Scientists have identified three previously undocumented Helicobacter genotypes in pygmy sperm whales, according to ScienceDaily. The discovery came from more than 20 years of stranding records and preserved tissue samples reviewed by researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and partner institutions.
Pygmy sperm whales are among the least studied marine mammals because they spend most of their lives far offshore, dive deep for squid and fish, and are rarely seen at the surface. Much of what scientists know about the species has come from whales that washed ashore, especially along the southeastern United States.
In the new study, published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, researchers named the newly identified bacteria Kogia Helicobacter 1, 2 and 3. The team found signs of spiral-shaped bacteria in stomach tissue from four stranded whales and later confirmed the genotypes through histopathology, molecular testing and DNA sequencing.
According to the researchers, all four whales that tested positive showed signs of gastrointestinal disease, including gastritis, gastric ulcers, fibrosis and nematode infestations. The study did not conclude that Helicobacter caused the whales’ deaths, but it noted that the repeated presence of inflammation and other lesions could point to a role in chronic illness.
The scientists said more research is needed to learn how widespread the bacteria may be and whether they contribute to illness, strandings or broader health concerns in pygmy sperm whales and other marine wildlife.
