![New Zealand sea lion](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/129/941/303/thumb__635_500_0_0_crop.jpg)
Tuberculosis in New Zealand Seals, Sea Lions and Dolphins
- Infectious disease
Abstract
Mycobacterium pinnipedii causes tuberculosis in a number of pinniped species, and transmission to cattle and humans has been reported. The aims of this study were to: characterize the pathology and prevalence of tuberculosis in New Zealand marine mammals; use molecular diagnostic methods to confirm and type the causal agent; and to explore relationships between type and host characteristics. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 30 pinnipeds and one cetacean. Most affected pinnipeds had involvement of the pulmonary system, supporting inhalation as the most common route of infection, although ingestion was a possible route in the cetacean. PCR for the RD2 gene confirmed M. pinnipedii as the causal agent in 23/31 (74%) cases (22 using DNA from cultured organisms, and one using DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue), including the first published report in a cetacean. RD2 PCR results were compared for 22 cases where both cultured organisms and FFPE tissues were available, with successful identification of M. pinnipedii in 7/22 (31.8%). In cases with moderate to large numbers of acid-fast bacilli, RD2 PCR on FFPE tissue provided a rapid, inexpensive method for confirming M. pinnipedii infection without the need for culture. VNTR typing distinguished New Zealand M. pinnipedii isolates from M. pinnipedii isolated from Australian pinnipeds and from common types of M. bovis in New Zealand. Most (16/18) M. pinnipedii isolates from New Zealand sea lions were one of two common VNTR types whereas the cetacean isolate was a type detected previously in New Zealand cattle.
Roe, W.D., Lenting, B., Kokosinska, A., Hunter, S., Duignan, P.J., Gartrell, B., Rogers, L., Collins, D.M., de Lisle, G.W., Gedye, K., and Price-Carter, M. 2019. Pathology and molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium pinnipedii tuberculosis in native New Zealand seals, sea lions and dolphins. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0212363.
Pádraig Duignan
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Other species\/nz-sea-lion-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"New Zealand sea lion","title":"Causes of Death in Two Populations of New Zealand Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/causes-of-death-in-two-populations-of-new-zealand-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
![New Zealand sea lion](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/129/941/303/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-6.jpg","alt":"California sea lions","title":"Zoonotic Bacteria Persistence and Susceptibility","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/zoonotic-bacteria-persistence-and-susceptibility","label":"Research Paper"}
![California sea lions](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/928/09f/4cb/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/cropped-images\/csl-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-1-0-0-2358-1722-1600891644.jpg","alt":"California sea lions","title":"Emerging Viruses in Marine Mammals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/emerging-viruses-in-marine-mammals","label":"Research Paper"}
![California sea lions](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/35b/c75/159/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/csl-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-12.jpg","alt":"two California sea lions","title":"Multi-Phase Muscle Breakdown in California Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/multi-phase-muscle-breakdown-in-california-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
![two California sea lions](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/cb9/0f9/bdb/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)
Recent News
{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Veterinary care\/cropped-images\/f-rw22radiograph-examdr-sophie-whoriskey-l-and-megan-mcginnis-rcredit-heather-stocker-c-the-marine-mammal-centernoaa-permit-18786-03-144-15-1270-992-1721670262.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal in care at the marine mammal center receiving a radiograph exam","title":"Disney Recognizes Dr. Sophie Whoriskey\u2019s Work at The Marine Mammal Center in Hawaii to Save Monk Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/disney-recognizes-dr-sophie-whoriskeys-work-at-the-marine-mammal-center-in-hawaii-to-save-monk-seals","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-07-22 03:30:00"}
![Hawaiian monk seal in care at the marine mammal center receiving a radiograph exam](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/450/fac/baa/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)
Disney Recognizes Dr. Sophie Whoriskey’s Work at The Marine Mammal Center in Hawaii to Save Monk Seals
July 22, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2024\/B. HMS_R8HA_in treatment at Ke Kai Ola_7.10.24_.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal in care at the marine mammal center","title":"Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal R8HA Receiving Life-Saving Care at The Marine Mammal Center After Rescue and Transport from Kaua\u02bbi","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-r8ha-receiving-life-saving-care-at-the-marine-mammal-center-after-rescue-and-transport-from-kauai","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-07-16 05:00:00"}
![Hawaiian monk seal in care at the marine mammal center](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/cf4/946/fd3/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal R8HA Receiving Life-Saving Care at The Marine Mammal Center After Rescue and Transport from Kauaʻi
July 16, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-golden-gate-bridge-by-darrin-allen-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-26532-628-43-1272-992-1721771368.jpg","alt":"gray whales seen in the San Francisco Bay ","title":"LA Times: Why are Gray Whales and Other Marine Life Visiting San Francisco Bay?","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/la-times-why-are-gray-whales-and-other-marine-life-visiting-san-francisco-bay","label":"In the News","date":"2024-07-14 02:00:00"}
![gray whales seen in the San Francisco Bay](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/80e/fc1/ce2/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)
LA Times: Why are Gray Whales and Other Marine Life Visiting San Francisco Bay?
July 14, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Generic Image\/cropped-images\/sea lion release conservation technology-159-4-1270-992-1720535809.png","alt":"A California sea lion with a small satellite tracking device on its back runs through the sand. ","title":"Conservation Technology: 5 Innovations In Ocean Health","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/conservation-technology-5-innovations-in-ocean-health","label":"News Update","date":"2024-07-09 02:00:00"}
![A California sea lion with a small satellite tracking device on its back runs through the sand.](https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/storage/app/uploads/public/658/4ac/c56/thumb__237_185_0_0_crop.jpg)