Brucellosis in aquatic mammals
Chapter included in Brucellosis: The Silent Threat to Livestock and Human Health edited by Elsevier, 1997
November 1st, 2025
Vargas-Castro I., Hernandez-Mora G., Gonzalez-Barrientos R. and Grattarola C.
The study of brucellosis in marine mammals has become crucial due to its zoonotic risks and its effects on marine species. The bacteria Brucella ceti and Brucella pinnipedialis cause significant health issues in cetaceans and pinnipeds, respectively. While B. ceti is associated with severe conditions and strandings, B. pinnipedialis often remains asymptomatic, though some cases of disease have been noted. The zoonotic potential of marine Brucella strains, particularly sequence type 27, further emphasizes the need for continuous surveillance and research. While real-time PCR is useful for detecting Brucella DNA, it faces limitations, making it unsuitable for direct application to these samples. Bacterial culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing brucellosis, and molecular techniques should be applied to these cultures to ensure accurate strain identification. Additionally, the limitation of standardized serological tests for all marine mammals species underscores the necessity for developing reliable and accesible diagnostic tools, including ELISAs, to improve diagnostic accuracy.
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