NEUROPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN CETACEANS STRANDED IN ITALY (2002–14)

Abstract:  We summarized the neuropathologic findings in 60 cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline from 2002 to 2014. The following neuropathologic changes were detected in 45% (27/60) of animals: nonsuppurative meningo-encephalitides (30%, 18/60), nonspecific lesions (12%, 7/60), suppurative encephalitis (2%, 1/60), and neoplasm (2%, 1/60). No histologic lesions were found in 47% (28/60) of the specimens. Five (8%, 5/60) samples were unsuitable for analysis. Analysis with PCR detected Brucella spp., morbillivirus, and Toxoplasma gondii infection in one, six, and seven individuals, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed positivity for morbillivirus and for T. gondii infection in three cases each. No evidence of the scrapie-associated prion protein PrPSc was detected. Our findings underscore the importance of an adequate surveillance system for monitoring aquatic mammal pathologies and for protecting both animal and human health.

[1]  E. Bozzetta,et al.  Detection of morbillivirus infection by RT-PCR RFLP analysis in cetaceans and carnivores. , 2017, Journal of virological methods.

[2]  M. Dagleish,et al.  Brucella ceti Infection in a Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) with Associated Pathology , 2017, Journal of Wildlife Diseases.

[3]  E. Bozzetta,et al.  Meningoencephalitis and Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. coinfection in a dolphin in Italy. , 2016, Diseases of aquatic organisms.

[4]  S. Sanchez,et al.  Initial characterization of novel beaked whale morbillivirus in Hawaiian cetaceans. , 2016, Diseases of aquatic organisms.

[5]  M. Arbelo,et al.  High-grade astrocytoma (Glioblastoma Multiforme) in an Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). , 2015, Journal of comparative pathology.

[6]  J. Raga,et al.  Cetacean Morbillivirus: Current Knowledge and Future Directions , 2014, Viruses.

[7]  C. Guzmán-Verri,et al.  Brucella ceti infection in dolphins from the Western Mediterranean sea , 2014, BMC Veterinary Research.

[8]  G. Pavan,et al.  Cetacean strandings in Italy: an unusual mortality event along the Tyrrhenian Sea coast in 2013. , 2014, Diseases of aquatic organisms.

[9]  J. Saliki,et al.  Retrospective Study of Etiologic Agents Associated with Nonsuppurative Meningoencephalitis in Stranded Cetaceans in the Canary Islands , 2014, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[10]  M. Ancora,et al.  Brucella ceti from two striped dolphins stranded on the Apulia coastline, Italy. , 2014, Journal of medical microbiology.

[11]  A. Cloeckaert,et al.  The presence of Brucella ceti ST26 in a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) with meningoencephalitis from the Mediterranean Sea. , 2013, Veterinary microbiology.

[12]  V. D. M. L. Presti,et al.  A High Sensitive Nested PCR for Toxoplasma gondii Detection in Animal and Food Samples. , 2013 .

[13]  G. Guardo.  Morbillivirus-host interaction: lessons from aquatic mammals , 2012, Front. Microbio..

[14]  C. Salata,et al.  Ten years of BSE surveillance in Italy: neuropathological findings in clinically suspected cases. , 2012, Research in veterinary science.

[15]  S. Mazzariol,et al.  Prion search and cellular prion protein expression in stranded dolphins. , 2012, Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents.

[16]  S. Mazzariol,et al.  Dolphin Morbillivirus and Toxoplasma gondii coinfection in a Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) , 2012, BMC Veterinary Research.

[17]  G. Bossart,et al.  Marine Mammals as Sentinel Species for Oceans and Human Health , 2011, Veterinary pathology.

[18]  D. Scaravelli,et al.  Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) Stranded Along the Ligurian Sea Coast of Italy , 2010, Veterinary pathology.

[19]  J. Raga,et al.  Emerging infectious diseases in cetaceans worldwide and the possible role of environmental stressors. , 2009, Diseases of aquatic organisms.

[20]  M. Miller,et al.  Type X Toxoplasma gondii in a wild mussel and terrestrial carnivores from coastal California: new linkages between terrestrial mammals, runoff and toxoplasmosis of sea otters. , 2008, International journal for parasitology.

[21]  C. Guzmán-Verri,et al.  Neurobrucellosis in Stranded Dolphins, Costa Rica , 2008, Emerging infectious diseases.

[22]  C. Su,et al.  Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii From Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) , 2008, The Journal of parasitology.

[23]  J. Godfroid,et al.  Brucella ceti sp. nov. and Brucella pinnipedialis sp. nov. for Brucella strains with cetaceans and seals as their preferred hosts. , 2007, International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology.

[24]  T. Maruyama,et al.  Two stranded pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) with anti-Brucella antibodies in Japan , 2007, Veterinary Record.

[25]  S. A. Smith,et al.  Marine Mammal Neoplasia: A Review , 2006, Veterinary pathology.

[26]  M. Watarai,et al.  Antibodies to Brucella spp. in Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins from the Solomon Islands , 2006, Journal of wildlife diseases.

[27]  U. Agrimi,et al.  Morbillivirus infections in aquatic mammals: a brief overview. , 2005, Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine.

[28]  C. Dawson.  Anti-Brucella antibodies in pinnipeds of Australia , 2005 .

[29]  R. Reid,et al.  A review of Brucella sp. infection of sea mammals with particular emphasis on isolates from Scotland. , 2002, Veterinary microbiology.

[30]  M. Miller,et al.  EVALUATION OF AN INDIRECT FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TEST (IFAT) FOR DEMONSTRATION OF ANTIBODIES TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN THE SEA OTTER (ENHYDRA LUTRIS) , 2002, The Journal of parasitology.

[31]  D. Buxton,et al.  Chronic meningoencephalitis associated with Brucella sp. infection in live-stranded striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). , 2002, Journal of comparative pathology.

[32]  J. Buck,et al.  Bacterial Diseases of Cetaceans and Pinnipeds , 2001 .

[33]  F. Gulland,et al.  CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine , 2001 .

[34]  J. Haelters,et al.  Pathological findings in two fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) with evidence of morbillivirus infection. , 2000, Journal of comparative pathology.

[35]  R. Higgins.  Bacteria and fungi of marine mammals: a review. , 2000, The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne.

[36]  T. Kuiken,et al.  Antibodies to Brucella in marine mammals around the coast of England and Wales , 1997, Veterinary Record.

[37]  W. G. Miller,et al.  Characteristics of a Brucella Species from a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) , 1994, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc.

[38]  R. Reid,et al.  Brucella species infection in sea-mammals , 1994, Veterinary Record.

[39]  A. Osterhaus,et al.  Morbillivirus infections in aquatic mammals. , 1993, Veterinary research.

[40]  B. Drasar,et al.  Detection of Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus by DNA amplification. , 1992, The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[41]  M. Domingo,et al.  Pathologic and Immunocytochemical Studies of Morbillivirus Infection in Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) , 1992, Veterinary pathology.

[42]  J. Dubey,et al.  Fatal Disseminated Toxoplasmosis in a Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) , 1990, Veterinary pathology.