The risk of infection from polychlorinated biphenyl exposure in the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): a case-control approach

The objective of this study was to determine whether the risk of mortality from infectious disease in harbor porpoise in U.K. waters increased with high exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), using a case-control study design. This is the first time that data from a long-term marine mammal strandings scheme have been used to estimate any increase in risk. The exposure odds ratio (OR) from a logistic regression model with infectious disease deaths as cases and physical trauma deaths as controls, after controlling for the effect of confounding factors, was 1.048 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.07]. To further adjust for the difference in energetic status between cases and controls and account for the negative relationship between PCBs (sum of 25 chlorobiphenyl congeners) and blubber mass, we also "standardized" the blubber PCBs to an optimal blubber mass. This lowered the OR to 1.02 (95% CI, 1.00-1.03). Thus, for each 1 mg/kg increase in blubber PCBs, the average increase in risk of infectious disease mortality was 2%. A doubling of risk occurred at approximately 45 mg/kg lipid. In this study, we have endeavored to avoid selection bias by using controls that died of physical trauma as representative of the exposure prevalence in the population that gave rise to the cases. In addition, we controlled for the effect of variation in energetic status among the cases and controls. However, as with case-control studies in human and veterinary epidemiology, unforeseen misclassification errors may result in biased risk estimates in either direction.     

Neurobrucellosis in stranded dolphins, Costa Rica

Ten striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, stranded along the Costa Rican Pacific coast, had meningoencephalitis and antibodies against Brucella spp. Brucella ceti was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of 6 dolphins and 1 fetus. S. coeruleoalba constitutes a highly susceptible host and a potential reservoir for B. ceti transmission.     

Atypical Brucella inopinata–Like Species in 2 Marine Toads

We describe the isolation of atypical Brucella inopinata–like species and unique clinicopathologic findings in 2 adult marine toads (Rhinella marina), including oophoritis in 1 toad. These findings represent a novel emerging disease in toads and a possible zoonotic pathogen.     

Brucella canis in Commercial Dog Breeding Kennels,Ontario, Canada

We evaluated the prevalence of Brucella canis seropositivity in a convenience sample of dogs from commercial breeding kennels in Ontario, Canada. Overall, 127/1,080 (11.8%) dogs from 23/63 (37%) kennels were seropositive. The prevalence of positive dogs within kennels with >1 positive dog ranged from 3.9% to 100% (median 33%).     

Transboundary Spread of Brucella canis through Import of Infected Dogs,the Netherlands,November 2016–December 2018

Brucella canis had not been isolated in the Netherlands until November 2016, when it was isolated from a dog imported from Romania. Including this case, 16 suspected cases were notified to the authorities during the following 25 months. Of these 16 dogs, 10 were seropositive; tracking investigations found another 8 seropositive littermates. All seropositive animals were rescue dogs imported from Eastern Europe. B. canis was cultured from urine, blood, and other specimens collected from the dogs. Genotyping of isolates revealed clustering by litter and country. Isolating B. canis in urine indicates that shedding should be considered when assessing the risk for zoonotic transmission. This case series proves introduction of B. canis into a country to which it is not endemic through import of infected dogs from B. canis–endemic areas, posing a threat to the naive autochthonous dog population and humans.     

Human neurobrucellosis with intracerebral granuloma caused by a marine mammal Brucella spp

We present the first report of community-acquired human infections with marine mammal-associated Brucella spp. and describe the identification of these strains in two patients with neurobrucellosis and intracerebral granulomas. The identification of these isolates as marine mammal strains was based on omp2a sequence and amplification of the region flanking bp26.     

Relationships between polychlorinated biphenyls and health status in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded in the United Kingdom

To investigate possible relationships between polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure and infectious disease mortality in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in United Kingdom waters, summed blubber concentrations of 25 chlorobiphenyl congeners (sigma25CB) in healthy harbor porpoises that died of acute physical trauma (mainly by-catch; n = 175) were compared with sigma25CB values in animals that died of infectious disease (n = 82). The infectious disease group had significantly greater sigma25CB values (mean, 27.6 mg/kg lipid) than the physical trauma group (mean, 13.6 mg/kg lipid; p < 0.001). This association occurred independently of other potentially confounding variables, including age, sex, two indices of nutritional status, season, region, and year found. Total blubber PCB levels (as Aroclor 1254) were also calculated, enabling direct comparison with a proposed threshold for adverse health effects (including immunosuppression) in marine mammals of 17 mg/kg lipid. In porpoises with total PCB levels greater than 17 mg/kg lipid (n = 154), total PCB levels were significantly higher in the infectious disease group compared to the physical trauma group (p < 0.001). This association was no longer significant in porpoises with total PCB levels of less than 17 mg/kg lipid (n = 103; p > 0.55). These findings are consistent with a causal (immunotoxic) relationship between PCB exposure and infectious disease mortality, and they provide a framework for future quantitative risk-assessment analyses of porpoise populations of known size and PCB exposure.     

Natural History of and Dynamic Changes in Clinical Manifestation,Serology, and Treatment of Brucellosis,China

Serum agglutination test plus exposure history were used to diagnose most cases of human brucellosis in 2 China provinces. After appropriate treatment, 13.3% of acute brucellosis cases progressed to chronic disease; arthritis was an early predictor. Seropositivity can persist after symptoms disappear, which might cause physicians to subjectively extend therapeutic regimens.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzo-p-dioxins, and dibenzofurans in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the Dutch coast between 1990 and 1993

Congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations were determined in the blubber, kidney, and liver tissues of 22 harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the Dutch coast. For comparison, the PCB concentrations in blubber and liver samples of four porpoises from the vicinity of Greenland were investigated. In ten blubber samples, the non-ortho PCB concentrations were determined, while in four of these the levels of chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were analyzed. It is shown that the PCB level increases with age in males, whereas in mature females the levels remain relatively constant. A comparison with earlier data indicates a slight decrease over the last 20 years in the PCB burden of porpoises living near the Dutch coast. The amount of the most prominent and persistent congener, PCB 153, can be related to the feeding pattern of male porpoises; it appears to be completely retained in this species. Bioaccumulation of non-ortho PCBs and PCDD/Fs does not take place. The overall toxicity, expressed as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQ), is mostly covered by di-ortho and mono-ortho PCBs, depending on age and sex, whereas the contribution of the notorious toxic PCDDs and PCDFs to the overall TEQ is at most 0.5%.     

Mycobacterium caprae infection in livestock and wildlife, Spain

Mycobacterium caprae is a pathogen that can infect animals and humans. To better understand the epidemiology of M. caprae, we spoligotyped 791 animal isolates. Results suggest infection is widespread in Spain, affecting 6 domestic and wild animal species. The epidemiology is driven by infections in caprids, although the organism has emerged in cattle.     

Human Case of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Triple Reassortant Virus Infection, Wisconsin

Zoonotic infections with swine influenza A viruses are reported sporadically. Triple reassortant swine influenza viruses have been isolated from pigs in the United States since 1998. We report a human case of upper respiratory illness associated with swine influenza A (H1N1) triple reassortant virus infection that occurred during 2005 following exposure to freshly killed pigs.     

Leishmania tropica infection in golden jackals and red foxes, Israel

During a survey of wild canids, internal transcribed spacer 1 real-time PCR and high-resolution melt analysis identified Leishmania tropica in samples from jackals and foxes. Infection was most prevalent in ear and spleen samples. Jackals and foxes may play a role in the spread of zoonotic L. tropica.     

Brucellosis in takins, china

TO THE EDITOR: Brucellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease and one of the world's major zoonoses. It is responsible for enormous economic losses in livestock, and it threatens human health and wildlife populations (1). In most host species, brucellosis primarily affects the reproductive system, leading to concomitant loss in productivity of affected animals (1). Brucellae have been found in wildlife, such as bison, elk, and wild boar, potentially posing a threat for zoonosis (2). Currently, the genus Brucella comprises 10 species, which are divided according to host specificity and ability to cause chronic infections in human and animals (3,4). Most Brucella species are associated primarily with certain hosts, presumably the result of evolutionary adaptation to a successful host. Brucella melitensis is the species most pathogenic in humans and the species most commonly involved in ovine and caprine brucellosis.