H. M. Ross

Organochlorine levels in common seals (Phoca vitulina) which were victims and survivors of the 1988 phocine distemper epizootic

We compared concentrations of organochlorines in the blubber of common seals (Phoca vitulina) found dead during the 1988 phocine distemper epizootic with levels in animals which survived it. There were highly significant differences between the live and dead animals, and between sample sites. These were not fully accounted for by seasonal and condition-related changes in blubber thickness.

ISOLATION OF BRUCELLA SPECIES FROM CETACEANS, SEALS AND AN OTTER

Brucella organisms which differed from the recognised species of the genus, were isolated from nine seals, eight cetaceans and one otter. A method is described for the isolation of Brucella species from sea mammals and the first isolations of Brucella species are recorded from an Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), two striped dolphins (Stenella coeuleoalba), a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and a European otter (Lutra lutra). There were differences in the culture media required for the primary isolation of the organisms and in their dependency on carbon dioxide. Subcutaneous lesions, when present, always yielded a confluent growth. The organisms were isolated from seven of 14 spleen samples and also from the mammary glands, uterus, testes and blood and the mandibular, gastric, iliac, sub-lumbar and colorectal lymph nodes.

Evidence for infanticide in bottlenose dolphins: an explanation for violent interactions with harbour porpoises?

Most harbour porpoises found dead on the north–east coast of Scotland show signs of attack by sympatric bottlenose dolphins, but the reason(s) for these violent interactions remains unclear. Post–mortem examinations of stranded bottlenose dolphins indicate that five out of eight young calves from this same area were also killed by bottlenose dolphins. These data, together with direct observations of an aggressive interaction between an adult bottlenose dolphin and a dead bottlenose dolphin calf, provide strong evidence for infanticide in this population. The similarity in the size range of harbour porpoises and dolphin calves that showed signs of attack by bottlenose dolphins suggests that previously reported interspecific interactions could be related to this infanticidal behaviour. These findings appear to provide the first evidence of infanticide in cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). We suggest that infanticide must be considered as a factor shaping sociality in this and other species of cetaceans, and may have serious consequences for the viability of small populations.

Brucella species infection in North Sea seal and cetacean populations.

albumin to 1:750 and 1:1500. Overnight incubation at 4°C was the best condition for the different primary antibodies employed. Swine anti-rabbit immunoglobulins 1:20 for use as a secondary antibody and PAP complex 1:100 were both made up in phosphate buffered saline with I per cent bovine serum albumin and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. To detect the immune complexes, the sections were incubated in a solution of 60 mg of 3,3-diamino-benzidine tetrahydrochloride, 100 ,ul hydrogen peroxide and 100 ml of phosphate buffered saline for eight minutes and counterstained with Mayers haematoxylin. Ganglia from all horses with either mal seco or EGS showed

Staphylococcus lutrae sp. nov., a new coagulase-positive species isolated from otters

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed with three strains of a catalase-positive, gram-positive, coccus-shaped bacterium isolated from otters. The results of a 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that these strains represent a hitherto unknown subline within the genus Staphylococcus. Based on the results of the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic criteria, we propose that these bacteria should be classified as members of a new species, Staphylococcus lutrae. The type strain of S. lutrae is DSM 10244.

Organochlorine residues in harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphins stranded on the coast of Scotland, 1988-1991.

The organochlorine (OC) residues, chlorobiphenyls (CBs), DDT and its metabolites, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene and technical chlordane mixtures have been determined in the blubber of harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphins from around the north and east coasts of Scotland as a result of strandings and bycatches between 1988 and 1991. The concentrations of OCs range from some of the lowest values reported at 280 micrograms kg-1 for t-CBs, 145 micrograms kg-1 for t-DDT and 71 micrograms kg-1 for dieldrin to some of the highest values, 23,000 micrograms kg-1 for t-CBs, and 10,200 micrograms kg-1 for t-DDT. OC levels were correlated with the age and sex of the sample of harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphins from the Moray Firth area. The study confirms that the concentration of these compounds is highly dependent on co-factors of age and sex, and that data from single or small numbers of animals may be of limited value in comparing information on organochlorine residues in mammals within or between regions.

The role of bacteria in phocine distemper

The death of many seals believed to be infected with phocine distemper virus was found to be associated with a variety of mainly opportunistic bacterial pathogens. The bacteria most frequently involved were Bordetella bronchiseptica, Corynebacterium species and a variety of Streptococci. Seals dying on different parts of the coast of Britain were infected with these organisms in differing proportions.

Phocoenobacter uteri gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Pasteurellaceae Pohl (1979) 1981 isolated from a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from the uterus of a porpoise. Biochemical and physiological studies indicated that the bacterium was related to the family Pasteurellaceae. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed these findings and demonstrated that the bacterium represents a hitherto unknown subline within this family of organisms. Based on the results of the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic criteria, it is proposed that the bacterium be assigned to a new genus, Phocoenobacter uteri gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Phocoenobacter uteri sp. nov. is NCTC 12872T.

The serological response of the common seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) to phocine distemper virus as measured by a canine distemper virus neutralisation test

The application of a canine distemper virus (CDV) neutralisation test revealed that antibody titres of up to 11,620 were present in the sera of common seals during the epizootic of phocine distemper in British waters. However, during the later stages of the epizootic and afterwards, a surprisingly high proportion of animals were still seronegative. Titres of from 90 to 183 were common in diseased animals and were probably indicative of partial immunosuppression. A few animals with proven phocine distemper had titres of less than 64, this being evidence of a more profound immunosuppression. Recovered animals tended to have moderate to high titres and in some cases these persisted for at least 6.5 months. By contrast, the administration of an inactivated CDV vaccine produced antibody which declined rapidly to very low levels within the same period. Infection also occurred in grey seals in 1988 but without severe mortality. Antibody titres in this species nearly always lay in the range 128-734 and persisted at or around this level for at least 12 months. In both common and grey seals, antibody was transferred by suckling from mother to pup but absorption by the pup seemed to take place more slowly than in domestic mammals.

Actinobacillus delphinicola sp. nov., a new member of the family pasteurellaceae pohl (1979) 1981 isolated from sea mammals

We performed phenotypic and phylogenetic studies of a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from cetaceans. The results of a 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that this bacterium represents a previously unknown line of descent in the family Pasteurellaceae. On the basis of the results of our phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic criteria, we propose that this organism should be classified as a new species, Actinobacillus delphinicola sp. nov. The type strain of A. delphinicola sp. nov. is strain NCTC 12870.