ISOLATION OF BRUCELLA SPECIES FROM CETACEANS, SEALS AND AN OTTER

Brucella organisms which differed from the recognised species of the g enus, were isolated from nine seals, eight cetaceans and one otter. A method is described for the isolation of Brucella species from sea mam mals and the first isolations of Brucella species are recorded from an Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), two striped dol phins (Stenella coeuleoalba), a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), a g rey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and a European otter (Lutra lutra). Ther e were differences in the culture media required for the primary isola tion of the organisms and in their dependency on carbon dioxide. Subcu taneous lesions, when present, always yielded a confluent growth. The organisms were isolated from seven of 14 spleen, samples and also from the mammary glands, uterus, testes and blood and the mandibular, gast ric, iliac, sub-lumbar and colorectal lymph nodes.