NEUROPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN CETACEANS STRANDED IN ITALY (2002-14).
We summarized the neuropathologic findings in 60 cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline from 2002 to 2014. The following neuropathologic changes were detected in 45% (27/60) of animals: nonsuppurative meningo-encephalitides (30%, 18/60), nonspecific lesions (12%, 7/60), suppurative encephalitis (2%, 1/60), and neoplasm (2%, 1/60). No histologic lesions were found in 47% (28/60) of the specimens. Five (8%, 5/60) samples were unsuitable for analysis. Analysis with PCR detected Brucella spp., morbillivirus, and Toxoplasma gondii infection in one, six, and seven individuals, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed positivity for morbillivirus and for T. gondii infection in three cases each. No evidence of the scrapie-associated prion protein PrPSc was detected. Our findings underscore the importance of an adequate surveillance system for monitoring aquatic mammal pathologies and for protecting both animal and human health.
['Pintore|Maria Domenica|MD|', 'Mignone|Walter|W|', 'Di Guardo|Giovanni|G|', 'Mazzariol|Sandro|S|', 'Ballardini|Marco|M|', 'Florio|Caterina Lucia|CL|', 'Goria|Maria|M|', 'Romano|Angelo|A|', 'Caracappa|Santo|S|', 'Giorda|Federica|F|', 'Serracca|Laura|L|', 'Pautasso|Alessandra|A|', 'Tittarelli|Cristiana|C|', 'Petrella|Antonio|A|', 'Lucifora|Giuseppe|G|', 'Di Nocera|Fabio|F|', 'Uberti|Barbara Degli|BD|', 'Corona|Cristiano|C|', 'Casalone|Cristina|C|', 'Iulini|Barbara|B|']
D000818:Animals D001927:Brain Diseases D004289:Dolphins D005260:Female D007558:Italy D008297:Male D014907:Whales
neuropathology stranding Brucella spp. morbillivirus Toxoplasma gondii marine mammals