Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks
Among emerging threats to the Arctic is the introduction, spread, or resurgence of disease. Marine brucellosis is an emerging disease concern among free-ranging cetaceans and is less well-studied than terrestrial forms. To investigate marine-origin <i>Brucella</i> sp. exposure in two bel...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/1932 |
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| author | Laura A. Thompson Caroline E. C. Goertz Lori T. Quakenbush Kathy Burek Huntington Robert S. Suydam Raphaela Stimmelmayr Tracy A. Romano |
| author_facet | Laura A. Thompson Caroline E. C. Goertz Lori T. Quakenbush Kathy Burek Huntington Robert S. Suydam Raphaela Stimmelmayr Tracy A. Romano |
| author_sort | Laura A. Thompson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Among emerging threats to the Arctic is the introduction, spread, or resurgence of disease. Marine brucellosis is an emerging disease concern among free-ranging cetaceans and is less well-studied than terrestrial forms. To investigate marine-origin <i>Brucella</i> sp. exposure in two beluga stocks in Alaska, USA, this study used serological status as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) and bacterial culture. In total, 55 live-captured–released belugas were tested for <i>Brucella</i> exposure in Bristol Bay (2008–2016) and 112 (8 live-captured; 104 subsistence-harvested) whales were tested in the eastern Chukchi Sea (2007–2017). In total, 73% percent of Bristol Bay live captures, 50% of Chukchi Sea live captures, and 66% of Chukchi Sea harvested belugas were positive on serology. Only 10 of 69 seropositive belugas were rtPCR positive in at least one tissue. Only one seropositive animal was PCR positive in both the spleen and mesenteric lymph node. All animals tested were culture negative. The high prevalence of seropositivity detected suggests widespread exposure in both stocks, however, the low level of rtPCR and culture positive results suggests clinical brucellosis was not prevalent in the belugas surveyed. Continued detection of <i>Brucella</i> exposure supports the need for long-term monitoring of these and other beluga populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:10:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16f86850a2f44841be053fd7e59f685f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:10:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-16f86850a2f44841be053fd7e59f685f2023-12-01T22:48:24ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-07-011215193210.3390/ani12151932Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga StocksLaura A. Thompson0Caroline E. C. Goertz1Lori T. Quakenbush2Kathy Burek Huntington3Robert S. Suydam4Raphaela Stimmelmayr5Tracy A. Romano6Mystic Aquarium, Division of Sea Research Inc., Mystic, CT 06355, USAAlaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK 99664, USAAlaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USAAlaska Veterinary Pathology Service, Eagle River, AK 99577, USANorth Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, Utqiagvik, AK 99723, USANorth Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, Utqiagvik, AK 99723, USAMystic Aquarium, Division of Sea Research Inc., Mystic, CT 06355, USAAmong emerging threats to the Arctic is the introduction, spread, or resurgence of disease. Marine brucellosis is an emerging disease concern among free-ranging cetaceans and is less well-studied than terrestrial forms. To investigate marine-origin <i>Brucella</i> sp. exposure in two beluga stocks in Alaska, USA, this study used serological status as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) and bacterial culture. In total, 55 live-captured–released belugas were tested for <i>Brucella</i> exposure in Bristol Bay (2008–2016) and 112 (8 live-captured; 104 subsistence-harvested) whales were tested in the eastern Chukchi Sea (2007–2017). In total, 73% percent of Bristol Bay live captures, 50% of Chukchi Sea live captures, and 66% of Chukchi Sea harvested belugas were positive on serology. Only 10 of 69 seropositive belugas were rtPCR positive in at least one tissue. Only one seropositive animal was PCR positive in both the spleen and mesenteric lymph node. All animals tested were culture negative. The high prevalence of seropositivity detected suggests widespread exposure in both stocks, however, the low level of rtPCR and culture positive results suggests clinical brucellosis was not prevalent in the belugas surveyed. Continued detection of <i>Brucella</i> exposure supports the need for long-term monitoring of these and other beluga populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/1932<i>Brucella</i>belugaserologydiseasertPCRbacterial culture |
| spellingShingle | Laura A. Thompson Caroline E. C. Goertz Lori T. Quakenbush Kathy Burek Huntington Robert S. Suydam Raphaela Stimmelmayr Tracy A. Romano Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks Animals <i>Brucella</i> beluga serology disease rtPCR bacterial culture |
| title | Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks |
| title_full | Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks |
| title_fullStr | Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks |
| title_short | Serological Detection of Marine Origin Brucella Exposure in Two Alaska Beluga Stocks |
| title_sort | serological detection of marine origin brucella exposure in two alaska beluga stocks |
| topic | <i>Brucella</i> beluga serology disease rtPCR bacterial culture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/1932 |
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