Detection of anti-brucella antibodies in Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) from cape Shirref, Antarctica

• Published in: Archivos de medicina veterinaria
• Main Authors: BLANK, O., RETAMAL, P., ABALOS, P., TORRES, D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria 2002
• Subjects: Anticuerpos anti-Brucella; Phocidae; foca de Weddell; Antártica; Anti-Brucella antibodies; Weddell Seal; Antarctica; Antarctic; Cabo Shirreff; Cape Shirreff; Foca; Focas; isla Livingston; Livingston Island; San Telmo; Shetland del Sur; Shirreff; South Shetland Islands; Weddell; Antarc*; Antarctic Fur Seal; Arctocephalus gazella; Weddell Seals
• Online Access: http://revistas.uach.cl/index.php/amv/article/view/4674; https://doi.org/10.4067/S0301-732X2002000100013

After the finding of anti-Brucellaantibodies in samples of Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella), the serological study on Antarctic Pinniped was continued in order to determine the presence of anti-Brucellaantibodies in other species. Blood and extra vascular fluid samples were taken from 12 Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) at the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Nº 32 and CCAMLR*Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) site N° 2 "Cape Shirreff and San Telmo Islets" (62º 47' S; 60º 27' W), located on the Norwest coast Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands), Antarctica. The samples were tested by the conventional Rose Bengal test (RB) and two competitive enzymatic immunoassay: Compelisa, and c-ELISA. In five of the samples studied, anti-Brucellaantibodies were detected and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were the most sensible tests. These results strongly suggest the presence of infections by bacteria of the genusBrucellainL. weddelliiand point out the necessity of complementary studies to know the etiology and their epidemiology in this region of the world. Posterior al hallazgo de anticuerpos anti-Brucellaen muestras de lobo fino antártico (Arctocephalus gazella), el estudio serológico en Pinnipedia Antárticos se continuó con el fin de determinar la presencia de anticuerpos anti-Brucellaen otras especies. Se colectaron muestras de sangre y de fluido extravascular de 12 ejemplares de foca de Weddell (Leptonychotes weddellii) encontrados en el Sitio de Especial Interés Científico (SEIC) Nº 32 y sitio CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) N° 2, "Cabo Shirreff e Islotes San Telmo" (62º 47' S; 60º 27' W), localizado en la costa Noroeste de la isla Livingston (Shetland del Sur), Antártica. Las muestras obtenidas fueron analizadas por la técnica convencional Rosa de Bengala (RB) y dos inmunoensayos enzimáticos de competencia: Compelisa®, y c-ELISA. De las muestras estudiadas se identificaron cinco con anticuerpos anti-Brucella, siendo las pruebas inmunoenzimáticas las técnicas más ...