AUTHOR=Romani-Cremaschi Umberto , Zoppi Simona , Mattioda Virginia , Audino Tania , Marsili Letizia , Varello Katia , Iulini Barbara , Marra Cristina , Zoccola Roberto , Battistini Roberta , Dondo Alessandro , Garibaldi Fulvio , Berio Enrica , Pautasso Alessandra , Rosso Massimiliano , Ascheri Davide , Casalone Cristina , Grattarola Carla , Giorda Federica 

TITLE=Morganella morganii septicemia and concurrent renal crassicaudiasis in a Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) stranded in Italy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.1058724

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.1058724

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=A juvenile male Cuvier’s beaked whale (CBW, Ziphius cavirostris) stranded along the Ligurian coastline (Italy) and underwent a complete post-mortem examination. Diagnostic tools included histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), serology, biomolecular investigations, and toxicological and microbiological analysis. Histopathological findings were consistent with a septicemic infection alongside renal crassicaudiasis. An M. morganii alpha-hemolytic strain was isolated in pure culture from liver, lung, prescapular lymph node, spleen, hepatic and renal abscesses, and central nervous system (CNS). No other pathogens were detected by IHC, PCR, or serology. Toxicological investigations revealed that the health status of the CBW was likely compromised by immunosuppressant pollutants as high concentrations of organochlorine compounds (OCs) were detected in the blubber. To further characterize the M. morganii isolate, the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified by PCR means and the sequenced product showed a 99,25% homology with M. morganii sequences deposited in GenBank. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) method was used to screen for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and Epidemiological Cut-off values (ECOFFs) available on the EUCAST website (http://www.eucast.org) were compared with the values obtained during M. morganii MICs testing. The strain did not show any significant antibiotic resistance but reduced susceptibility to Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole was observed, leading to consider it a ‘non-wild-type’ for this antimicrobial. To our knowledge, this is the first description of M. morganii septicemia with CNS involvement in a wild cetacean.