Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the publication of our article: Qingzhong Wu, Jessica Conway, Kristen M. Phillips, Megan Stolen, Wendy N. Durden, Deborah Fauquier, Wayne E. McFee, and Lori Schwacke. 2016. Detection of *Brucella* spp. in Bottlenose Dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) by a Real-Time PCR Using Blowhole Swabs. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 120:241-244. doi: 10.3354/dao03034 http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v120/n3/p241-244/ *Abstract:* Blowhole swabs are a simple and non-invasive method for collecting samples from cetaceans and can be used for screening large numbers of animals in the field. This study reports a real-time PCR assay for the detection of *Brucella* spp*.* using blowhole swab samples from bottlenose dolphins (*Tursiops truncatus*) stranded in the coastal region of Virginia, South Carolina and Northern Florida, USA between 2013 and 2015. We used real-time PCR results on lung samples from the same dolphins as the estimation of the relative sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR of blowhole swabs. *Brucella* DNA was detected in lung tissue of 22% (18/81) and in blowhole swabs of 21% (17/81) of the sampled dolphins. The relative sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR on blowhole swabs as compared to the real-time PCR on lung samples was 94% (17/18) and 100% (63/63), respectively. These results indicate that real-time PCR on blowhole swabs may be used as a non-invasive test for rapid detection of *Brucella *spp*.* in the respiratory tract of dolphins. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of blowhole swabs for detection of bacterial pathogens by real-time PCR in bottlenose dolphins. Best regards, Qingzhong (David) Wu Molecular microbiologist -- Qingzhong (David) Wu, JHT, Inc. - Contractor Hollings Marine Laboratory National Ocean Service 331 Ft. Johnson Rd. Charleston, SC 29412 Office 843-725-4831 david.wu@noaa.gov