B. ceti has been identified in four  of the 14 cetacean families, but the antibodies have been detected in seven of the families. This indicates that B. ceti is common amongst cetacean families and populations. Only a small percentage of exposed individuals become ill or die. However, particular species apparently are more likely to become infected by B. ceti. The harbor porpoise, striped dolphin, white-sided dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, and common dolphin have the highest frequency of infection amongst ondontocetes. In the mysticetes families, the northern minke whale is by far the most infected species. Dolphins and porpoises are more likely to be infected than cetaceans such as whales. With regard to sex and age biases, the infections do not seem influenced by the age or sex of an individual. Although fatal to cetaceans, B. ceti has a low infection rate for humans. Terrestrial wildlife
The disease in its various strains can infect multiple wildlife species, including elk (Cervus canadensis), bison (Bison bison), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), European wild boar (Sus scrofa), caribou (Rangifer tarandus), moose (Alces alces), and marine mammals (see section on aquatic wildlife above). While some regions use vaccines to prevent the spread of brucellosis between infected and uninfected wildlife populations, no suitable brucellosis vaccine for terrestrial wildlife has been developed. This gap in medicinal knowledge creates more pressure for management practices that reduce spread of the disease.Wild bison and elk in the greater Yellowstone area are the last remaining reservoir of B. abortus in the US.
It is a form of sphingolipidosis (a subgroup of lysosomal storage diseases), as it involves dysfunctional metabolism of sphingolipids.The disease is named after the French physician Philippe Gaucher, who originally described it in 1882. Signs and symptoms
Painless hepatomegaly and splenomegaly: the size of the spleen can be 1500–3000 g, as opposed to the normal size of 50–200 g. Splenomegaly may decrease the affected individuals capacity for eating by exerting pressure on the stomach. While painless, enlargement of spleen increases the risk of splenic rupture. Hypersplenism and pancytopenia, the rapid and premature destruction of blood cells, leads to anemia, neutropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia (with an increased risk of infection and bleeding). Cirrhosis of the liver is rare. Severe pain associated with joints and bones occurs, frequently presenting in hips and knees. Neurological symptoms occur only in some types of Gauchers (see below):
Type I: impaired olfaction and cognition
Type II: serious convulsions, hypertonia, intellectual disability, and apnea
Type III: muscle twitches known as myoclonus, convulsions, dementia, and ocular muscle apraxia
Parkinsons disease is recognized as being more common in Gauchers disease patients and their heterozygous carrier relatives. Osteoporosis: 75% of patients develop visible bony abnormalities due to the accumulated glucosylceramide. A deformity of the distal femur in the shape of an Erlenmeyer flask  is commonly described. Yellowish-brown skin pigmentation

Genetics
The three types of Gauchers disease are autosomal recessive. Both parents must be carriers for a child to be affected.