison NJ, Brownlow A, McGovern B, Dagleish MP and others (2015) First report of Brucella ceti-associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas. Dis Aquat Org 116:237-241. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02926

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DAO 116:237-241 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02926

NOTE First report of Brucella ceti-associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas

Nicholas J. Davison1,*,**, Andrew Brownlow1,**, Barry McGovern1,4,**, Mark P. Dagleish2,**, Lorraine L. Perrett3,**, Emma-Jane Dale3,**, Mark Koylass3,5, Geoffrey Foster1,**

NOTE
First report of Brucella ceti-associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas

Nicholas J. Davison^1,*^,, Andrew Brownlow^1,, Barry McGovern^1,4,, Mark P. Dagleish^2,, Lorraine L. Perrett^3,, Emma-Jane Dale^3,, Mark Koylass^3,5, Geoffrey Foster^1,**