Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 July 2001 BRUCELLA SP. ANTIBODIES IN POLAR BEARS FROM SVALBARD AND THE BARENTS SEA
Morten Tryland, Andrew E. Derocher, Øystein Wiig, Jacques Godfroid
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

A prevalence of 5.4% of anti-Brucella sp. antibodies was found in plasma samples from 297 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard and the Barents Sea. Plasma was tested by the classical brucellosis tests Slow Agglutination of Wright (SAW), EDTA modified SAW and Rose Bengal test, as well as by an indirect Protein A ELISA. Only samples classified as positive in all tests were regarded as containing anti-Brucella sp. antibodies. A significant west to east increase in the proportion of bears with anti-Brucella sp. antibodies was found, with 3.6% (n = 253) at Svalbard (Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya, Barentsøya and Hopen), and 15.9% (n = 44) in the central Barents Sea. Anti-Brucella sp. antibodies were previously found in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) from the same geographical areas. The ringed seal is an important prey species for the Svalbard polar bear population, and may thus be a source of brucellosis for the bears. There are no indications of reproductive disorders caused by Brucella sp. or other infectious agents in our study polar bear population. Potential impacts of Brucella sp. exposure on individuals or the population are unknown.

Tryland, Derocher, Wiig, and Godfroid: BRUCELLA SP. ANTIBODIES IN POLAR BEARS FROM SVALBARD AND THE BARENTS SEA
Morten Tryland, Andrew E. Derocher, Øystein Wiig, and Jacques Godfroid "BRUCELLA SP. ANTIBODIES IN POLAR BEARS FROM SVALBARD AND THE BARENTS SEA," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 37(3), 523-531, (1 July 2001). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-37.3.523
Received: 24 January 2000; Published: 1 July 2001
KEYWORDS
Brucella sp.
brucellosis
carnivore
ELISA
marine mammal
polar bear
serosurvey
Back to Top