Researchers have identified three previously unknown Helicobacter bacteria in pygmy sperm whales stranded along Florida's east coast. The bacteria appeared in four whales that also showed signs of stomach damage. The findings come from a study of strandings spanning more than two decades.
Scientists examined tissue samples from 59 pygmy sperm whales that stranded between 1999 and 2020. Post-mortem exams were performed on most of the animals. In four cases, spiral-shaped bacteria were present in stomach tissue.
The newly identified strains were named Kogia Helicobacter 1, 2, and 3. Two of the genotypes resemble bacteria found in other cetaceans and humans, while the third belongs to a more distant lineage.
All four infected whales displayed gastritis, ulcers, scarring, and parasite infestations. Researchers noted that the bacteria were not listed as the cause of death in any case.
The study was led by researchers at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases.
