Neurobrucellosis in dolphins, a study on antibodies

Neurobrucellosis is a major cause of death in dolphins, with symptoms including discospondylitis and non-suppurative meningitis, choroiditis and radiculitis.

The authors hypothesised that active infection would elicit a stronger, detectable humoral response. However, the results indicate that antibodies are not decisive against clinical brucellosis, although they may indicate a carrier state.

Martino, L., Cuvertoret-Sanz, M., Wilkinson, S., Allepuz, A., Perlas, A., Ganges, L., Pérez, L., & Domingo, M. (2024). Serological Investigation for Brucella ceti in Cetaceans from the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Animals, 14(16), 2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162417