Brucella ceti Infection in Striped Dolphins from Italian Seas: Associated Lesions and Epidemiological Data

Brucella ceti infections have been increasingly reported in cetaceans. In this study, we analyzed all cases of B. infection detected striped dolphins stranded along the Italian coastline between 2012 and 2021 (N = 24). We focused on pathogenic role through detailed pathological studies, ad hoc microbiological, biomolecular, serological investigations, coupled with a comparative genomic analysis strains. Neurobrucellosis was observed 20 animals. The primary histopathologic features included non-suppurative meningoencephalitis 9), meningitis 6), meningoencephalomyelitis 5), which also associated typical lesions other tissues 8). Co-infections were more than half cases, mostly involving Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV). 24 isolates assigned primarily to sequence type 26 (ST26) 21) and, few ST49 3). multilocus typing (cgMLST) based whole genome sequencing (WGS) data showed that strains from Italy clustered into four genetically distinct clades. Plotting these clades onto geographic map suggests link their phylogeny topographical distribution. These results support as neurotropic pathogen for highlights utility WGS understanding evolution emerging pathogen.