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A novel Brucella isolate in association with two cases of stillbirth in non‐human primates – first report
Author(s) -
SchlabritzLoutsevitch Natalia E.,
Whatmore Adrian M.,
Quance Christine R.,
Koylass Mark S.,
Cummins L. Bill,
Dick Jr Edward J.,
Snider Cathy L.,
Cappelli David,
Ebersole Jeffrey L.,
Nathanielsz Peter W.,
Hubbard Gene B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of medical primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1600-0684
pISSN - 0047-2565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0684.2008.00314.x
Subject(s) - brucella , biology , brucellosis , baboon , lineage (genetic) , pregnancy , allele , zoology , virology , genetics , gene , endocrinology
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.