Investigation published in Veterinary Pathology

May 18^th, 2024

Neurobrucellosis is a shared condition of cetaceans and humans. However, the pathogenesis and immune response in cetacean neurobrucellosis has not been extensively studied. In this multicentric investigation, 21 striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) neurobrucellosis (Brucella ceti) cases diagnosed over a 10-year period (2012-2022) were retrospectively evaluated. For each case, morphological changes were assessed by evaluating 21 histological parameters. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical expression of Brucella antigen, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), and a selection of inflammatory cell (IBA-1, CD3, and CD20) and cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interferon-gamma [IFN-γ], interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-2, and IL-6) markers were investigated. Inflammation of the leptomeninges, ependyma, and/or choroid plexus was lymphohistiocytic, containing macrophages/microglia (IBA-1+), T-cells (CD3+), and B-cells (CD20+) in equal proportion. B-cells occasionally formed tertiary follicles. GFAP expression showed astrocytosis in most cases. Expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 indicated an intense proinflammatory response, stimulating both macrophages and T-cells. Our results showed that the inflammation and neuroinflammation in neurobrucellosis of striped dolphins mimic human neurobrucellosis and in vitro and in vivo studies in laboratory animals. Cetacean disease surveillance can be exploited to expand the knowledge of the pathogenesis and immunology of infectious diseases, particularly brucellosis, under a One Health approach

Rebollada A., Giorda F., Pumarola M., Martino L., Gómez-Buendía A., Romani-Cremaschi U., Casalone C., Mattioda V., Di Nocera F., Lucifora G., Petrella A., Dominguez L., Domingo M., Grattarola C. and Rodriguez-Bertos A..

Neurobrucellosis (Brucella ceti) in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba): Immunohistochemical studies on immune response and neuroinflammation

Neurobrucellosis (Brucella ceti) in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba): Immunohistochemical studies on immune response and neuroinflammation

	Section of Anatomic Pathology. College of Veterinary Medicine. Cornell University.
	WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d`Aosta (IZSPLV).
	Department Medicina i Cirurgia Animals. Facultat de Veterinària. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
	Departamento de Sanidad y de Anatomía Animal. Departamento de Medicina y Cirurgia Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
	Servicio de Patología y Veterinaria Forense (SAP). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Servicios Veterinarios. Mundomar.
	Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale de Mezzogiorno (IZSM).
	Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata.
	Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA). Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias (IRTA). Generalitat de Catalunya.