Dear all, The 5th of September of 2025 a female striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba (id N-367-25), with a length of 172 cm, and weight of 48 Kg was found dead stranded in Sitges (Barcelona Province). The dolphin was necropsied at the Department of Pathology of the Veterinary School of Barcelona. Tissue samples from lung, respiratory lymph node, and brain were teste for CeMV by q-RT-PCR, with positive results (Ct 26,3, Ct 27,9, and Ct 24,4, respectively). A swab from the 4th cerebral ventricle yielded also a positive result for Brucella q-PCR (Ct 26,4). The dolphin was autolysed (M4), and histopathology and CeMV-IHC were not helpful for confirming CeMV systemic disease. A meningitis was barely discernible (consistent with the qPCR result for Brucella, and indicative of Neurobrucellosis).
The 13th of September of 2025, another striped dolphin (id N-374-25), female, length 162 cm, weight 33 Kg, was found alive in Colera (Girona province), showing dyspnoea and swimming in circles. The dolphin stranded and was euthanised due to poor prognosis. Results of q-RT-PCR for CeMV were positive (lung Ct: 18,2, Lymph node: Ct 24,8, CNS: Ct 35). The qPCR for Brucella was negative. Characteristic lesions of CeMV were found in lung and lymph nodes (interstitial pneumonia, with syncytial cells, and lymphoid depletion). Brain tissue must be examined yet (it needs prolonged fixation). IHC for CeMV showed specific staining in lung and lymph nodes, in the cell types expected for CeMV. Therefore, CeMV systemic disease has been confirmed, by histopathology, IHC, and q-RT-PCR. The last case of systemic CeMV disease was detected in the Catalonian coast (western Mediterranean) in 2017. Re-emerging of CeMV in the western Mediterranean Sea usually occurs by entrance of new strains through the Gibraltar Strait, and, predictable, it will move slowly to French and Italian Mediterranean waters, as well as to other coastal Mediterranean countries. This is the 3rd circulation wave of CeMV detected in our coasts (1990, 2006-2007, 2016-17, and the actual one). Molecular studies have been initiated to characterize this CeMV strain. Best regard [Logotipo Descripción generada automáticamente con confianza baja]<https://www.uab.cat/> Mariano Domingo Alvarez Dept. de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals Facultat de Veterinària, Campus de la UAB · 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) · Barcelona · Catalunya +34 93 5813144 · +34 626164714 www.uab.cat<https://www.uab.cat> Aquest missatge no s’ha de respondre fora de la jornada laboral, en compliment de l’article 88 de la Llei orgànica 3/2018 de protecció de dades personals i garantia dels drets digitals<https://www.boe.es/boe_catalan/dias/2018/12/06/pdfs/BOE-A-2018-16673-C.pdf>, que reconeix el dret a la desconnexió digital, i de la Normativa interna per preservar el dret a la desconnexió digital del personal de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona<https://www.uab.cat/doc/NormativaDesconnexioDigital>. --
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