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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2006, p. 4363-4370, Vol. 44, No. 12
0095-1137/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00680-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of a Brucella sp. Strain as a Marine-Mammal Type despite Isolation from a Patient with Spinal Osteomyelitis in New Zealand

W. L. McDonald,^1* R. Jamaludin,^1, G. Mackereth,¹ M. Hansen,¹ S. Humphrey,¹ P. Short,² T. Taylor,³ J. Swingler,³ C. E. Dawson,⁴ A. M. Whatmore,⁴ E. Stubberfield,⁴ L. L. Perrett,⁴ and G. Simmons⁵

Investigation and Diagnostic Centre, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ward St., Wallaceville, New Zealand,¹ Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Ltd., Kenepuru Science Centre, 34 Kenepuru Dr., Porirua, New Zealand,² Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia,³ Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom,⁴ Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Auckland, New Zealand⁵

Received 30 March 2006/ Returned for modification 11 June 2006/ Accepted 17 September 2006

Naturally acquired infection of humans with a marine mammal-associated Brucella sp. has only been reported once previously in a study describing infections of two patients from Peru. We report the isolation and characterization of a strain of Brucella from a New Zealand patient that appears most closely related to strains previously identified from marine mammals. The isolate was preliminarily identified as Brucella suis using conventional bacteriological tests in our laboratory. However, the results profile was not an exact match, and the isolate was forwarded to four international reference laboratories for further identification. The reference laboratories identified the isolate as either B. suis or B. melitensis by traditional bacteriological methods in three laboratories and by a molecular test in the fourth laboratory. Molecular characterization by PCR, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and DNA sequencing of the bp26 gene; IS711; the omp genes omp25, omp31, omp2a, and omp2b; IRS-PCR fragments I, III, and IV; and five housekeeping gene fragments was conducted to resolve the discrepant identification of the isolate. The isolate was identified to be closely related to a Brucella sp. originating from a United States bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and common seals (Phoca vitulina).

Published ahead of print on 11 October 2006.

Present address: Tropical and Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory, 180-202 River Blvd., Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

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