Dear colleagues We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper: *Brucella ceti** and brucellosis in cetaceans* Guzmán-Verri C, González-Barrientos R, Hernández-Mora G, Morales J-A, Baquero-Calvo E, Chaves-Olarte E and Moreno E (2012) *Brucella ceti* and brucellosis in cetaceans. Front. Cell. Inf. Microbio. 2:3. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00003 ABSTRACT Since the first case of brucellosis detected in a dolphin aborted fetus, an increasing number of *Brucella ceti* isolates has been reported in members of the two suborders of cetaceans: Mysticeti and Odontoceti. Serological surveys have shown that cetacean brucellosis may be distributed worldwide in the oceans. Although all *B. ceti* isolates have been included within the same species, three different groups have been recognized according to their preferred host, bacteriological properties, and distinct genetic traits: *B. ceti* dolphin type, *B. ceti* porpoise type, and *B. ceti*human type. It seems that *B. ceti* porpoise type is more closely related to *B. ceti* human isolates and *B. pinnipedialis* group, while B. ceti dolphin type seems ancestral to them. Based on comparative phylogenetic analysis, it is feasible that the *B. ceti* ancestor radiated in a terrestrial artiodactyl host close to the Raoellidae family about 58 million years ago. The more likely mode of transmission of *B. ceti* seems to be through sexual intercourse, maternal feeding, aborted fetuses, placental tissues, vertical transmission from mother to the fetus or through fish or helminth reservoirs. The *B. ceti*dolphin and porpoise types seem to display variable virulence in land animal models and low infectivity for humans. However, brucellosis in some dolphins and porpoises has been demonstrated to be a severe chronic disease, displaying significant clinical and pathological signs related to abortions, male infertility, neurobrucellosis, cardiopathies, bone and skin lesions, strandings, and death. The pdf is available at the journal site: http://www.frontiersin.org/cellular_and_infection_microbiology/10.3389/fcimb... Address for pdf requests : gabbytica@gmail.com Cheers, Gabriela Gabriela Hernández Mora, D.V.M, M.S.c Microbiología Médico Veterinaria Servicio Nacional Salud Animal (SENASA) Costa Rica +506 25 87 16 00 ext 2092 +506 88 93 76 09