{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]],"date-time":"2026-04-10T10:44:25Z","timestamp":1775817865216,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]],"date-time":"2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738022400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Horizon 2020","award":["773830"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["773830"]}]},{"name":"Fundo Ambiental","award":["773830"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["773830"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates Brucella ceti infection in marine mammals stranded along the Lisbon and Tagus Valley coast between 2022 and mid-2024, marking the first report of Brucella presence in Portuguese waters. Out of 59 examined marine mammals, B. ceti was isolated in three common dolphins (5.1%), a prevalence rate consistent with previous studies from other coastlines. PCR-based detection indicated a higher infection rate (23.7%), suggesting an underestimation of the prevalence of B. ceti infection in this population. Multi-locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis (MLVA) revealed distinct genetic profiles and close relationships to B. ceti strains from the Atlantic, supporting the hypothesis of specific host-adapted lineages in dolphins. Virulence genes, including those for host interaction (bspE, btpB) and intracellular survival (virB7, vceA), were consistent across isolates, highlighting the pathogenic potential. Additionally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, such as mprF and efflux proteins (bepC-G), were also identified. These findings underscore the need for further research and surveillance to understand B. ceti transmission, host range, and impacts on Atlantic cetaceans, as well as to develop effective diagnostic and management strategies to mitigate infection risks in marine environments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15030374","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]],"date-time":"2025-01-28T06:47:29Z","timestamp":1738046849000},"page":"374","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Brucella ceti in Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in Portugal\u2014Characterization of First Isolates"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1280-229X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sandra","family":"Cavaco","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV IP), Av. da Rep\u00fablica, Quinta do Marqu\u00eas, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Miguel L.","family":"Grilo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RALVT\u2014Rede de Arrojamentos de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, ISPA\u2014Instituto Universit\u00e1rio de Ci\u00eancias Psicol\u00f3gicas, Sociais e da Vida, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Campus Universit\u00e1rio, Quinta da Granja, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"},{"name":"MARE\u2014Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre\/ARNET\u2014Aquatic Research Network, ISPA\u2014Instituto Universit\u00e1rio de Ci\u00eancias Psicol\u00f3gicas, Sociais e da Vida, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9214-2166","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ricardo","family":"Dias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"cE3c\u2014Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE\u2014Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"BioISI-Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5034-5494","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u00f3nica","family":"Nunes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"cE3c\u2014Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE\u2014Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Pedro","family":"Pascoal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"cE3c\u2014Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE\u2014Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1424-9275","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marcelo","family":"Pereira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BioISI-Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Catarina","family":"Foga\u00e7a","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RALVT\u2014Rede de Arrojamentos de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, ISPA\u2014Instituto Universit\u00e1rio de Ci\u00eancias Psicol\u00f3gicas, Sociais e da Vida, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ana Beatriz","family":"Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RALVT\u2014Rede de Arrojamentos de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, ISPA\u2014Instituto Universit\u00e1rio de Ci\u00eancias Psicol\u00f3gicas, Sociais e da Vida, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Sofia","family":"Pardal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RALVT\u2014Rede de Arrojamentos de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, ISPA\u2014Instituto Universit\u00e1rio de Ci\u00eancias Psicol\u00f3gicas, Sociais e da Vida, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9607-7576","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Cristina","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV IP), Av. da Rep\u00fablica, Quinta do Marqu\u00eas, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal"},{"name":"BioISI-Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"I-MVET-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lus\u00f3fona University, University Centre of Lisbon, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2688","DOI":"10.1099\/ijs.0.65269-0","article-title":"Brucella ceti sp. 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