312
et al. 2010; Oliveira et al. 2011; Guzmán- Verri et al. 2012; Hernández-Mora et al.
2013). Serological diagnoses was first described under field and laboratory conditions, using Rose Bengal test as screening assay, (Rapid slide agglutination test, ID
VET -France) and confirmed using an indirect ELISA designed for diagnosis of
brucellosis in toothed-whales (Hernández-Mora et al. 2009). From 2004 to 2016,
six stranded cetacean species in Costa Rica have been described as seropositive for
this bacterial disease including striped and spotted dolphins, common dolphins,
rough-tooted dolphins, and Cuvier’s beaked whale. However, striped dolphins are
the only species for which neurobrucellosis was diagnosed as the related cause of
death and for which B. ceti was isolated (Hernández-Mora et al. 2013).
The most relevant macroscopic findings observed in striped dolphins infected
with B. ceti include meningeal hyperemia and elevated levels of cerebrospinal fluid,
resulting in secondary hydrocephalus in some cases, generalized hyperplastic
lymphadenopathy and less frequently valvular endocarditis, placentitis and atlantooccipital and scapulo-humeral osteoarthritis (González-Barrientos et al. 2010).
Central nervous system histopathological lesions observed in striped dolphins with
neurobrucellosis consist in a moderate to severe diffuse non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis. These lesions are especially severe on basal structures of the
brain like spinal cord, medulla oblongata and pons and less severe in upper regions
like the thalamus and cerebral cortex.
Parasites in cetaceans are relatively common and some have been considered a
cause of cetacean strandings (Gibson et al. 1998). In 2007, Taxoplasmosis gondii
was isolated from a stranded striped dolphin found in the Pacific Coast of Costa
Rica. This discovery suggest that cetaceans can become infected when this parasite
is washed from land to the sea (Dubey and Beattie 1988). In a systematic survey of
the parasitic fauna of stranded cetaceans of Costa Rica by Oliveira et al. (2011) it
was found that parasites was present primarily in striped dolphins with a prevalence
of parasites of 89.5%. Other cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins and Cuvier’s beaked whale also presented parasitosis. Fourteen helminth taxa were found and morphologically identified, including
six species of cestodes, four nematodes and four digeneans. The nematodes and
cestodes were the most prevalent parasite groups (90.9%), followed by the digeneans (22.7%). The most prevalent species were Anisakis spp. (90.9%), followed by
Tetrabothrius forsteri (63.6%), Halocercus lagenorhynchi (54.5%) and
Tetraphyllidean plerocercoids (40.9%). Additionally, Xenobalanus globicipitis a
commensal crustacean species was also identified (Oliveira et al. 2011).
The pathologies related to the different parasitic infection within these animals
include four infected cetaceans with Anisakis spp. presented mild gastritis. Moderate
to severe granulomatous pneumonia was described in a striped dolphin infected
with Halocercus lagenorhynchi and spotted and spinner dolphins were infected
with Halocercus sp. Necrosis, fibrosis and partial destruction of the kidneys was
found of Cuvier’s beaked whale with Crassicauda anthonyi, similar to reported in
Australia and Puerto Rico (Robson 1984; Mignucci-Giannoni et al. 1998). Because
the related tissue damage demonstrated in crassicaudosis, this is a parasitic disease
threatening the health and population recovery of cetaceans (Lambertsen 1992).
L.J. May-Collado et al.
et al. 2010; Oliveira et al. 2011; Guzmán- Verri et al. 2012; Hernández-Mora et al.
2013). Serological diagnoses was first described under field and laboratory conditions, using Rose Bengal test as screening assay, (Rapid slide agglutination test, ID
VET -France) and confirmed using an indirect ELISA designed for diagnosis of
brucellosis in toothed-whales (Hernández-Mora et al. 2009). From 2004 to 2016,
six stranded cetacean species in Costa Rica have been described as seropositive for
this bacterial disease including striped and spotted dolphins, common dolphins,
rough-tooted dolphins, and Cuvier’s beaked whale. However, striped dolphins are
the only species for which neurobrucellosis was diagnosed as the related cause of
death and for which B. ceti was isolated (Hernández-Mora et al. 2013).
The most relevant macroscopic findings observed in striped dolphins infected
with B. ceti include meningeal hyperemia and elevated levels of cerebrospinal fluid,
resulting in secondary hydrocephalus in some cases, generalized hyperplastic
lymphadenopathy and less frequently valvular endocarditis, placentitis and atlantooccipital and scapulo-humeral osteoarthritis (González-Barrientos et al. 2010).
Central nervous system histopathological lesions observed in striped dolphins with
neurobrucellosis consist in a moderate to severe diffuse non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis. These lesions are especially severe on basal structures of the
brain like spinal cord, medulla oblongata and pons and less severe in upper regions
like the thalamus and cerebral cortex.
Parasites in cetaceans are relatively common and some have been considered a
cause of cetacean strandings (Gibson et al. 1998). In 2007, Taxoplasmosis gondii
was isolated from a stranded striped dolphin found in the Pacific Coast of Costa
Rica. This discovery suggest that cetaceans can become infected when this parasite
is washed from land to the sea (Dubey and Beattie 1988). In a systematic survey of
the parasitic fauna of stranded cetaceans of Costa Rica by Oliveira et al. (2011) it
was found that parasites was present primarily in striped dolphins with a prevalence
of parasites of 89.5%. Other cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins and Cuvier’s beaked whale also presented parasitosis. Fourteen helminth taxa were found and morphologically identified, including
six species of cestodes, four nematodes and four digeneans. The nematodes and
cestodes were the most prevalent parasite groups (90.9%), followed by the digeneans (22.7%). The most prevalent species were Anisakis spp. (90.9%), followed by
Tetrabothrius forsteri (63.6%), Halocercus lagenorhynchi (54.5%) and
Tetraphyllidean plerocercoids (40.9%). Additionally, Xenobalanus globicipitis a
commensal crustacean species was also identified (Oliveira et al. 2011).
The pathologies related to the different parasitic infection within these animals
include four infected cetaceans with Anisakis spp. presented mild gastritis. Moderate
to severe granulomatous pneumonia was described in a striped dolphin infected
with Halocercus lagenorhynchi and spotted and spinner dolphins were infected
with Halocercus sp. Necrosis, fibrosis and partial destruction of the kidneys was
found of Cuvier’s beaked whale with Crassicauda anthonyi, similar to reported in
Australia and Puerto Rico (Robson 1984; Mignucci-Giannoni et al. 1998). Because
the related tissue damage demonstrated in crassicaudosis, this is a parasitic disease
threatening the health and population recovery of cetaceans (Lambertsen 1992).
L.J. May-Collado et al.