Survey of selected pathogens in free-ranging pinnipeds in Uruguay

Marine mammals, regarded as sentinels of aquatic ecosystem health, are exposed to different pathogens and parasites under natural conditions. We surveyed live South American fur seals Arctocephalus australis and South American sea lions Otaria flavescens in Uruguay for Leptospira spp., canine distem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Main Authors: Katz, H, Schelotto, F., Bakker, D., Castro-Ramos, M., Gutiérrez-Expósito, D., Panzera, Y., Pérez, R., Franco-Trecu, V., Nury Hernández, E., Menéndez, C., Meny, P.
Other Authors: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), Universidad de la República (Uruguay), Gutiérrez Expósito, Daniel
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Inter Research 2022
Subjects:
Arctocephalus australis
Canine distemper virus
Leptospira spp
Mycobacterium spp
Neospora caninum
Otaria flavescens
Toxoplasma gondii
Uruguay
Rattus rattus
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/296455
https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03676
Description
Summary:Marine mammals, regarded as sentinels of aquatic ecosystem health, are exposed to different pathogens and parasites under natural conditions. We surveyed live South American fur seals Arctocephalus australis and South American sea lions Otaria flavescens in Uruguay for Leptospira spp., canine distemper virus (CDV), Mycobacterium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum. Samples were collected from 2007 to 2013. The seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. was 37.6% positive, 50.9% negative, and 11.5% suspect for A. australis (n = 61) while for O. flavescens (n = 12) it was 67% positive, 25% negative, and 8% suspect. CDV RNA was not detected in any of the analyzed samples. Most animals tested seropositive to tuberculosis antigens by WiZo ELISA (A. australis: 29/30; O. flavescens: 20/20); reactivity varied with a novel ELISA test (antigens MPB70, MPB83, ESAT6 and MPB59). Seroprevalence against N. caninum and T. gondii was 6.7 and 13.3% positive for O. flavescens and 0 and 2.2% positive for A. australis respectively. To evaluate possible sources of infection for pinnipeds, wild rats Rattus rattus and semi-feral cats Felis catus were also tested for Leptospira spp. and T. gondii respectively. Water samples tested for Leptospira revealed saprofitic L. bioflexa. Pathogenic Leptospira were detected in the kidneys of 2 rats, and cats tested positive for T. gondii (100%). These results represent a substantial contribution to the study of the health status of wild pinnipeds in Uruguay. CSIC (Council for Scientific Research) of the Universidad de la Republica. Peer reviewed

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