Brucellosis in aquatic mammals
Capítulo en el libro Brucellosis: The Silent Threat to Livestock and Human Health editado por Elsevier, 1997
1 de noviembre de 2025
Vargas-Castro I., Hernandez-Mora G., Gonzalez-Barrientos R. y 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.
 | Servicio de Inmunología Viral y Medicina Preventiva (SUAT). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal. Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería. | |
 | Department of Comparative, Diagnostic and Population Medicine. College of Veterinary Medicine. University of Florida. |
| Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte (IZSTO). | |
