TY - JOUR

T1 - Seroprevalence for Brucella spp. in Baltic ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and East Greenland harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and hooded (Cystophora cristata) seals

AU - Sonne, Christian

AU - Andersen-Ranberg, Emilie

AU - Rajala, Elisabeth L.

AU - Agerholm, Jørgen S.

AU - Bonefeld-Jørgensen, Eva

AU - Desforges, Jean Pierre

AU - Eulaers, Igor

AU - Jenssen, Bjørn M.

AU - Koch, Anders

AU - Rosing-Asvid, Aqqalu

AU - Siebert, Ursula

AU - Tryland, Morten

AU - Mulvad, Gert

AU - Härkönen, Tero

AU - Acquarone, Mario

AU - Nordøy, Erling S.

AU - Dietz, Rune

AU - Magnusson, Ulf

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Zoonotic infections transmitted from marine mammals to humans in the Baltic and European Arctic are of unknown significance, despite given considerable potential for transmission due to local hunt. Here we present results of an initial screening for Brucella spp. in Arctic and Baltic seal species. Baltic ringed seals (Pusa hispida, n = 12) sampled in October 2015 and Greenland Sea harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus, n = 6) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata, n = 3) sampled in March 2015 were serologically analysed for antibodies against Brucella spp. The serological analyses were performed using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) followed by a confirmatory testing of RBT-positive samples by a competitive-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). Two of the Baltic ringed seals (a juvenile male and a juvenile female) were seropositive thus indicating previous exposure to a Brucella spp. The findings indicate that ringed seals in the Baltic ecosystem may be exposed to and possibly infected by Brucella spp. No seropositive individuals were detected among the Greenland harp and hooded seals. Although our initial screening shows a zoonotic hazard to Baltic locals, a more in-depth epidemiological investigation is needed in order to determine the human risk associated with this.

AB - Zoonotic infections transmitted from marine mammals to humans in the Baltic and European Arctic are of unknown significance, despite given considerable potential for transmission due to local hunt. Here we present results of an initial screening for Brucella spp. in Arctic and Baltic seal species. Baltic ringed seals (Pusa hispida, n = 12) sampled in October 2015 and Greenland Sea harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus, n = 6) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata, n = 3) sampled in March 2015 were serologically analysed for antibodies against Brucella spp. The serological analyses were performed using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) followed by a confirmatory testing of RBT-positive samples by a competitive-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). Two of the Baltic ringed seals (a juvenile male and a juvenile female) were seropositive thus indicating previous exposure to a Brucella spp. The findings indicate that ringed seals in the Baltic ecosystem may be exposed to and possibly infected by Brucella spp. No seropositive individuals were detected among the Greenland harp and hooded seals. Although our initial screening shows a zoonotic hazard to Baltic locals, a more in-depth epidemiological investigation is needed in order to determine the human risk associated with this.

KW - Arctic

KW - Humans

KW - One health

KW - Zoonosis

U2 - 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.02.005

DO - 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.02.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29571513

AN - SCOPUS:85042197536

VL - 198

SP - 14

EP - 18

JO - Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology

JF - Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology

SN - 0165-2427

ER -