Inter-Research > DAO > v121 > n1 > p67-73  
DAO
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

via Mailchimp

DAO 121:67-73 (2016)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03041

NOTE
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolated from gull-inflicted wounds in southern right whale calves

Carla D. Fiorito1,2, Adriana Bentancor3, Daniel Lombardo2,*, Marcelo Bertellotti1

1Laboratorio de Ecofisiología Aplicada al Manejo y Conservación, Centro Nacional Patagónico, CONICET, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
2Laboratorio de Histología, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1427CWO Buenos Aires, Argentina
3Laboratorio de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1427CWO Buenos Aires, Argentina
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Southern right whales Eubalaena australis from Peninsula Valdés, Argentina, show wounds produced by kelp gulls Larus dominicanus that feed on the whales’ dorsal skin and blubber. During the 2013 whale season, several calves were reported showing kelp gull injuries with a swollen area surrounded by rhomboid-shaped raised edges. Samples from 9 calves were taken in order to establish the etiology of these rhomboid-shaped wounds; 2 calves (one living, one dead) showed gull-inflicted injuries with rhomboid-shaped edges. Samples from the dead calf were histologically characterized by the presence of dermal congestion, suppurative dermatitis and panniculitis, necrotizing vasculitis and vascular thrombosis. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was detected by culture and PCR in samples from both calves. In this study we report, for the first time to our knowledge, the isolation of E. rhusiopathiae from wounds produced by gull attacks on southern right whale calves, supplying evidence that these wounds may act as an entry route for pathogens. This work provides new information about the consequences of gull-inflicted injuries for whale health.


KEY WORDS: Southern right whale · Eubalaena australis · Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae · Skin injuries · Larus dominicanus


Full text in pdf format
Cite this article as: Fiorito CD, Bentancor A, Lombardo D, Bertellotti M (2016) Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolated from gull-inflicted wounds in southern right whale calves. Dis Aquat Org 121:67-73. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03041

Export citation
Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn

 Previous article Next article