Rare shark dies of meningitis, the first time the infection has been found in the species

By Ed Cullinane via SWNS

A super-rare Greenland shark has died of meningitis. It is the first time the infection has been found in the elusive species, a report found today (April 8, 2022).

The female shark, measuring 12.9 feet long, was discovered stuck on a beach in Cornwall, England, on March 13.

Greenland sharks are the world's oldest living creature and it was a juvenile, at around 100 years old. Often living from between 250 to 500 years living Greenland sharks today could have been born during the Jamestown massacre.

The shark was returned to the sea but was later found dead leading to a post mortem by a marine pathology team.

Pathologists at the Zoological Society of London's Cetacean Stranding Investigate Programme determined the animal had died from some kind of meningitis-like brain infection.

This marks the first time one of the otherwise 'invincible' Greenland sharks has been found to have died from the brain disease.

The disease also explains why the creature was so far out of its natural habitat, normally being found in deep Arctic waters up to 8,684 feet below the surface.

James Barnett, a pathologist from the Cornwall Marine Pathology Team said: “During the post-mortem examination, the brain did look slightly discoloured and congested and the fluid around the brain was cloudy, raising the possibility of infection.

"This was then confirmed on microscopic examination of the brain (histopathology).

"A species of Pasteurella, a bacteria, was isolated from the fluid and this may well have been the cause of the meningitis.

“The shark’s body was in poor condition and there were signs of haemorrhage within the soft tissue around the pectoral fins which, coupled with the silt found in her stomach, suggested she may well have been stranded.

"As far as we’re aware, this is one of the first post-mortem examinations here in the UK of a Greenland shark and the first account of meningitis in this species.”

Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) are extremely rare and mysterious creatures rarely observed by people.

Rob Deaville, ZSL’s Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme (CSIP) project lead said: “This unfortunate and extraordinary stranding has allowed us to get an insight into the life and death of a species we know little about.

"Discovering that this shark had meningitis is likely a world’s first, but the significance of this in terms of any wider stressors is unknown.

"Ultimately, like most marine life, deep-sea species such as Greenland sharks may also be impacted by human pressures on the ocean but there is not enough evidence at this stage to make any connections.

“Huge thanks are owed to the volunteers of Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network and all those who spotted and brought the body to shore.

"This was an exceptional collaborative effort by all involved and was a unique opportunity to learn more about the life of this cryptic and endangered deep-water shark.”

A research paper looking more deeply at the team’s post-mortem investigation of the Greenland shark will be published in due course.