Among the bacterial infections that impair the health status of marine mammals, those caused by Brucella spp. are the most reported worldwide. Brucella infections in marine mammals can result in acute or chronic disease and are associated with variable clinical outcomes, depending on the organ involved during the infectious process, infection route, host immunity, and strain pathogenicity. Asymptomatic infections may also occur. The current study expands the investigation of Brucella infection in northeast Brazil by analyzing 19 dead, stranded cetaceans and 52 Antillean manatees Trichechus manatus manatus. The manatees included 8 dead, captive manatees and 44 live specimens, of which 10 were analyzed only after reintroduction into the wild as part of a rehabilitation program, 9 were analyzed both while in captivity or semi-captivity and after reintroduction, 20 were sampled only in captivity or semi-captivity, and 5 were free-living manatees. Serological tests were used to screen for antibodies against smooth Brucella spp. Whole blood, swabs, and tissue samples were screened for Brucella spp. DNA by PCR. Samples with positive PCR results were cultured for Brucella spp. isolation. All manatees yielded negative results in serological and molecular tests. Brucella spp. DNA was detected in the kidney of one adult Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis exhibiting necrosis in the liver. No growth of Brucella spp. was observed via microbiological culturing. This study is the first report of Brucella spp. DNA detection in cetaceans in the state of Pernambuco, and it highlights the importance of conducting systematic monitoring for the presence of Brucella infection in marine mammals along the Brazilian coast, especially in the northeast region, where several cases have been reported.

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巴西东北部鲸类和海牛布鲁氏菌感染调查

在损害海洋哺乳动物健康状况的细菌感染中，布鲁氏菌属引起的感染。是全球报道最多的。海洋哺乳动物中的布鲁氏菌感染可导致急性或慢性疾病，并与不同的临床结果相关，这取决于感染过程中涉及的器官、感染途径、宿主免疫和菌株致病性。也可能发生无症状感染。目前的研究通过分析 19 只死亡、搁浅的鲸目动物和 52 只安的列斯海牛 Trichechus manatus manatus扩大了对巴西东北部布鲁氏菌感染的调查. 海牛包括 8 只死亡的圈养海牛和 44 只活体标本，其中 10 只在作为恢复计划的一部分重新引入野外后才进行分析，9 只在圈养或半圈养和重新引入后进行了分析，仅对 20 只进行了采样圈养或半圈养，其中 5 头是自由生活的海牛。血清学测试用于筛选针对平滑布鲁氏菌属的抗体。对全血、拭子和组织样本进行布鲁氏菌筛查。通过 PCR 检测 DNA。PCR 结果阳性的样品被培养用于布鲁氏菌属。隔离。所有海牛在血清学和分子检测中均呈阴性结果。布鲁氏菌属 在一只成年圭亚那海豚的肾脏中检测到 DNASotalia guianensis在肝脏中表现出坏死。布鲁氏菌无生长。通过微生物培养观察到。这项研究是布鲁氏菌属的第一份报告。伯南布哥州鲸类动物的 DNA 检测，它强调了对巴西沿海海洋哺乳动物布鲁氏菌感染的存在进行系统监测的重要性，特别是在东北地区，报告了几例病例。