Latest news with #Brucellaceti
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dolphin disease found in Hawaii can spread to humans, scientists say
HONOLULU – Hawaii researchers have discovered dolphins infected with a bacterial disease that can transfer to humans. The disease is caused by bacteria known as Brucella ceti, and it was found in three dolphins stranded on the shorelines of Oahu. Two of the dolphins were found in the town of Waimānalo in southeastern Oahu on June 7 and 8, with the third dolphin found farther north in Waikane. Scientists believe the cause of the dolphin strandings was a new strain of Brucella ceti, which could signal a larger problem for dolphins and whales in Hawaiian waters. They added that dolphins and other marine mammals infected with Brucella ceti often had severe infections of the lungs and brain, along with infections from viruses such as morbillivirus and herpesvirus. As far as humans are concerned, the bacteria can cause chronic arthritis, neurological issues and flu-like symptoms, officials said. They noted that the bacteria can spread from dolphins to humans by physical contact. "Brucella ceti can be dangerous to humans who touch infected marine mammals," said Kristi West, associate researcher at UH Mānoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) who directs the university's Health and Stranding Lab. "It is best to be cautious and avoid touching or handling stranded animals. We strongly urge the public to report any whales and dolphins in distress in the ocean or stranded on beaches." How To Watch Fox Weather Should individuals come across a dead or distressed dolphin or other marine mammal, they are encouraged to notify the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 1(888) article source: Dolphin disease found in Hawaii can spread to humans, scientists say
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Researchers Sound Alarm Over Dolphin Bacteria That Causes 'Neurological Issues' in Humans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A sudden spate of dolphin deaths on Oahu in Hawaii has raised concerns among scientists who have confirmed the presence of Brucella ceti, a marine strain of bacteria that can be transmitted to humans. The bacteria was detected in three striped dolphins found dead on east Oahu beaches between June 7 and 15. According to researchers at the University of Hawaii's Health and Stranding Lab (UHHSL), the cases likely signal a broader outbreak that could affect marine mammals throughout Hawaiian waters. 'Very unusual' Researcher Ilse Silva-Krott said the strandings were "very unusual" in an interview with Newsweek. "We expect that each dolphin that washes ashore represents many more that are lost at sea as the carcass recovery rate of dead striped dolphins that die at sea and are recovered on shore is less than 1%," Silva-Krott said. "Hawaii's striped dolphin population lives in deep water and ranges far offshore, making it less likely when compared to near shore dolphins, that carcasses will be recovered when animals die." Stock image: A dolphin jumping out of an ocean. Stock image: A dolphin jumping out of an ocean. Photo by EyeEm Mobile GmbH / Getty Images Why It Matters Brucella ceti is a zoonotic pathogen, meaning it can jump from animals to humans. Though rare, infections in humans can lead to serious health issues including flu-like symptoms, chronic arthritis and neurological complications if left untreated. "We strongly urge the public to report any whales and dolphins in distress in the ocean or stranded on beaches," Silva-Krott said. "It is best to be cautious and avoid touching or handling stranded animals. Since most carcasses are never recovered, public reporting is of stranded dolphins and whales is vital for understanding threats to marine mammal health." What To Know The three infected dolphins were discovered in Waimānalo and Waikāne. According to a May publication in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, researchers at UH Mānoa and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience found Brucella infections in seven species of cetaceans from 2000 to 2024, with striped dolphins showing the highest prevalence. Many of the animals exhibited symptoms consistent with neurobrucellosis—a condition that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, leading to disorientation, seizures and death. What People Are Saying "Dolphins and whales are recognized sentinels of ocean health and give us signs and signals about what is happening in their ocean ecosystem," Silva-Krott told Newsweek. "The deaths of three striped dolphins is unprecedented for this species in Hawaii and is reason for concern. We have identified striped dolphins in Hawaii as especially vulnerable to this pathogen, but we know from our disease screening efforts that Brucella ceti can also infect other species of whales and dolphins in Hawaiian waters. "We have small local populations of melon-headed whales, endangered false killer whales, pygmy killer whales and spinner dolphins and these other species are also at risk for infection by Brucella ceti. "Environmental changes in the ocean can directly affect the ability of marine mammals to resist infections. Increased dolphin mortality rates may result from an overall decline in whale and dolphin health and signal broader oceanic ecosystem disruptions." What's Next Field investigations will continue throughout the summer, as researchers work to determine the strain of Brucella ceti. "A new strain from Hawaiian waters has recently been cultured by our group from previously stranded striped dolphins and a spinner dolphin, and we suspect that the new strain of Brucella ceti discovered in Hawaii is responsible for the April to June 2025 striped dolphin deaths," Silva-Krott said. "We are also working on testing previously stranded dolphins and whales for antibodies to Brucella ceti to better understand disease exposure among the 20 species of dolphins and whales that inhabit Hawaiian waters."
