Immunohistochemical investigations on Brucella ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba).

Bacteria of the genus Brucella cause brucellosis, an infectious disease common to humans as well as to terrestrial and aquatic mammals. Since 1994 several cases of Brucella spp. infection have been reported in marine mammals worldwide. While sero-epidemiological data suggest that Brucella spp. infection is widespread globally, detecting Brucella spp.-associated antigens by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in tissues from infected animals is often troublesome. The present study was aimed at investigating, by means of IHC based upon the utilization of an anti-Brucella LPS monoclonal antibody (MAb), the central nervous system (CNS) immunoreactivity shown by B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins. The aforementioned MAb, previously characterized by means of ELISA and Western Blotting techniques, was able to immunohistochemically detect smooth brucellae both within the CNS from B. ceti-infected striped dolphins and within a range of tissues from Brucella spp.-infected domestic ruminants. In conclusion, the results of the present study are of relevance both from the B. ceti infection's diagnostic and pathogenetic standpoints.