Evidence of exposure to Brucella sp. in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the Bay of Fundy, Canada. 2008

A S Neimanis, and H N Koopman, and A J Westgate, and K Nielsen, and F A Leighton
Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station, #24 Route 776, Grand Manan, New Brunswick E5G 1A1, Canada. aleksija.neimanis@usask.ca

Novel strains of Brucella recently have been discovered in marine mammals. To investigate Brucella exposure and infection in a general population of cetaceans, blood and tissue samples were collected and analyzed from wild harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) incidentally caught in fishing gear in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Two of 170 (1.2%) animals had detectable antibodies against Brucella, but no organisms were isolated from genital swabs or tissues from 22 and 8 porpoises, respectively. Genetic analysis of inflamed testes from 20 animals yielded no amplification of Brucella DNA. This is the first evidence of exposure to Brucella in porpoises from the western North Atlantic, and the prevalence is much lower than documented for conspecifics from the eastern North Atlantic.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002002 Brucella A genus of gram-negative, aerobic bacteria that causes BRUCELLOSIS. Its cells are nonmotile coccobacilli and are animal parasites and pathogens. The bacterium is transmissible to humans through contact with infected dairy products or tissue.
D002006 Brucellosis Infection caused by bacteria of the genus BRUCELLA mainly involving the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM. This condition is characterized by fever, weakness, malaise, and weight loss. Malta Fever,Undulant Fever,Brucella Infection,Brucellosis, Pulmonary,Cyprus Fever,Gibraltar Fever,Rock Fever,Brucella Infections,Brucelloses,Brucelloses, Pulmonary,Fever, Cyprus,Fever, Gibraltar,Fever, Malta,Fever, Rock,Fever, Undulant,Infection, Brucella,Pulmonary Brucelloses,Pulmonary Brucellosis
D002170 Canada The largest country in North America, comprising 10 provinces and three territories. Its capital is Ottawa.
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000835 Animals, Wild Animals considered to be wild or feral or not adapted for domestic use. It does not include wild animals in zoos for which ANIMALS, ZOO is available. Animals, Nondomestic,Animals, Nondomesticated,Animals, Feral,Stray Animals,Animal, Feral,Animal, Nondomestic,Animal, Nondomesticated,Animal, Stray,Animal, Wild,Animals, Stray,Feral Animal,Feral Animals,Nondomestic Animal,Nondomestic Animals,Nondomesticated Animal,Nondomesticated Animals,Stray Animal,Wild Animal,Wild Animals
D000907 Antibodies, Bacterial Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS. Bacterial Antibodies
D016036 Seroepidemiologic Studies EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES based on the detection through serological testing of characteristic change in the serum level of specific ANTIBODIES. Latent subclinical infections and carrier states can thus be detected in addition to clinically overt cases. Seroprevalence,Seroepidemiologic Study,Seroepidemiological Study,Studies, Seroepidemiologic,Study, Seroepidemiologic,Seroepidemiological Studies,Seroprevalences,Studies, Seroepidemiological,Study, Seroepidemiological
D019576 Porpoises Mammals of the family Phocoenidae comprising four genera found in the North Pacific Ocean and both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean and in various other seas. They differ from DOLPHINS in that porpoises have a blunt snout and a rather stocky body while dolphins have a beak-like snout and a slender, streamlined body. They usually travel in small groups. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, pp1003-4) Dall Porpoise,Finless Porpoise,Phocoenidae,Spectacled Porpoise,Australophocaena dioptrica,Neophocaena phocaenoides,Phocoenoides dalli,Finless Porpoises,Porpoise,Porpoise, Dall,Porpoise, Finless,Porpoise, Spectacled,Porpoises, Finless,Porpoises, Spectacled,Spectacled Porpoises

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