TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative pathology of Nocardiosis in marine mammals
AU - St. Leger, J. A.
AU - Begeman, L.
AU - Fleetwood, M.
AU - Frasca, S.
AU - Garner, M. M.
AU - Lair, S.
AU - Trembley, S.
AU - Linn, M. J.
AU - Terio, K. A.
N1 - We are grateful to clinicians and pathologists that provided us with case materials, including Gregory Bossart, Paul Calle, Terry Campbell, Ronald Crowley, André Dallaire, Les Dalton, Fabio Del Pierro, Christopher Dold, Sam Dover, Lawrence Dunn, Kim Durham, Ruth Ewing, Michael Kinsel, Thomas Lipscomb, Dee McAloose, Richard Montali, Wendy Noke, Todd Robeck, René Roy, Todd Schmitt, Robert Schoelkopf, Megan Stolen, and Mike Walsh. We thank Robert Couey for graphic assistance as well as the staff of NOAA and US Marine Mammal Stranding Network for the stranding statistics, including Carley Lowe, Sarah Wilkin, Aleria Jensen, Joe Cordaro, and Elizabeth Tuohy-Sheen. We thank Stacy Schultz for technical assistance. Work in the laboratory of Dr. Terio was supported by an Office of Naval Research grant (N00014-06-1-0249).
PY - 2009/3
Y1 - 2009/3
N2 - Nocardia spp. infections in mammals cause pyogranulomatous lesions in a variety of organs, most typically the lung. Members of the Nocardia asteroides complex are the most frequently recognized pathogens. Nine cases of nocardiosis in free-ranging pinnipeds and 10 cases of nocardiosis in cetaceans were evaluated. Host species included the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata, n=8), leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx, n=1), Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, n=4), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas, n=4), and killer whale (Orcinus orca, n=2). The most common presentation of nocardiosis in both pinnipeds and cetaceans was the systemic form, involving 2 or more organs. Organs most frequently affected were lung and thoracic lymph nodes in 7 of 9 cases in pinnipeds and 8 of 10 cases in cetaceans. Molecular identification and bacterial isolation demonstrated a variety of pathogenic species. N. asteroides, N. farcinica, N. brasiliensis, and N. otitisdiscaviarum are pathogenic for pinnipeds. In cetaceans N. asteroides, N. farcinica, N. brasiliensis, N. cyriacigeorgica, and N. levis are pathogenic. Hematoxylin and eosin and acid fast staining failed to reveal bacteria in every case, whereas modified acid fast and Grocott's methenamine silver consistently demonstrated the characteristic organisms. In both pinnipeds and cetaceans, juvenile animals were affected more often than adults. Hooded seals demonstrated more cases of nocardiosis than other pinnipeds.
AB - Nocardia spp. infections in mammals cause pyogranulomatous lesions in a variety of organs, most typically the lung. Members of the Nocardia asteroides complex are the most frequently recognized pathogens. Nine cases of nocardiosis in free-ranging pinnipeds and 10 cases of nocardiosis in cetaceans were evaluated. Host species included the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata, n=8), leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx, n=1), Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, n=4), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas, n=4), and killer whale (Orcinus orca, n=2). The most common presentation of nocardiosis in both pinnipeds and cetaceans was the systemic form, involving 2 or more organs. Organs most frequently affected were lung and thoracic lymph nodes in 7 of 9 cases in pinnipeds and 8 of 10 cases in cetaceans. Molecular identification and bacterial isolation demonstrated a variety of pathogenic species. N. asteroides, N. farcinica, N. brasiliensis, and N. otitisdiscaviarum are pathogenic for pinnipeds. In cetaceans N. asteroides, N. farcinica, N. brasiliensis, N. cyriacigeorgica, and N. levis are pathogenic. Hematoxylin and eosin and acid fast staining failed to reveal bacteria in every case, whereas modified acid fast and Grocott's methenamine silver consistently demonstrated the characteristic organisms. In both pinnipeds and cetaceans, juvenile animals were affected more often than adults. Hooded seals demonstrated more cases of nocardiosis than other pinnipeds.
KW - Cetacean
KW - Encephalitis
KW - Hooded seal
KW - Lymphadenitis
KW - Marine mammal
KW - Nocardia
KW - Pinniped
KW - Pneumonia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67650902458&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67650902458&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1354/vp.08-VP-0209-S-FL
DO - 10.1354/vp.08-VP-0209-S-FL
M3 - Article
C2 - 19261643
AN - SCOPUS:67650902458
SN - 0300-9858
VL - 46
SP - 299
EP - 308
JO - Veterinary pathology
JF - Veterinary pathology
IS - 2
ER -