Emerging Infectious Disease ISSN: 1080-6059

Neurobrucellosis in Stranded Dolphins, Costa Rica

Gabriela Hernández-Mora, Rocío González-Barrientos, Juan-Alberto Morales, Esteban Chaves-Olarte, Caterina Guzmán-Verri, Elías Baquero-Calvo, María-Jesús De-Miguel, Clara-María Marín, José-María Blasco, and Edgardo Moreno

Author affiliations: Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica (G. Hernández-Mora, R. González-Barrientos, J.-A. Morales, E. Chaves-Olarte, C. Guzmán-Verri, E. Baquero-Calvo, E. Moreno); Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica (E. Chaves-Olarte); Sanidad Animal, Gobiemo de Aragón, Aragón, Spain (M.-J. De-Miguel, C.-M. Marín, J.-M. Blasco);

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Figure 1

Clinical, pathologic, and immunofluorescence findings in stranded striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba. A) Striped dolphin displaying swimming disorders being assisted by local persons; B) dolphin fetus within placenta; C) punctuated placental abscesses (arrows); D) immunofluorescent brucellae in impressions of placenta tissues; E) congested and hyperemic brain and cerebellum; F) Wright-Giemsa–stained mononuclear cell infiltrate in cerebrospinal fluid; G) immunofluorescent green Brucella spp. and Brucella debris within phagocytic cells infiltrating cerebrospinal fluid; the inset corresponds to an amplified phagocytic cell with fluorescent Brucella spp. and debris.

Figure 1. Clinical, pathologic, and immunofluorescence findings in stranded striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba. A) Striped dolphin displaying swimming disorders being assisted by local persons; B) dolphin fetus within placenta; C) punctuated placental abscesses (arrows); D) immunofluorescent brucellae in impressions of placenta tissues; E) congested and hyperemic brain and cerebellum; F) Wright-Giemsa–stained mononuclear cell infiltrate in cerebrospinal fluid; G) immunofluorescent green Brucella spp. and Brucella debris within phagocytic cells infiltrating cerebrospinal fluid; the inset corresponds to an amplified phagocytic cell with fluorescent Brucella spp. and debris.

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