Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524, USA.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012 Mar;12(3):192-5. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0715. Epub 2011 Oct 21.
The decline in the number of northern fur seal (NFS; Callorhinus ursinus) pups on St. Paul Island, Alaska, has led to multidisciplinary research, including investigation into issues of reproductive health and success. Given the recent identification of Coxiella burnetii in the placenta of two other marine mammal species, NFS placentas were collected from Reef rookery on St. Paul Island, Alaska, during the 2010 pupping season, examined histologically, and tested for C. burnetii using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 146 placentas examined, gram-negative intratrophoblastic bacteria that were positive for C. burnetii on immunohistochemistry were observed in 5 (3%) placentas. Placental infection was usually devoid of associated inflammation or significant ancillary pathology. One hundred nine (75%) of the placentas were positive for C. burnetii on PCR. C. burnetii is globally distributed and persists for long periods in the environment, providing ample opportunity for exposure of many species. The significance of this finding for the declining fur seal population, potential human exposure and infection, and impact on other sympatric marine mammal or terrestrial species is unclear; further investigation into the epidemiology of Coxiella in the marine ecosystem is warranted.
阿拉斯加圣保罗岛上的北方海狗（Callorhinus ursinus）幼崽数量的减少，导致了多学科的研究，包括对生殖健康和成功问题的调查。鉴于最近在另外两种海洋哺乳动物的胎盘上发现了柯克斯体（Coxiella burnetii），因此在 2010 年的产仔季节，从阿拉斯加圣保罗岛上的礁石繁殖地收集了北方海狗的胎盘，进行了组织学检查，并使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测了 C. burnetii。在检查的 146 个胎盘中有 5 个（3％）胎盘的组织病理学检查呈阳性，免疫组织化学检查呈阳性。胎盘感染通常没有相关的炎症或明显的辅助病理学。109 个（75％）胎盘在 PCR 上呈阳性。C. burnetii 在全球范围内分布，并在环境中长时间存在，为许多物种的暴露提供了充足的机会。这一发现对数量不断减少的海狗种群、潜在的人类暴露和感染以及对其他同域海洋哺乳动物或陆地物种的影响意义尚不清楚；需要进一步调查海洋生态系统中柯克斯体的流行病学。
