Harbor Porpoise Deaths Associated with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the Netherlands, 2021

• Published in: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Authors: Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Lineke Begeman, Birgitta Duim, Andrea Gröne, Marja J.L. Kik, Mirjam D. Klijnstra, Jan Lakemeyer, Mardik F. Leopold, Bas B. Oude Munnink, Mariel ten Doeschate, Linde van Schalkwijk, Aldert Zomer, Linda van der Graaf-van Bloois, Els M. Broens
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2023
• Subjects: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae; cetaceans; zoonoses; strandings; pathology; bacteria; Medicine; R; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Phocoena phocoena
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2904.221698; https://doaj.org/article/4b83ff02709d4b9ba64fd44c590ec8e2

In August 2021, a large-scale mortality event affected harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Netherlands. Pathology and ancillary testing of 22 animals indicated that the most likely cause of death was Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection. This zoonotic agent poses a health hazard for cetaceans and possibly for persons handling cetacean carcasses.