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A novel Brucella isolate in association with two cases of stillbirth in non-human primates – first report |
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| Authors: | Natalia E. Schlabritz-Loutsevitch,Adrian M. Whatmore,Christine R. Quance,Mark S. Koylass,L. Bill Cummins,Edward J. Dick Jr,Cathy L. Snider,David Cappelli,Jeffrey L. Ebersole,Peter W. Nathanielsz,& Gene B. Hubbard |
| Affiliation: | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Southwest National Primate Research Center, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Department of Statutory and Exotic Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, UK; National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA; Department of Community Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Center for Oral Health Research, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Lexington, Kentucky, USA |
| Abstract: | Background Brucellosis is veterinary and human health problem. Methods A 13-year-old wild caught multiparous and an 8-year-old colony-born nulliparous baboon had stillbirths in the second trimester of pregnancy. Culture isolates from both postpartum uteruses were characterized using traditional biochemical analysis, PCR, and multilocus sequencing. Results The isolates morphologically resembled Brucella although their phenotypic characteristics were not consistent with any currently described species. The isolates represent a novel lineage within the genus with unique alleles, not previously seen in surveys of greater than 300 isolates representing the known diversity of the genus, present at 5/9 loci examined. Conclusions The described cases are to the best of our knowledge the first presentation of a naturally acquired Brucella infection in non-human primates associated with stillbirths from the same colony where Brucella seropositivity in the baboons was described 45 years ago. The organism appears to represent a previously undescribed Brucella species. |
| Keywords: | brucella non-human primates stillbirth |