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Mosquera JD, Escotte-Binet S, Poulle ML, Betoulle S, St-Pierre Y, Caza F, Saucède T, Zapata S, De Los Angeles Bayas R, Ramirez-Villacis DX, Villena I, Bigot-Clivot A. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in wild bivalves from the Kerguelen and Galapagos archipelagos: influence of proximity to cat populations, exposure to marine currents and kelp density. Int J Parasitol 2024:S0020-7519(24)00133-4. [PMID: 38885873 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Oocysts of the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii are found in felid feces and can be washed into coastal waters, where they persist for months, attaching to algae and accumulating in invertebrates. We used wild bivalves to assess contamination of coastal waters of the Kerguelen and Galapagos archipelagos by this zoonotic parasite. Additionally, we leveraged the contrasting situations of these archipelagos to identify some potential drivers of contamination. In the Galapagos, with a cat density reaching 142 per km2, 15.38% of the sampled oysters (Saccostrea palmula) tested positive for T. gondii by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) (n= 260), and positive samples were found in all eight sampling sites. In Kerguelen, with one to three cats per km2, 40.83% of 120 tested mussels (Mytilus edulis platensis) were positive, and positive samples were found in four out of the five sampling sites. These findings provide evidence of T. gondii contamination in the coastal waters of these archipelagos. Furthermore, T. gondii-positive bivalves were found on islands located 20 km away (Galapagos) and 5 km away (Kerguelen) from the nearest cat population, indicating that T. gondii oocysts can disperse through waterborne mechanisms over several kilometers from their initial deposition site. In the Galapagos, where runoff is infrequent and all sites are exposed to currents, the prevalence of qPCR-positive bivalves did not show significant variations between sites (p= 0.107). In Kerguelen where runoff is frequent and site exposure variable, the prevalence varied significantly (p < 0.001). The detection of T. gondii in Kerguelen mussels was significantly correlated with the site exposure to currents (odds ration (OR) 60.2, p < 0.001) and the on-site density of giant kelp forests (OR 2.624, p < 0.001). This suggests that bivalves can be contaminated not only by oocysts transported by currents but also by consuming marine aggregates containing oocysts that tend to form in kelp forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Mosquera
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Univ Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, ESCAPE, Reims, France; Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, COCIBA, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sandie Escotte-Binet
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Univ Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, ESCAPE, Reims, France
| | - Marie-Lazarine Poulle
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Univ Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, ESCAPE, Reims, France
| | - Stéphane Betoulle
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, ULHN, INERIS, Normandie Univ, SEBIO, UMR-I 02, Reims, France
| | - Yves St-Pierre
- INRS Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - France Caza
- INRS Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Thomas Saucède
- Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 6282 Biogéosciences, Dijon, France
| | - Sonia Zapata
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, COCIBA, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Isabelle Villena
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Univ Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, ESCAPE, Reims, France; University Hospital Center (CHU) Reims, Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, Reims, France
| | - Aurélie Bigot-Clivot
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, ULHN, INERIS, Normandie Univ, SEBIO, UMR-I 02, Reims, France.
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Guari EB, Vannuci-Silva M, Manhães BMR, Secchi ER, Botta S, Bertozzi CP, Santos-Neto EB, Dias CP, de Freitas Azevedo A, Bisi TL, Cunha HA, Lailson-Brito J. Mercury Concentrations in Two Populations of the most Endangered Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 112:82. [PMID: 38822880 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-024-03904-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Mercury contamination has been aggravated by emerging environmental issues, such as climate change. Top predators present concerning Hg concentrations once this metal bioaccumulates and biomagnifies. This study evaluated total mercury (THg) concentrations in tissues of 43 franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) from two populations: the Franciscana Management Area (FMA) IIb and FMA IIIa. Animals from FMA IIIa showed mean concentration 5-times and 2.5-times higher in the liver and kidney (4.73 ± 6.84 and 0.52 ± 0.51 µg.g-1, w.w., respectively) than individuals from FMA IIb (0.89 ± 1.04 and 0.22 ± 0.15 µg.g-1, w.w., respectively). This might be due to: (I) individuals sampled from FMA IIIa being larger and older, and/or (II) the area near FMA IIIa presents environmental features leading to higher THg availability. Coastal contamination can affect franciscanas' health and population maintenance at different levels depending on their life history and, therefore, it should be considered to guide specific conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Brinatti Guari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Monizze Vannuci-Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Professora Izabel M. Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4002, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil
| | - Bárbara M R Manhães
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Professora Izabel M. Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4002, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil
| | - Eduardo Resende Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália, km 8, Rio Grande, 96203-900, Brasil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália, km 8, Rio Grande, 96203-900, Brasil
| | - Carolina Pacheco Bertozzi
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Campus do Litoral Paulista - Unidade São Vicente-UNESP, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, Parque Bitaru, São Vicente, 11330-900, Brasil
| | - Elitieri Batista Santos-Neto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Professora Izabel M. Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4002, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil
| | - Carolina Pereira Dias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Alexandre de Freitas Azevedo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Professora Izabel M. Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4002, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil
| | - Tatiana Lemos Bisi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Professora Izabel M. Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4002, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil
| | - Haydée Andrade Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Professora Izabel M. Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4002, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Professora Izabel M. Gurgel" (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro-UERJ, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4002, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-013, RJ, Brasil.
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Santos-Neto EB, Manhães BMR, Oliveira-Ferreira N, Cordeiro CVS, Corrêa CAC, Brião JA, Guari EB, Botta S, Colosio AC, Ramos HGC, Barbosa LA, Bertozzi C, Cunha IAG, Carreira RS, Meire RO, Bisi TL, Azevedo AF, Cunha HA, Lailson-Brito J. PAHs in franciscana dolphins from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean: Concentration and maternal transfer assessments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116455. [PMID: 38735171 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds ubiquitous in the environment and known for their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects. These compounds can bioaccumulate in the biota and be transferred through trophic webs. The franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei), as top predators, can be an environmental sentinels. Thus, this study aimed to provide data about PAHs concentration in their hepatic tissue collected on the coast of Espírito Santo (Franciscana Management Area, FMA Ia), Rio de Janeiro (FMA IIa), and São Paulo states (FMA IIb), in Southeastern Brazil. PAHs were detected in 86 % of franciscana dolphins (n = 50). The highest ∑PAHsTotal median concentration was reported in FMA Ia followed by FMA IIb and FMA IIa (1055.6; 523.9, and 72.1 ng.g-1 lipid weight, respectively). Phenanthrene was detected in one fetus and two neonates, showing maternal transfer of PAHs in these dolphins. Evaluating PAHs with potential toxic effects is of utmost importance for the conservation of a threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- E B Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - B M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - N Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - C V S Cordeiro
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - C A C Corrêa
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J A Brião
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - E B Guari
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - S Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)
| | - A C Colosio
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - H G C Ramos
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - L A Barbosa
- Instituto ORCA, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - C Bertozzi
- Instituto de Biociências, câmpus do Litoral Paulista, Universidade Estadual Paulista (IB/CLP - UNESP), São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Biopesca, Praia Grande, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - I A G Cunha
- Instituto ORCA, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - R S Carreira
- LabMAM/Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - R O Meire
- Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, , Campus Duque de Caxias, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 105, Santa Cruz da Serra, CEP: 25240-005, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - T L Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A F Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - H A Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Departamento de Genética, Instituti de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Courville JM, Borkowski R, Sonnenberg L, Bielmyer-Fraser GK. A Quantitative Analysis of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Odontocetes in the Southeast Region of the United States. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:1260-1273. [PMID: 38546224 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (<5 mm in diameter) are ubiquitous in the oceanic environment, yet microplastic accumulation in marine mammals is vastly understudied. In recent years, efforts have been made to document microplastic profiles in odontocetes. The objective of the present study was to describe and quantify microplastics in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of deceased odontocetes that stranded in the southeastern United States. Our study included 24 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), two pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), one pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), one short-snouted spinner dolphin (Stenella clymene), one Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), and one dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) obtained from stranding networks in Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Contents found in the GI tracts, namely, the stomach and portions of the intestinal tract, were subjected to a laboratory procedure to isolate microplastics. The physical characteristics of microparticles were analyzed with a stereomicroscope, and microplastics were classified by polymer type via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. There was an average of 47.6 ± 41.4 microparticles, ranging from 1 to 193 items per stomach. More specifically, there was an average of 5.6 ± 4.7 microplastics per stomach. The predominant morphologies, colors, and polymer types were fibers, white-colored items, and polyester, respectively. This research contributes to the current knowledge of microplastic exposure in top marine mammal predators and sets the stage for further exploration into the associated risks of microplastics in odontocetes within the United States and worldwide. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1260-1273. © 2024 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Courville
- Marine Science, Millar Wilson Laboratory, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Rose Borkowski
- Marine Science, Millar Wilson Laboratory, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Lucy Sonnenberg
- Marine Science, Millar Wilson Laboratory, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Luo D, Guo Y, Liu Z, Guo L, Wang H, Tang X, Xu Z, Wu Y, Sun X. Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Exposure Induces Adverse Effects on the Population Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9102-9112. [PMID: 38752859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Cetaceans play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of ocean ecosystems. However, their populations are under global threat from environmental contaminants. Various high levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been detected in cetaceans from the South China Sea, such as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), suggesting potential health risks, while the impacts of endocrine disruptors on the dolphin population remain unclear. This study aims to synthesize the population dynamics of the humpback dolphins in the PRE and their profiles of EDC contaminants from 2005 to 2019, investigating the potential role of EDCs in the population dynamics of humpback dolphins. Our comprehensive analysis indicates a sustained decline in the PRE humpback dolphin population, posing a significant risk of extinction. Variations in sex hormones induced by EDC exposure could potentially impact birth rates, further contributing to the population decline. Anthropogenic activities consistently emerge as the most significant stressor, ranking highest in importance. Conventional EDCs demonstrate more pronounced impacts on the population compared to emerging compounds. Among the conventional pollutants, DDTs take precedence, followed by zinc and chromium. The most impactful emerging EDCs are identified as alkylphenols. Notably, as the profile of EDCs changes, the significance of conventional pollutants may give way to emerging EDCs, presenting a continued challenge to the viability of the humpback dolphin population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingyu Luo
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Yongwei Guo
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Zhiwei Liu
- School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Lang Guo
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Hongri Wang
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Xikai Tang
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Zhuo Xu
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Yuping Wu
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Xian Sun
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
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Escudero A, Ribas MP, Obón E, Almería S, Aguilar XF, Gholipour H, Cabezón O, Molina-López R. Exposure of Urban European Hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) to Toxoplasma gondii in Highly Populated Areas of Northeast Spain. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1596. [PMID: 38891643 PMCID: PMC11171134 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a generalist zoonotic parasite that involves a wide range of warm-blooded animals as intermediate hosts and felines as definitive hosts. Recent studies have proved significant positive associations between human population density and T. gondii seroprevalence in wildlife. However, there is limited data regarding T. gondii wildlife in urban areas, where the highest human density occurs. The present study aimed to analyse the T. gondii exposure in urban hedgehogs from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, NE Spain. One hundred eighteen hedgehogs were analysed for the presence of antibodies (modified agglutination test; n = 55) and parasite DNA (qPCR; heart = 34; brain = 60). Antibodies were detected in 69.09% of hedgehogs. T. gondii DNA was not detected in any of the analysed samples. The present study reports a high T. gondii seroprevalence in urban hedgehogs in areas surrounding Barcelona, the most densely human-populated area of NE Spain, reinforcing the association between human population density and environmental T. gondii oocysts. The lack of detection by molecular techniques warrants more studies. In the last few decades, the distribution and abundance of European hedgehogs have declined, including their urban populations. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of T. gondii on hedgehog populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Escudero
- Anatomía Patológica, Departamento de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencian Community, Spain;
| | - Maria Puig Ribas
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain; (M.P.R.); (H.G.)
| | - Elena Obón
- Centre de Fauna Salvatge de Torreferrussa, Forestal Catalana, S.A., Generalitat de Catalunya, 08130 Santa Perpètua de la Mogoda, Catalonia, Spain; (E.O.); (R.M.-L.)
| | - Sonia Almería
- Center for Food Safety and Nutrition (CFSAN), Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment (OARSA), Division of Virulence Assessment, Laurel, MD 20708, USA;
| | - Xavier Fernández Aguilar
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain; (M.P.R.); (H.G.)
- Unitat Mixta d’Investigació IRTA-UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Hojjat Gholipour
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain; (M.P.R.); (H.G.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 76179-14111, Iran
| | - Oscar Cabezón
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain; (M.P.R.); (H.G.)
- Unitat Mixta d’Investigació IRTA-UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Rafael Molina-López
- Centre de Fauna Salvatge de Torreferrussa, Forestal Catalana, S.A., Generalitat de Catalunya, 08130 Santa Perpètua de la Mogoda, Catalonia, Spain; (E.O.); (R.M.-L.)
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7
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Naccari C, Ferrantelli V, Cammilleri G, Ruga S, Castagna F, Bava R, Palma E. Trace Elements in Stenella coeruleoalba: Assessment of Marine Environmental Pollution and Dolphin Health Status. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1514. [PMID: 38891561 PMCID: PMC11171398 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Heavy metals are environmental contaminants and can easily accumulate and biomagnify in various marine species (fishes and mammalians) at the top of the aquatic food chain. Among marine mammalians, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) is the most abundant cetacean in the Mediterranean Sea and is considered to be a sentinel species to monitor the environmental marine pollution. In this study, the contents of toxic metals and metalloids (Cd, Pb, Hg, and As), micro-elements (Ni, Cr, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, Se and Zn) and macro-elements (Na, Ca, K, Mg and P) were evaluated by ICP-MS analysis in several organs/tissues (lung, skin, muscle and liver) of Stenella coeruleoalba. The assessment of marine environmental pollution and dolphins health status was carried out through further analysis of the same specific parameters such as the metal pollution index (MPI) and coefficient of condition (K). Finally, the correlation between toxic metals and metalloids and essential micro-elements, expressed as molar ratios, was analyzed to evaluate the detoxifying ability (effectiveness) of Zn, Se and Cu. Data obtained showed the presence of toxic metals and metalloids analyzed in the Stenella coeruleoalba samples but the MPI values suggested a low environmental contamination of the Mediterranean Sea where dolphins lived. The content of micro- and macro-elements was found to be in a normal range for this species and predictive of dolphins good health status, as confirmed by the coefficient of condition K. However, the correlation between toxic and essential metals, expressed as molar ratios, showed that the following toxic metals cannot be detoxified by the essential metals: 66Zn/201Hg, 82Se/201Hg, 63Cu/201Hg and 66Zn/52Cr, 82Se/52Cr, 63Cu/52Cr. Therefore, this study highlights the key role of dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba to assess marine pollution and the importance of analyzing the complete mineral profile to evaluate the animal health status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Naccari
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.R.); (F.C.); (R.B.); (E.P.)
| | - Vincenzo Ferrantelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (V.F.); (G.C.)
| | - Gaetano Cammilleri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (V.F.); (G.C.)
| | - Stefano Ruga
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.R.); (F.C.); (R.B.); (E.P.)
| | - Fabio Castagna
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.R.); (F.C.); (R.B.); (E.P.)
| | - Roberto Bava
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.R.); (F.C.); (R.B.); (E.P.)
| | - Ernesto Palma
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.R.); (F.C.); (R.B.); (E.P.)
- Interdepartmental Service Center—Center for Pharmacological Research, Food Safety, High Tech and Health (CIS-IRC–FSH) University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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8
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Watson E, Hamilton S, Silva N, Moss S, Watkins C, Baily J, Forster T, Hall AJ, Dagleish MP. Variations in antimicrobial resistance genes present in the rectal faeces of seals in Scottish and Liverpool Bay coastal waters. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123936. [PMID: 38588972 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes originating from human activity are considered important environmental pollutants. Wildlife species can act as sentinels for coastal environmental contamination and in this study we used qPCR array technology to investigate the variety and abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and integrons circulating within seal populations both near to and far from large human populations located around the Scottish and northwest English coast. Rectal swabs were taken from 50 live grey seals and nine live harbour seals. Nucleic acids were stabilised upon collection, enabling extraction of sufficient quality and quantity DNA for downstream analysis. 78 ARG targets, including genes of clinical significance, four MGE targets and three integron targets were used to monitor genes within 22 sample pools. 30 ARGs were detected, as well as the integrons intl1 and intl2 and tnpA transposase. Four β-lactam, nine tetracycline, two phenicol, one trimethoprim, three aminoglycoside and ten multidrug resistance genes were detected as well as mcr-1 which confers resistance to colistin, an important drug of last resort. No sulphonamide, vancomycin, macrolide, lincosamide or streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance genes were detected. Resistance genes were detected in all sites but the highest number of ARGs (n = 29) was detected in samples derived from grey seals on the Isle of May, Scotland during the breeding season, and these genes also had the highest average abundance in relation to the 16S rRNA gene. This pilot study demonstrates the effectiveness of a culture-independent workflow for global analysis of ARGs within the microbiota of live, free-ranging, wild animals from habitats close to and remote from human habitation, and highlights seals as a valuable indicator species for monitoring the presence, abundance and land-sea transference of resistance genes within and between ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Watson
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK.
| | - Scott Hamilton
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Nuno Silva
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Simon Moss
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, Scotland, UK
| | - Craig Watkins
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Johanna Baily
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Thorsten Forster
- LifeArc, Bioquarter, 9 Little France Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX, Scotland, UK
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, Scotland, UK
| | - Mark P Dagleish
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
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9
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Jorge DV, Ferreira M, Eira C, Duarte M, Ramos F, Fagulha T, Barros S, Mourão M, Luis T, Bento MC, Duarte A. Molecular characterization of cetacean poxviruses along the coast of mainland Portugal. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2024; 158:55-64. [PMID: 38661137 DOI: 10.3354/dao03784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Cetacean poxvirus (CePV) is the causative agent of tattoo skin disease (TSD) in dolphins, porpoises and whales, a condition characterized by pinhole, ring-like lesions or generalized tattoo-like skin lesions. This study genetically characterized cetacean poxviruses from stranded animals along mainland Portugal. Samples from skin lesions compatible with TSD were obtained from 4 odontocete species (Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, Phocoena phocoena, and Tursiops truncatus) and analyzed using a conventional PCR assay targeting the DNA polymerase gene partially. Among the positive samples (n = 29, 65.9%), a larger DNA polymerase gene fragment was obtained, allowing a robust phylogenetic analysis. Nineteen samples (43.2%) were successfully amplified and sequenced using Sanger sequencing. By combining 11 of these sequences with those from public databases, a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed, revealing high heterogeneity within the group. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the genetic diversity, epidemiology, phylogenetics, and evolution of CePV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Vieira Jorge
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marisa Ferreira
- Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Estação de Campo de Quiaios, Apt 16 EC Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal
| | - Catarina Eira
- Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Estação de Campo de Quiaios, Apt 16 EC Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, CESAM & Ecomare, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Margarida Duarte
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Avenida da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Ramos
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Avenida da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Teresa Fagulha
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Avenida da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Silvia Barros
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Avenida da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Margarida Mourão
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Avenida da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Tiago Luis
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Avenida da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Maria Carolina Bento
- CIVG - Vasco da Gama Research Center/EUVG - Vasco da Gama University School, Campus Universitário de Lordemão, Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Duarte
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Avenida da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
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10
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Day G, Robb K, Oxley A, Telonis-Scott M, Ujvari B. Organisation and evolution of the major histocompatibility complex class I genes in cetaceans. iScience 2024; 27:109590. [PMID: 38632986 PMCID: PMC11022044 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A quarter of marine mammals are at risk of extinction, with disease and poor habitat quality contributing to population decline. Investigation of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) provides insight into species' capacity to respond to immune and environmental challenges. The eighteen available cetacean chromosome level genomes were used to annotate MHC Class I loci, and to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of the described loci. The highest number of loci was observed in the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), while the least was observed in the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and rough toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis). Of the species studied, Mysticetes had the most pseudogenes. Evolutionarily, MHC Class I diverged before the speciation of cetaceans. Yet, locus one was genomically and phylogenetically similar in many species, persisting over evolutionary time. This characterisation of MHC Class I in cetaceans lays the groundwork for future population genetics and MHC expression studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Day
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3216, VIC, Australia
- Marine Mammal Foundation, Melbourne 3194, VIC, Australia
| | - Kate Robb
- Marine Mammal Foundation, Melbourne 3194, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Oxley
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3216, VIC, Australia
| | - Marina Telonis-Scott
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3216, VIC, Australia
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11
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Di Renzo L, De Angelis ME, Torresi M, Mariani G, Pizzurro F, Mincarelli LF, Esposito E, Oliviero M, Iaccarino D, Di Nocera F, Paduano G, Lucifora G, Cammà C, Ferri N, Pomilio F. Genomic Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes and Other Listeria Species Isolated from Sea Turtles. Microorganisms 2024; 12:817. [PMID: 38674761 PMCID: PMC11052188 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous pathogen found both in the environment and food. It can cause listeriosis in a wide range of animals as well as in humans. Investigations on presence, spread and virulence are still limited to terrestrial and human environments. Embracing the One Health Approach, investigating the presence and spread of L. monocytogenes in marine ecosystems and among wildlife, would provide us with useful information for human health. This study investigated the presence of L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp. in two species of sea turtles common in the Mediterranean Sea (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas). A total of one hundred and sixty-four carcasses of sea turtles (C. caretta n = 161 and C. mydas n = 3) stranded along the Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, and Calabria coasts, were collected. Brain and fecal samples were taken, enriched, and cultured for the detection of Listeria spp. From the specimens collected, strains of L. monocytogenes (brain n = 1, brain and feces n = 1, multiorgan n = 1 and feces n = 1), L. innocua (feces n = 1 and brain n = 1), and L. ivanovii (brain n = 1) were isolated. Typical colonies were isolated for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). Virulence genes, disinfectants/metal resistance, and antimicrobial resistance were also investigated. L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, and L. ivanovii were detected in C. caretta, whilst only L. monocytogenes and L. innocua in C. mydas. Notable among the results is the lack of significant differences in gene distribution between human and sea turtle strains. Furthermore, potentially pathogenic strains of L. monocytogenes were found in sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Di Renzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
- Centro Studi Cetacei, 65125 Pescara, Italy
| | - Maria Elisabetta De Angelis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
- Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Marina Torresi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Giulia Mariani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
- Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Pizzurro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Luana Fiorella Mincarelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Emanuele Esposito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.E.); (D.I.); (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Maria Oliviero
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.E.); (D.I.); (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Doriana Iaccarino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.E.); (D.I.); (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.E.); (D.I.); (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | | | - Giuseppe Lucifora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.E.); (D.I.); (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Cesare Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Nicola Ferri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Francesco Pomilio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “Giuseppe Caporale”, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (L.D.R.); (M.T.); (G.M.); (F.P.); (L.F.M.); (C.C.); (N.F.); (F.P.)
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12
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Chan SCY, Karczmarski L. Broad-scale impacts of coastal mega-infrastructure project on obligatory inshore delphinids: A cautionary tale from Hong Kong. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:169753. [PMID: 38181953 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Inshore marine habitats experience considerable anthropogenic pressure, as this is where many adverse effects of human activities concentrate. In the rapidly-changing seascape of the Anthropocene, Hong Kong waters at the heart of world's fastest developing coastal region can serve as a preview-window into coastal seas of the future, with ever-growing anthropogenic footprint. Here, we quantify how large-scale coastal infrastructure projects can affect obligatory inshore cetaceans, bringing about population-level consequences that may compromise their long-term demographic viability. As a case in point, we look at the construction of world's longest sea crossing system and broad-scale demographic, social and spatial responses it has caused in a shallow-water delphinid, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis). Soon after the infrastructure project began, dolphins markedly altered their home range near construction sites such that these waters no longer functioned as dolphin core areas despite the apparent presence of prey, indicating that anthropogenic impacts outweighed foraging benefits. The contraction of key habitats has in turn led individuals to interact over spatially more constricted area, reshaping their group dynamics and social network. Although there was no apparent decline in dolphin numbers that could be detected with mark-recapture estimates, adult survival rates decreased drastically from 0.960 to 0.904, the lowest estimate for these animals anywhere across the region to date, notably below the previously estimated demographic threshold of their long-term persistence (0.955). It is apparent that during an advanced stage of this coastal infrastructure project, dolphins were under a major anthropogenic pressure that, if sustained, could be detrimental to their long-term persistence as a viable demographic unit. As effective conservation of species and habitats depends on informed management decisions, this study offers a valuable lesson in environmental risk assessment, underscoring the implications of human-induced rapid environmental change on obligatory inshore delphinids-sentinels of coastal habitats that are increasingly degraded in fast-changing coastal seas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Y Chan
- Division of Cetacean Ecology, Cetacea Research Institute, Lantau, Hong Kong.
| | - Leszek Karczmarski
- Division of Cetacean Ecology, Cetacea Research Institute, Lantau, Hong Kong.
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13
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Pereira ADS, da Silva J, Taniguchi S, Montone RC, Lourenço RA. Persistent organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in livers of stranded Arctocephalus australis in southern Brazilian beaches. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116129. [PMID: 38340375 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
23 livers of South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) found stranded in southern Brazilian beaches were evaluated for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). POPs (DDTs, mirex, eldrin, dieldrin, aldrin, isodrin, HCHs, chlordanes and PCBs) and PAHs in livers were Soxhlet extracted, analyzed and quantified using Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-TQMS). The main POPs found were PCBs and DDTs, totaling 81 %. Among pesticides, mirex followed DDTs, possibly due to usage in Uruguay, followed by Σdrins, ΣCHLs and ΣHCHs. Naphthalene was the major PAH found, while heavier compounds did not significantly bioaccumulate. Concentrations of POPs resembled previous findings for A. australis. Considering only juveniles, no POPs showed significant differences between sexes. Lipidic content, weight and length did not show any correlation with POP concentration. This was the first record of PAHs and PBDEs in South American fur seals, and the levels of these pollutants were relatively low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Derley S Pereira
- Marine Emerging Micropollutants Research Laboratory, Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Marine Organic Chemistry, Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Josilene da Silva
- Laboratory of Marine Organic Chemistry, Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Satie Taniguchi
- Laboratory of Marine Organic Chemistry, Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosalinda C Montone
- Marine Emerging Micropollutants Research Laboratory, Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Marine Organic Chemistry, Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael A Lourenço
- Laboratory of Marine Organic Chemistry, Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil
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14
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Lamb JS, Tornos J, Lejeune M, Boulinier T. Rapid loss of maternal immunity and increase in environmentally mediated antibody generation in urban gulls. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4357. [PMID: 38388645 PMCID: PMC10884025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54796-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring pathogen circulation in wildlife sentinel populations can help to understand and predict the spread of disease at the wildlife-livestock-human interface. Immobile young provide a useful target population for disease surveillance, since they can be easily captured for sampling and their levels of antibodies against infectious agents can provide an index of localized circulation. However, early-life immune responses include both maternally-derived antibodies and antibodies resulting from exposure to pathogens, and disentangling these two processes requires understanding their individual dynamics. We conducted an egg-swapping experiment in an urban-nesting sentinel seabird, the yellow-legged gull, and measured antibody levels against three pathogens of interest (avian influenza virus AIV, Toxoplasma gondii TOX, and infectious bronchitis virus IBV) across various life stages, throughout chick growth, and between nestlings raised by biological or non-biological parents. We found that levels of background circulation differed among pathogens, with AIV antibodies widely present across all life stages, TOX antibodies rarer, and IBV antibodies absent. Antibody titers declined steadily from adult through egg, nestling, and chick stages. For the two circulating pathogens, maternal antibodies declined exponentially after hatching at similar rates, but the rate of linear increase due to environmental exposure was significantly higher in the more prevalent pathogen (AIV). Differences in nestling antibody levels due to parental effects also persisted longer for AIV (25 days, vs. 14 days for TOX). Our results suggest that yellow-legged gulls can be a useful sentinel population of locally transmitted infectious agents, provided that chicks are sampled at ages when environmental exposure outweighs maternal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet S Lamb
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive (CEFE), UMR CNRS 5175, University of Montpellier, EPHE, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, IRD, Montpellier, France.
- The Nature Conservancy, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA.
| | - Jérémy Tornos
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive (CEFE), UMR CNRS 5175, University of Montpellier, EPHE, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Mathilde Lejeune
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive (CEFE), UMR CNRS 5175, University of Montpellier, EPHE, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Boulinier
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive (CEFE), UMR CNRS 5175, University of Montpellier, EPHE, University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, IRD, Montpellier, France
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15
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Alzola-Andres M, Cerveny D, Domingo-Echaburu S, Lekube X, Ruiz-Sancho L, Brodin T, Orive G, Lertxundi U. Pharmaceutical residues in stranded dolphins in the Bay of Biscay. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168570. [PMID: 37979850 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing concern about the presence of pharmaceuticals on the aquatic environment, while the marine environment has been much less investigated than in freshwater. Marine mammals are suitable sentinel species of the marine environment because they often feed at high trophic levels, have unique fat stores and long lifespan. Some small delphinids in particular serve as excellent sentinel species for contamination in the marine environment worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, no pharmaceuticals have been detected or reported in dolphins so far. In the present study, muscle, liver and blubber samples from three common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and seven striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Basque Coast (northern Spain) were collected. A total of 95 pharmaceuticals based on detectability and predicted ability to bioaccumulate in fish were included in the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. At least one pharmaceutical was found in 70 % of the individuals. Only three of the 95 monitored pharmaceuticals were detected in dolphin's tissues. Very low concentrations (<1 ng/g) of orphenadrine and pizotifen were found in liver and promethazine in blubber. Herein, the gap in the knowledge regarding the study organisms and marine environments with respect to pharmaceutical pollution, which demands further research to understand if pharmaceuticals are a threat for these apex predators, is highlighted and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Cerveny
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 728/II, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Saioa Domingo-Echaburu
- Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Debagoiena Integrated Health Organisation, Pharmacy Service, Nafarroa Hiribidea 16, 20500 Arrasate, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Xabier Lekube
- Biscay Bay Environmental Biospecimen Bank (BBEBB), Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza 47, 48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain; CBET+ Research Group, Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology PIE, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Sarriena z/g, Leioa, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Leire Ruiz-Sancho
- AMBAR Elkartea Organisation, Ondarreta Ibilbidea z/g, 48620 Plentzia, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology - UIRMI (UPV/EHU-Fundación Eduardo Anitua), Vitoria, Spain; Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Unax Lertxundi
- Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba Mental Health Network, Araba Psychiatric Hospital, Pharmacy Service, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
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16
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Page A, Hay C, Marks W, Bennett B, Gribble MO, Noke Durden W, Stolen M, Jablonski T, Gordon N, Kolkmeyer T, Jiang M, Pegg N, Brown H, Burton S. Trace element bioaccumulation, tissue distribution, and elimination in odontocetes stranded in Florida and Georgia, USA over a 15-year period (2007-2021). Heliyon 2024; 10:e25552. [PMID: 38356552 PMCID: PMC10865268 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Odontocetes obtain nutrients including essential elements through their diet and are exposed to heavy metal contaminants via ingestion of contaminated prey. We evaluated the prevalence, concentration, and tissue distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements, including heavy metal toxicants, in tissue (blubber, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, skin) and fecal samples collected from 90 odontocetes, representing nine species, that stranded in Georgia and Florida, USA during 2007-2021. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of seven essential (cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) and five non-essential (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium) elemental analytes using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) had the highest median concentrations of mercury, cadmium, and lead, while dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) had the lowest. Adult pygmy and dwarf sperm whales that stranded in 2019-2021 had higher concentrations of arsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese, selenium, thallium, and zinc compared to those that stranded in 2010-2018, suggesting an increasing risk of exposure over time. The highest concentrations of many elements (e.g., cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, thallium, zinc) were in fecal samples, illustrating the usefulness of this noninvasively collected sample. Aside from fecal samples, hepatic tissues had the highest concentrations of iron, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, and selenium in most species; renal tissues had the highest concentrations of cadmium; skin had the highest concentrations of zinc; and copper, arsenic, and lead concentrations were primarily distributed among the liver and kidneys. Phylogenetic differences in patterns of trace element concentrations likely reflect species-specific differences in diet, trophic level, and feeding strategies, while heterogeneous distributions of elemental analytes among different organ types reflect differences in elemental biotransformation, elimination, and storage. This study illustrates the importance of monitoring toxic contaminants in stranded odontocetes, which serve as important sentinels of environmental contamination, and whose health may be linked to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Page
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Clara Hay
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT, USA
| | - Wendy Marks
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Baylin Bennett
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Nadia Gordon
- Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Trip Kolkmeyer
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Brunswick, GA, USA
| | - Mingshun Jiang
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Nicole Pegg
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Hunter Brown
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Steve Burton
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
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17
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Heddergott M, Pikalo J, Müller F, Osten-Sacken N, Steinbach P. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild American Mink ( Neogale vison): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland. Pathogens 2024; 13:153. [PMID: 38392891 PMCID: PMC10892754 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Although most infections in humans and animals are subclinical, an infection can nevertheless be fatal. One of the important characteristics in the epidemiology of this parasite is waterborne transmission. The American mink (Neogale vison), a mammal closely adapted to freshwater ecosystems, is a potential sentinel for T. gondii. We analysed meat juice from the heart of 194 wild minks collected between 2019 and 2022 in five study areas from Germany and Poland and tested for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii. The analysis was performed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA). Antibodies were detected in 45.36% (88/194, 95% confidence interval (CI): 38.39-52.41%) of the analysed animals. While the prevalence values ranged from 37.50% to 49.30%, there was no significant difference in seroprevalence between the study areas. Juveniles were less likely to carry T. gondii antibodies than adults (odds ratio: 0.216), whereas there was no significant difference in prevalence between the sexes (odds ratio: 0.933). The results of our study show that contact with T. gondii is widespread in minks, and the parasite is common in inland freshwater ecosystems in Germany and Poland. This indicates that watercourses play an important role in the spread of T. gondii oocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Heddergott
- Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
| | - Jutta Pikalo
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Franz Müller
- Wildlife Biology Working Group, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Natalia Osten-Sacken
- Institute for Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland;
| | - Peter Steinbach
- Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
- Faculty of Chemistry, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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18
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Lauria MZ, Sepman H, Ledbetter T, Plassmann M, Roos AM, Simon M, Benskin JP, Kruve A. Closing the Organofluorine Mass Balance in Marine Mammals Using Suspect Screening and Machine Learning-Based Quantification. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2458-2467. [PMID: 38270113 PMCID: PMC10851419 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based suspect and nontarget screening has identified a growing number of novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the environment. However, without analytical standards, the fraction of overall PFAS exposure accounted for by these suspects remains ambiguous. Fortunately, recent developments in ionization efficiency (IE) prediction using machine learning offer the possibility to quantify suspects lacking analytical standards. In the present work, a gradient boosted tree-based model for predicting log IE in negative mode was trained and then validated using 33 PFAS standards. The root-mean-square errors were 0.79 (for the entire test set) and 0.29 (for the 7 PFASs in the test set) log IE units. Thereafter, the model was applied to samples of liver from pilot whales (n = 5; East Greenland) and white beaked dolphins (n = 5, West Greenland; n = 3, Sweden) which contained a significant fraction (up to 70%) of unidentified organofluorine and 35 unquantified suspect PFASs (confidence level 2-4). IE-based quantification reduced the fraction of unidentified extractable organofluorine to 0-27%, demonstrating the utility of the method for closing the fluorine mass balance in the absence of analytical standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Z. Lauria
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helen Sepman
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 16, 106
91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Ledbetter
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 16, 106
91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Merle Plassmann
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna M. Roos
- Department
of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland
Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute
of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Jonathan P. Benskin
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anneli Kruve
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 16, 106
91 Stockholm, Sweden
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19
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Sacristán C, Ewbank AC, Duarte-Benvenuto A, Sacristán I, Zamana-Ramblas R, Costa-Silva S, Lanes Ribeiro V, Bertozzi CP, Del Rio do Valle R, Castilho PV, Colosio AC, Marcondes MCC, Lailson-Brito J, de Freitas Azevedo A, Carvalho VL, Pessi CF, Cremer M, Esperón F, Catão-Dias JL. Survey of selected viral agents (herpesvirus, adenovirus and hepatitis E virus) in liver and lung samples of cetaceans, Brazil. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2689. [PMID: 38302481 PMCID: PMC10834590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45315-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatic and pulmonary lesions are common in cetaceans, despite their poorly understood viral etiology. Herpesviruses (HV), adenoviruses (AdV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are emerging agents in cetaceans, associated with liver and/or pulmonary damage in mammals. We isolated and molecularly tested DNA for HV and AdV (n = 218 individuals; 187 liver and 108 lung samples) and RNA for HEV (n = 147 animals; 147 liver samples) from six cetacean families. All animals stranded or were bycaught in Brazil between 2001 and 2021. Positive-animals were analyzed by histopathology. Statistical analyses assessed if the prevalence of viral infection could be associated with the variables: species, family, habitat, region, sex, and age group. All samples were negative for AdV and HEV. Overall, 8.7% (19/218) of the cetaceans were HV-positive (4.8% [9/187] liver and 11.1% [12/108] lung), without HV-associated lesions. HV-prevalence was statistically significant higher in Pontoporiidae (19.2%, 10/52) when compared to Delphinidae (4.1%, 5/121), and in southeastern (17.1%, 13/76)-the most industrialized Brazilian region-when compared to the northeastern region (2.4%, 3/126). This study broadens the herpesvirus host range in cetaceans, including its description in pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Further studies must elucidate herpesvirus drivers in cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sacristán
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Carretera Algete-El Casar de Talamanca, Km. 8,1, 28130, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - A C Ewbank
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - A Duarte-Benvenuto
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - I Sacristán
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Carretera Algete-El Casar de Talamanca, Km. 8,1, 28130, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - R Zamana-Ramblas
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - S Costa-Silva
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - C P Bertozzi
- São Paulo State University - UNESP, São Vicente, SP, Brazil
| | - R Del Rio do Valle
- Instituto Ecoema de Estudo e Conservação do Meio Ambiente, Peruíbe, SP, Brasil
| | - P V Castilho
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina-UDESC, Laguna, SC, Brazil
| | - A C Colosio
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte, Caravelas, BA, Brazil
| | | | - J Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores 'Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - A de Freitas Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores 'Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel' (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - V L Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos, Caucaia, CE, Brazil
| | - C F Pessi
- Instituto de Pesquisas Cananéia (IpeC), Cananéia, SP, Brazil
| | - M Cremer
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Tetrápodes Marinhos e Costeiros - TETRAMAR, Universidade da Região de Joinville - UNIVILLE, São Francisco Do Sul, SC, Brazil
| | - F Esperón
- Universidad Europea, Villaviciosa de Odon, Spain
| | - J L Catão-Dias
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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20
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von Hellfeld R, Gade C, Doeschate MT, Davison NJ, Brownlow A, Mbadugha L, Hastings A, Paton G. High resolution visualisation of tiemannite microparticles, essential in the detoxification process of mercury in marine mammals. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123027. [PMID: 38016588 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The North Sea is an ecologically rich habitat for marine wildlife which has also been impacted by industrial developments and anthropogenic emissions of contaminants such as mercury. Marine mammals are particularly susceptible to mercury exposure, due to their trophic position, long lifespan, and dependence on (increasingly contaminated) aquatic prey species. To mitigate impact, marine mammals can detoxify methylmercury by binding it to selenium-containing biomolecules, creating insoluble mercury selenide granules. Here, liver, kidney, muscle, and brain samples from an adult male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with known elevated mercury concentrations were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tiemannite (HgSe) deposits were identified in all organs, ranging from 400 nm to 5 μm in diameter, with particle size being organ-dependent. Although reported in other studies, this is the first time that the three-dimensional nature of tiemannite is captured in marine mammal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca von Hellfeld
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK; National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), Main Street, AB41 6AA, Newburgh, UK.
| | - Christoph Gade
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK; National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), Main Street, AB41 6AA, Newburgh, UK
| | - Mariel Ten Doeschate
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nicolas J Davison
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew Brownlow
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lenka Mbadugha
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Astley Hastings
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Graeme Paton
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, 23 St Machar Drive, AB23 8UU, Aberdeen, UK
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21
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Numberger D, Siebert U, Valentin Weigand P. Survival and adaptation of Streptococcus phocae in host environments. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296368. [PMID: 38289941 PMCID: PMC10826952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals are sentinel species representing the "health" of our oceans on which we are dependent. There are many threats to marine mammals including infectious diseases that increase with climate change and pollution of the marine environment. Streptococcus phocae has frequently been isolated from diseased or dead marine mammals. However, its pathogenicity and contribution to disease in marine mammals is still unknown. As bacteria including (potential) pathogens has to deal with different host environments during colonization or infection, we investigated the survival of S. phocae in fresh porcine and phocid blood, in seawater and in the presence of macrophages and (epithelial) cells from harbor seals and pigs. Furthermore, we tested adherence on and invasion of different (marine) mammalian cells by S. phocae. Our results showed that S. phocae can survive in seawater for at least 11 and 28 days at 16°C and 4°C, respectively. It is able to grow in blood of harbor and grey seals, but not in porcine blood. Furthermore, S. phocae is adherent and invasive to cells from seals and pigs, while the portion of invasive cells was higher in seal derived cells. Macrophages of harbor seals were more efficient in killing S. phocae than porcine macrophages. Our results indicate that S. phocae has strategies enabling it to adapt to the marine environment and seal hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Numberger
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buesum, Germany
| | - Peter Valentin Weigand
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
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22
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Garcia-Bustos V, Acosta-Hernández B, Cabañero-Navalón MD, Pemán J, Ruiz-Gaitán AC, Rosario Medina I. The Ecology of Non- Candida Yeasts and Dimorphic Fungi in Cetaceans: From Pathogenicity to Environmental and Global Health Implications. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:111. [PMID: 38392783 PMCID: PMC10889755 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cetaceans, which are integral to marine ecosystems, face escalating anthropogenic threats, including climate change and pollution, positioning them as critical sentinel species for ocean and human health. This review explores the neglected realm of non-Candida yeasts in cetaceans, addressing the gaps in the understanding of their prevalence, pathogenicity, and environmental impacts. By examining identified species such as Cryptococcus spp., Paracoccidioides spp., and several dimorphic fungi, this review emphasizes global prevalence, epidemiology and ecology, pathogenicity, and potential zoonotic implications. It also discusses the fine line between yeast commensalism and pathogenicity by considering environmental influences such as pollution, climate shifts, and immune suppression. Environmental impact discussions delve into how rising ocean temperatures and pollution can modify yeast mycobiota, potentially affecting marine host health and broader ecosystem dynamics. The cetacean's unique physiology and ecological niches are considered, highlighting potential impacts on behaviors, reproductive success, and survival rates. Identifying crucial knowledge gaps, the review calls for intensified research efforts, employing advanced molecular techniques to unravel the cetacean mycobiome. Systematic studies on yeast diversity, antifungal susceptibility, and their influence on environmental and ecosystem health are proposed, and the balance between commensal and pathogenic species emphasizes the significance of the One Health approach. In conclusion, as marine mammals face unprecedented challenges, unveiling non-Candida yeasts in cetaceans emerges as a critical endeavor with far-reaching implications for the conservation of marine ecosystems and for both animal and human public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Garcia-Bustos
- Universitary Institute of Animal Health and Food Security (ULPGC-IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Arucas, Spain
- Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Begoña Acosta-Hernández
- Universitary Institute of Animal Health and Food Security (ULPGC-IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Arucas, Spain
| | | | - Javier Pemán
- Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Inmaculada Rosario Medina
- Universitary Institute of Animal Health and Food Security (ULPGC-IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Arucas, Spain
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23
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Foord CS, Szabo D, Robb K, Clarke BO, Nugegoda D. Hepatic concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in dolphins from south-east Australia: Highest reported globally. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168438. [PMID: 37963535 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations were investigated in hepatic tissue of four dolphin species stranded along the south-east coast of Australia between 2006 and 2021; Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis), common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), and short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). Two Burrunan dolphin populations represented in the dataset have the highest reported global population concentrations of ∑25PFAS (Port Phillip Bay median 9750 ng/g ww, n = 3, and Gippsland Lakes median 3560 ng/g ww, n = 8), which were 50-100 times higher than the other species reported here; common bottlenose dolphin (50 ng/g ww, n = 9), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (80 ng/g ww, n = 1), and short-beaked common dolphin (61 ng/g ww, n = 12). Also included in the results is the highest reported individual ∑25PFAS (19,500 ng/g ww) and PFOS (18,700 ng/g ww) concentrations, at almost 30 % higher than any other Cetacea reported globally. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was above method reporting limits for all samples (range; 5.3-18,700 ng/g ww), and constituted the highest contribution to overall ∑PFAS burdens with between 47 % and 99 % of the profile across the dataset. The concentrations of PFOS exceed published tentative critical concentrations (677-775 ng/g) in 42 % of all dolphins and 90 % of the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin. This research reports for the first time novel and emerging PFASs such as 6:2 Cl-PFESA, PFMPA, PFEECH and FBSA in marine mammals of the southern hemisphere, with high detection rates across the dataset. It is the first study to show the occurrence of PFAS in the tissues of multiple species of Cetacea from the Australasian region, demonstrating high global concentrations for inshore dolphins. Finally, it provides key baseline knowledge to the potential exposure and bioaccumulation of PFAS compounds within the coastal environment of south-east Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantel S Foord
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Bundoora, Australia; Marine Mammal Foundation, Mentone, VIC.
| | - Drew Szabo
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 16C, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kate Robb
- Marine Mammal Foundation, Mentone, VIC
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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24
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Romero MB, Polizzi PS, Chiodi L, Dolagaratz A, Gerpe M. Legacy and emerging contaminants in marine mammals from Argentina. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167561. [PMID: 37802361 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals are recognized sentinels of ecosystem health. They are susceptible to the accumulation and biomagnification of pollutants, which constitute one of the greatest threats to their survival. Legacy, such as organochlorine pesticides, and emerging contaminants, like microplastics and pharmaceuticals, may have effects on marine mammals' health at individual and population levels. Therefore, the evaluation of the risks associated with pollutants in this group is of great importance. The aim of this review is to provide information on the occurrence of legacy and emerging contaminants in marine mammals that inhabit Argentine waters. Also, to identify knowledge gaps and suggest best practices for future research. Reports of legacy contaminants referring to organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were found in five species of cetaceans and two of pinnipeds. With respect to emerging pollutants, the presence of plastics was only evaluated in three species. Reported data was from at least a decade ago. Therefore, it is necessary to update existing information and conduct continuous monitoring to assess temporary trends in pollutants. All the studies were carried out in the province of Buenos Aires and Northern Patagonia indicating a knowledge gap in the southern zone of the Argentine Sea. In addition, pollutants of global environmental concern that have not been studied in Argentina are discussed. Future studies should fill these gaps and a greater effort to understand the relationships between pollutants and their effects on marine mammals is suggested. This issue will make it possible to determine thresholds for all the substances and species evaluated in order to carry out more detailed risk assessments and make decisions for the conservation of marine mammals in Argentine waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Romero
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3350, CC7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - P S Polizzi
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3350, CC7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - L Chiodi
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3350, CC7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - A Dolagaratz
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3350, CC7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - M Gerpe
- Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3350, CC7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
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25
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Baily JL, Paterson GK, Foster G, Davison NJ, Begeman L, Hall AJ, Dagleish MP. The first report of Listeria monocytogenes detected in pinnipeds. J Comp Pathol 2024; 208:54-60. [PMID: 38211467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the pathology in seals from which Listeria monocytogenes was isolated and investigate if the lesions' nature and severity were related to the phylogeny of isolates. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 13 of 50 (26%) dead grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pups, six (12%) in systemic distribution, on the Isle of May, Scotland. Similar fatal L. monocytogenes-associated infections were found in a grey seal pup from Carnoustie, Scotland, and a juvenile harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands. Whole genome sequencing of 15 of the L. monocytogenes isolates identified 13 multilocus sequence types belonging to the L. monocytogenes lineages I and II, but with scant phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance and limited variation in virulence factors. The phylogenetic diversity present suggests there are multiple sources of L. monocytogenes, even for seal pups born in the same colony and breeding season. This is the first description of L. monocytogenes isolated from, and detected in lesions in, pinnipeds and indicates that infection can be systemic and fatal. Therefore, listeriosis may be an emerging or overlooked disease in seals with infection originating from contamination of the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna L Baily
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK; Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Gavin K Paterson
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK
| | - Geoffrey Foster
- SRUC Veterinary Services, An Lochran, 10 Inverness Campus, Inverness IV2 5NA, Scotland, UK
| | - Nicholas J Davison
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Lineke Begeman
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, Scotland, UK
| | - Mark P Dagleish
- Department of Pathology, Public Health and Disease Investigation, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Jarrett Building, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, UK.
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26
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Vidal LG, De Oliveira-Ferreira N, Torres JPM, Azevedo AF, Meirelles ACO, Flach L, Domit C, Fragoso ABL, Lima Silva FJ, Carvalho VL, Marcondes M, Barbosa LA, Cremer MJ, Malm O, Lailson-Brito J, Eljarrat E. Brominated flame retardants and natural organobrominated compounds in a vulnerable delphinid species along the Brazilian coast. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167704. [PMID: 37820801 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Guiana dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, are vulnerable to extinction along their distribution on the Brazilian coast and assessing chemical pollution is of utmost importance for their conservation. For this study, 51 carcasses of Guiana dolphins were sampled across the Brazilian coast to investigate legacy and emerging brominated flame retardants (BFRs) as well as the naturally-produced MeO-BDEs. PBDEs and MeO-BDEs were detected in all samples analyzed, whereas emerging BFRs were detected in 16 % of the samples, all in Rio de Janeiro state. PBDE concentrations varied between 2.24 and 799 ng.g-1 lipid weight (lw), emerging BFRs between 0.12 and 1.51 ng.g-1 lw and MeO-BDEs between 3.82 and 10,247 ng.g-1 lw. Concentrations of legacy and emerging BFRs and natural compounds varied considerably according to the sampling site and reflected both the local anthropogenic impact of the region and the diversity/mass of biosynthesizers. The PBDE concentrations are lower than what was found for delphinids in the Northern Hemisphere around the same sampling period and most sampling sites presented mean concentrations lower than the limits for endocrine disruption known to date for marine mammals of 460 ng.g-1 lw, except for sampled from Santa Catarina state, in Southern Brazil. Conversely, MeO-BDE concentrations are higher than those of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly close to the Abrolhos Bans and Royal Charlotte formation, that are hotspots for biodiversity. Despite the elevated concentrations reported for this group, there is not much information regarding the effects of such elevated concentrations for these marine mammals. The distinct patterns observed along the Brazilian coast show that organobrominated compounds can be used to identify the ecological segregation of delphinids and that conservation actions should be planned considering the local threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara G Vidal
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Radioisotope Laboratory Eduardo Penna Franca (LREPF), Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Pós-graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil; Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Paraná, Brazil
| | - Nara De Oliveira-Ferreira
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - João Paulo M Torres
- Radioisotope Laboratory Eduardo Penna Franca (LREPF), Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Azevedo
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina O Meirelles
- Marine Mammal Conservation Program, Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos, Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil; Tropical Marine Sciences Graduate Program, Marine Sciences Institute, Ceará Federal University, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Flach
- Instituto Boto Cinza, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro 23860-000, Brazil
| | - Camila Domit
- Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ana Bernadete L Fragoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Naturais/Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca-Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN)/Projeto Golfinho Rotador, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Flávio J Lima Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Naturais/Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca-Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN)/Projeto Golfinho Rotador, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Vítor Luz Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos (AQUASIS), Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Lupércio A Barbosa
- Environmental Awareness Organization (ORCA), Rua São Paulo, 23, Praia da Costa, Vila Velha, ES 29101-315, Brazil
| | - Marta J Cremer
- Ecology and Conservation Laboratory for Marine and Coastal Tetrapods, University of Joinville Region (UNIVILLE), São Francisco do Sul, Rod. Duque de Caxias, 6365, Iperoba, São Francisco do Sul 89240-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Olaf Malm
- Radioisotope Laboratory Eduardo Penna Franca (LREPF), Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Aquatic Mammal and Bioindicator Laboratory Professora Izabel Gurgel (MAQUA), School of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524/ 4002-E, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ethel Eljarrat
- Environmental and Water Chemistry for Human Health, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
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27
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Williams RS, Brownlow A, Baillie A, Barber JL, Barnett J, Davison NJ, Deaville R, ten Doeschate M, Murphy S, Penrose R, Perkins M, Spiro S, Williams R, Jepson PD, Curnick DJ, Jobling S. Spatiotemporal Trends Spanning Three Decades Show Toxic Levels of Chemical Contaminants in Marine Mammals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:20736-20749. [PMID: 38011905 PMCID: PMC10720377 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Despite their ban and restriction under the 2001 Stockholm Convention, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are still widespread and pervasive in the environment. Releases of these toxic and bioaccumulative chemicals are ongoing, and their contribution to population declines of marine mammals is of global concern. To safeguard their survival, it is of paramount importance to understand the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Using one of the world's largest marine mammals strandings data sets, we combine published and unpublished data to examine pollutant concentrations in 11 species that stranded along the coast of Great Britain to quantify spatiotemporal trends over three decades and identify species and regions where pollutants pose the greatest threat. We find that although levels of pollutants have decreased overall, there is significant spatial and taxonomic heterogeneity such that pollutants remain a threat to biodiversity in several species and regions. Of individuals sampled within the most recent five years (2014-2018), 48% of individuals exhibited a concentration known to exceed toxic thresholds. Notably, pollutant concentrations are highest in long-lived, apex odontocetes (e.g., killer whales (Orcinus orca), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)) and were significantly higher in animals that stranded on more industrialized coastlines. At the present concentrations, POPs are likely to be significantly impacting marine mammal health. We conclude that more effective international elimination and mitigation strategies are urgently needed to address this critical issue for the global ocean health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie S. Williams
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department
of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, 99-105 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United
Kingdom
| | - Andrew Brownlow
- School
of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical,
Veterinary & Life Sciences, University
of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United
Kingdom
| | - Andrew Baillie
- The
Natural
History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan L. Barber
- Centre
for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom
| | - James Barnett
- Environment
and Sustainability Institute, University
of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Falmouth, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Davison
- School
of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical,
Veterinary & Life Sciences, University
of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United
Kingdom
| | - Robert Deaville
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Mariel ten Doeschate
- School
of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical,
Veterinary & Life Sciences, University
of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United
Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Murphy
- Marine
and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Science, School
of Science and Computing, Galway-Mayo Institute
of Technology, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Rod Penrose
- Marine
Environmental Monitoring, Penwalk, Llechryd, Cardigan, Ceredigion SA43 2PS, United
Kingdom
| | - Matthew Perkins
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Spiro
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Williams
- Cornwall
Wildlife Trust, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9DJ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul D. Jepson
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Curnick
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Jobling
- Department
of Life Sciences, Institute of Health, Medicine and Environments, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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28
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Symon TE, Murillo-Cisneros DA, Hernández-Camacho CJ, O'Hara TM, Taylor RJ, Rosado-Berrios CA, Vázquez-Medina JP, Zenteno-Savín T. Mercury and selenium concentrations in lanugo of free-ranging California sea lions in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115712. [PMID: 37922756 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury ([THg]) and selenium ([TSe]) concentrations were determined in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) lanugo from the Gulf of California in 2021 and 2022. Relationships with sex, morphometrics, and year were evaluated. Following toxicological thresholds of concern for piscivorous mammals, most pups had a [THg] < 10 ppm, one pup (2021) had a [THg] > 20 ppm, no pups had a [THg] > 30 ppm. Females had significantly higher [TSe] than males; sex did not influence [THg]. [THg] and [TSe] in 2022 were significantly higher in the general population and male cohorts compared to 2021. Significant negative correlations were observed between [THg], [TSe], and morphometrics (2021). These results indicate that, compared to other pinniped species, regional California sea lions may have a decreased likelihood of experiencing Hg-related adverse health effects. Year-related changes in element concentrations suggest continued monitoring of this population to assess pinniped, environmental, and potentially, human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- T E Symon
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C (CIBNOR), 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
| | - D A Murillo-Cisneros
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C (CIBNOR), 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
| | - C J Hernández-Camacho
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
| | - T M O'Hara
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
| | - R J Taylor
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
| | - C A Rosado-Berrios
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
| | - J P Vázquez-Medina
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720 Berkeley, United States of America.
| | - T Zenteno-Savín
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C (CIBNOR), 23096 La Paz, Mexico.
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29
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Morick D, Davidovich N, Zemah-Shamir Z, Kroin Y, Bigal E, Sierra E, Segura-Göthlin S, Wosnick N, Hauser-Davis RA, Tchernov D, Scheinin AP. First description of a Gammaherpesvirus in a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Vet Res Commun 2023; 47:2253-2258. [PMID: 37088865 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10125-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
In September 2020, a male common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) was found dead on a beach near Bat-Yam, Israel. A small, raised, well circumscribed penile lesion (i.e., mass) was identified and removed for histology and molecular characterizations. By histology, the penile mass presented focal keratinization of the squamous epithelium and a mild ballooning of acanthocytes in lower epithelium levels, as well as features compatible with viral plaques, and tested positive for a gammaherpesvirus through molecular characterization analyses. Tissue samples from the lungs, liver, and spleen, however, tested negative for herpesvirus infection. The gammaherpesvirus detected herein is similar to other isolates found in several areas worldwide in different cetacean species. This is the first reported case of gammaherpesvirus infection in dolphins from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, indicative of the need for long-term assessments to create viral infections databases in cetaceans, especially in a climate change context, which is likely to intensify infectious disease outbreaks in marine mammals in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Morick
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
- Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.
| | - Nadav Davidovich
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Israeli Veterinary Services, 20250, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Ziv Zemah-Shamir
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yael Kroin
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eyal Bigal
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eva Sierra
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Simone Segura-Göthlin
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Trasmontaña, s/n, 35413, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Natascha Wosnick
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4.365Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Dan Tchernov
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Aviad P Scheinin
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
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30
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George SE, Smink M, Sangkachai N, Wiratsudakul A, Sakcamduang W, Suwanpakdee S, Sleeman JM. Stakeholder attitudes and perspectives on wildlife disease surveillance as a component of a One Health approach in Thailand. One Health 2023; 17:100600. [PMID: 37559823 PMCID: PMC10407262 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordinated wildlife disease surveillance (WDS) can help professionals across disciplines effectively safeguard human, animal, and environmental health. The aims of this study were to understand how WDS in Thailand is utilized, valued, and can be improved within a One Health framework. An online questionnaire was distributed to 183 professionals (55.7% response rate) across Thailand working in wildlife, marine animal, livestock, domestic animal, zoo animal, environmental, and public health sectors. Twelve semi-structured interviews with key professionals were then performed. Three-quarters of survey respondents reported using WDS data and information. Sectors agreed upon ranking disease control (76.5% of respondents) as the most beneficial outcome of WDS, while fostering new ideas through collaboration was valued by few participants (2.0%). Accessing data collected by one's own sector was identified as the most challenging (50%) yet least difficult to improve (88.3%). Having legal authority to conduct WDS was the second most frequently identified challenge. Interviewees explained that legal documentation required for cross-institutional collaborations posed a barrier to efficient communication and use of human resources. Survey respondents identified allocation of human resources (75.5%), adequate budget (71.6%), and having a clear communication system between sectors (71.6%) as highest priority areas for improvement to WDS in Thailand. Authorization from administrative officials and support from local community members were identified as challenges during in-person interviews. Future outreach may be directed toward these groups. As 42.9% of marine health professionals had difficulty knowing whom to contact in other sectors and 28.4% of survey respondents indicated that communication with marine health professionals was not applicable to their work, connecting the marine sector with other sectors may be prioritized. This study identifies priorities for addressing current challenges in the establishment of a general WDS system and information management system in Thailand while presenting a model for such evaluation in other regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Elise George
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Moniek Smink
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Computer Sciences, 1210 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Nareerat Sangkachai
- Thailand National Wildlife Health Center, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Anuwat Wiratsudakul
- Thailand National Wildlife Health Center, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Walasinee Sakcamduang
- Thailand National Wildlife Health Center, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Sarin Suwanpakdee
- Thailand National Wildlife Health Center, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Jonathan M. Sleeman
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd, Madison, WI 53711, USA
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de Oliveira-Ferreira N, Santos-Neto EB, Manhães BMR, Carvalho VL, Gonçalves L, de Castilho PV, Secchi ER, Botta S, Marcondes MCC, Colosio AC, Cremer MJ, Cunha HA, Azevedo AF, Bisi TL, Lailson-Brito J. The deep dive of organohalogen compounds: Bioaccumulation in the top predators of mesopelagic trophic webs, pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, from the Southwestern Atlantic ocean. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 345:140456. [PMID: 37839740 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Kogia sima and Kogia breviceps are apex predators of mesopelagic trophic webs being far from most anthropogenic threats. However, chemical pollutants and naturally synthesized compounds may travel long distances. This study aimed to use kogiid whales as sentinels of mesopelagic trophic webs in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and metabolites, mirex, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) and hexabromobenzene (HBB), and the naturally produced methoxylated BDE (MeO-BDEs) were determined in the blubber of 16 K. sima and 15 K. breviceps. Among the organochlorine compounds, DDTs were the main group found in K. sima and in K. breviceps (1636.6 and 3983.3 ng g-1 lw, respective medians), followed by PCBs (425.9 and 956.1 ng g-1 lw, respectively), mirex (184.1 and 375.6 ng g-1 lw, respectively), and HCB (132.4 and 340.3 ng g-1 lw, respectively). As for the organobromine, the natural MeO-BDEs were predominant (1676.7 and 501.6 ng g-1 lw, respectively), followed by PBDEs (13.6 and 10.3 ng g-1 lw, respectively) and PBEB (2.2 and 2.9 ng g-1 lw, respectively). In general, POPs concentration was higher in K. breviceps than in K. sima. Conversely, MeO-BDEs concentration was higher in K. sima than in K. breviceps. Differences in concentrations in these sympatric odontocetes were attributed to distinct species, sampling sites, and biological parameters and suggest some level of niche segregation. It is noteworthy the long-range reach and bioaccumulation of these synthetic compounds in an unexplored habitat, that present an increasing economic interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara de Oliveira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Elitieri B Santos-Neto
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bárbara M R Manhães
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor L Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos (AQUASIS), Av. Pintor João Figueiredo, S/N, 61627-250, Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Letícia Gonçalves
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos (AQUASIS), Av. Pintor João Figueiredo, S/N, 61627-250, Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Pedro V de Castilho
- Laboratório de Zoologia, Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca e Ciências Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Rua Coronel Fernandes Martins, 270, 88790-000, Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália s/n, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Avenida Itália s/n, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Milton C C Marcondes
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte (IBJ), Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 125, 45900-000, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Adriana C Colosio
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte (IBJ), Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 125, 45900-000, Caravelas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marta J Cremer
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Tetrápodes Marinhos e Costeiros, Universidade da Região de Joinville (UNIVILLE), R. Rodovia Duque de Caxias, 6365, 89240-000, São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Haydée A Cunha
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Azevedo
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana L Bisi
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Lailson-Brito
- Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores (MAQUA), Faculdade de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas - Biofísica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Duarte-Benvenuto A, Sacristán C, Ewbank AC, Zamana-Ramblas R, Lial HC, Silva SC, Arias Lugo MA, Keid LB, Pessi CF, Sabbadini JR, Ribeiro VL, do Valle RDR, Bertozzi CP, Colosio AC, Ramos HDCG, Sánchez-Sarmiento AM, Ferioli RB, Pavanelli L, Ikeda JMP, Carvalho VL, Catardo Gonçalves FA, Ibáñez-Porras P, Sacristán I, Catão-Dias JL. Molecular Detection and Characterization of Mycoplasma spp. in Marine Mammals, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:2471-2481. [PMID: 37987585 PMCID: PMC10683811 DOI: 10.3201/eid2912.230903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma spp. are wall-less bacteria able to infect mammals and are classified as hemotropic (hemoplasma) and nonhemotropic. In aquatic mammals, hemoplasma have been reported in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and river dolphins (Inia spp.). We investigated Mycoplasma spp. in blood samples of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus), pinnipeds (5 species), and marine cetaceans (18 species) that stranded or were undergoing rehabilitation in Brazil during 2002-2022. We detected Mycoplasma in blood of 18/130 (14.8%) cetaceans and 3/18 (16.6%) pinnipeds. All tested manatees were PCR-negative for Mycoplasma. Our findings indicate that >2 different hemoplasma species are circulating in cetaceans. The sequences from pinnipeds were similar to previously described sequences. We also detected a nonhemotropic Mycoplasma in 2 Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) that might be associated with microscopic lesions. Because certain hemoplasmas can cause disease and death in immunosuppressed mammals, the bacteria could have conservation implications for already endangered aquatic mammals.
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Rothenberg SE, Beechler BR, Burco JD, Rae S, Steingass SM, Barton D, Johns JL, Russell DS, Deignan K, Blackledge MM, Nation A. Associations between urogenital carcinoma and DECA-BDE (BDE-209) among wild California Sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and Steller Sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:166412. [PMID: 37611708 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Urogenital carcinoma (UGC) is prevalent among California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), while less is known concerning UGC among Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Our objective was to investigate associations between UGC and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) among both sea lion species. Twenty-nine California sea lions and 20 Steller sea lions were lethally removed from the Columbia River Basin, Oregon, USA between 2020 and 2021, under Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. UGC was diagnosed through gross necropsy and histopathology. Forty PBDE congeners were analyzed in blubber, including BDE-209, a potential carcinogen. Twenty (69 %) California sea lions and one (5 %) Steller sea lion were diagnosed with UGC. All cases were identified as early stage UGC, aside from one California sea lion with more advanced stage UGC. Among California sea lions, associations between PBDEs and UGC were analyzed using logistic regression. In the adjusted model, BDE-209 (log2-transformed) was associated with increased odds of UGC [Odds Ratio (OR): 4.68, 95 % confidence interval: 1.04, 21.0, OR p-value = 0.044). This is the first study to report BDE-209 concentrations in sea lion blubber. The percentages of California and Steller sea lions diagnosed with UGC were higher than expected for wild (non-stranded) sea lions. Our results suggested blubber BDE-209 was potentially associated with UGC in California sea lions in the Columbia River Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Rothenberg
- Oregon State University, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Brianna R Beechler
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Julia D Burco
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States.
| | - Samantha Rae
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Sheanna M Steingass
- Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Dianne Barton
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Portland, OR 97232, United States.
| | - Jennifer L Johns
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Duncan S Russell
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Kristen Deignan
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Megan M Blackledge
- Oregon State University, College of Science, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Autumn Nation
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
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Moccia V, Centelleghe C, Giusti I, Peruffo A, Dolo V, Mazzariol S, Zappulli V. Isolation and Characterization of Cetacean Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3304. [PMID: 37958059 PMCID: PMC10650552 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cetaceans are of scientific interest because they are good candidates as environmental bioindicators. However, in vivo research is arduous and in vitro studies represent a rarely used valid alternative. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound structures playing roles in cell-to-cell communication. Despite being a promising investigative tool in different fields of science, EVs have been poorly studied in cetaceans. To fill this gap, we describe the preliminary characterization of EVs isolated from a bottlenose dolphin and a Cuvier's beaked whale cell line. EVs have been isolated with ultracentrifugation (UC) or size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and characterized with nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), Western blotting (WB), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). UC and SEC allowed the isolation of mainly small EVs (<200 nm). A higher number of particles were isolated through UC compared to SEC from both cell lines. At WB, all EVs expressed the EV-markers CD9 and integrin-β. Only EVs isolated with UC were positive for TSG101. In conclusion, we isolated for the first time EVs from a bottlenose dolphin and a Cuvier's beaked whale cell line using two different techniques. Further studies on cell-derived EVs will be useful to deepen our knowledge on cetacean pathophysiology and health status assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Moccia
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (S.M.); (V.Z.)
| | - Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (S.M.); (V.Z.)
| | - Ilaria Giusti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (I.G.); (V.D.)
| | - Antonella Peruffo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (S.M.); (V.Z.)
| | - Vincenza Dolo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (I.G.); (V.D.)
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (S.M.); (V.Z.)
| | - Valentina Zappulli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (S.M.); (V.Z.)
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Sá S, Torres-Pereira A, Ferreira M, Monteiro SS, Fradoca R, Sequeira M, Vingada J, Eira C. Microplastics in Cetaceans Stranded on the Portuguese Coast. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3263. [PMID: 37893986 PMCID: PMC10603649 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study characterises microplastics in small cetaceans on the coast of Portugal and assesses the relationship between several biological variables and the amount of detected microplastics. The intestines of 38 stranded dead cetaceans were processed in the laboratory, with digestion methods adapted to the amount of organic matter in each sample. The influence of several biological and health variables (e.g., species, sex, body condition) on the amount of microplastics was tested in all analysed species and particularly in common dolphins, due to the larger number of available samples. Most of the analysed individuals had microplastics in the intestine (92.11%), with harbour porpoises revealing a significantly higher median number of microplastics than common dolphins, probably due to their different diets, use of habitat and feeding strategies. None of the other tested variables significantly influenced the number of microplastics. Moreover, the microplastics found should not be enough to cause physical or chemical sublethal effects, although the correlation between microplastic ingestion and plastic additive bioaccumulation in cetacean tissues requires further investigation. Future monitoring in biota should rely on improved and standardised protocols for microplastic analyses in complex samples to allow for accurate analyses of larger samples and spatio-temporal comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sá
- Department of Biology & CESAM & ECOMARE/CPRAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.T.-P.); (S.S.M.); (C.E.)
| | - Andreia Torres-Pereira
- Department of Biology & CESAM & ECOMARE/CPRAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.T.-P.); (S.S.M.); (C.E.)
| | - Marisa Ferreira
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal; (M.F.); (R.F.); (J.V.)
| | - Sílvia S. Monteiro
- Department of Biology & CESAM & ECOMARE/CPRAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.T.-P.); (S.S.M.); (C.E.)
| | - Raquel Fradoca
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal; (M.F.); (R.F.); (J.V.)
| | - Marina Sequeira
- Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (ICNF), Av. da República 16, 1050-191 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - José Vingada
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal; (M.F.); (R.F.); (J.V.)
| | - Catarina Eira
- Department of Biology & CESAM & ECOMARE/CPRAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.T.-P.); (S.S.M.); (C.E.)
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González-Bareiro E, Montesdeoca-Esponda S, De la Fuente J, Sosa-Ferrera Z, Arbelo M, Fernández A, Santana-Rodríguez JJ. Assessment of the presence of UV filters and UV stabilizers in stranded dolphin blubber. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165041. [PMID: 37356772 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
The presence of ultraviolet filters (UVFs) and stabilizers (UVSs) was evaluated for the first time in the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). UVFs and UVSs are compounds of growing concern because their effects on the environment are not completely known. UVFs and UVSs are added to personal care products (PCPs), such as cosmetics and products related to sun care and once released to the aquatic ecosystem, marine organisms can bioaccumulate these substances. This work aimed to determine the presence of 12 UVFs and UVSs in cetacean blubber samples to assess the pollution to which these animals of the highest trophic chain levels are exposed due to human activity. Analytical determinations were carried out using a method based on microwave-assisted extraction combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry detection. The developed method was successfully applied to determine the target compounds in the blubber tissues of five necropsied common bottlenose dolphins. Three of the 12 studied compounds, namely 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylprop-2-enoate (octocrilene, OC), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (benzophenone 3, BP3) and 3-methylbutyl (E)-3-(4methoxyphenyl) prop-2-enoate (IMC), were detected in several samples. Of the identified compounds, OC was present in all the samples and at the highest concentration within the range from 52.61 ± 18.59 to 108.0 ± 11.32 ng·g-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily González-Bareiro
- Instituto Universitario de Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (i-UNAT), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Sarah Montesdeoca-Esponda
- Instituto Universitario de Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (i-UNAT), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
| | - Jesús De la Fuente
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Centro Atlántico de Investigación de Cetáceos, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Zoraida Sosa-Ferrera
- Instituto Universitario de Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (i-UNAT), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Centro Atlántico de Investigación de Cetáceos, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Centro Atlántico de Investigación de Cetáceos, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - José Juan Santana-Rodríguez
- Instituto Universitario de Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (i-UNAT), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Guo Y, Shi W, Liu Z, Sun X, Wu Y. Cetaceans as bio-indicators revealed the increased risks of triclosan exposure and associated thyroid hormone disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132289. [PMID: 37591165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The global surge in disinfection practices from the COVID-19 response has raised concerns about the marine exposure to the hazardous ingredients in disinfectant products, including triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC). However, there are very limited studies on the response of marine TCS and TCC (TCs) loading to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we used cetaceans as bio-indicators for a long-term retrospective analysis of TCs loading to the South China Sea (SCS) between 2004 and 2022. Hepatic TCs was 100% detected in all nine cetacean species (n = 120). Interestingly, TCS concentrations decreased in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (IPHD) before the pandemic from 2010 to 2017. However, after 2019, TCS concentrations in IPHD significantly increased several-fold. Similarly, post-pandemic TCS concentrations in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (IPFP) and two fish species were significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. There were significant relationships between thyroid hormones (THs) and TCs in IPHD and IPFP, suggesting that increased TCs may worsen the interference of THs homeostasis and nutritional conditions in cetaceans. These findings demonstrate the profound impact of the surging use of TCs-containing products from the COVID-19 response on marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongwei Guo
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Wei Shi
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Zhiwei Liu
- School of Ecology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xian Sun
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai 519082, China.
| | - Yuping Wu
- School of Marine Sciences, Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai 519082, China.
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Vigil K, Aw TG. Comparison of de novo assembly using long-read shotgun metagenomic sequencing of viruses in fecal and serum samples from marine mammals. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1248323. [PMID: 37808316 PMCID: PMC10556685 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1248323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Viral diseases of marine mammals are difficult to study, and this has led to a limited knowledge on emerging known and unknown viruses which are ongoing threats to animal health. Viruses are the leading cause of infectious disease-induced mass mortality events among marine mammals. Methods In this study, we performed viral metagenomics in stool and serum samples from California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) using long-read nanopore sequencing. Two widely used long-read de novo assemblers, Canu and Metaflye, were evaluated to assemble viral metagenomic sequencing reads from marine mammals. Results Both Metaflye and Canu assembled similar viral contigs of vertebrates, such as Parvoviridae, and Poxviridae. Metaflye assembled viral contigs that aligned with one viral family that was not reproduced by Canu, while Canu assembled viral contigs that aligned with seven viral families that was not reproduced by Metaflye. Only Canu assembled viral contigs from dolphin and sea lion fecal samples that matched both protein and nucleotide RefSeq viral databases using BLASTx and BLASTn for Anelloviridae, Parvoviridae and Circoviridae families. Viral contigs assembled with Canu aligned with torque teno viruses and anelloviruses from vertebrate hosts. Viruses associated with invertebrate hosts including densoviruses, Ambidensovirus, and various Circoviridae isolates were also aligned. Some of the invertebrate and vertebrate viruses reported here are known to potentially cause mortality events and/or disease in different seals, sea stars, fish, and bivalve species. Discussion Canu performed better by producing the most viral contigs as compared to Metaflye with assemblies aligning to both protein and nucleotide databases. This study suggests that marine mammals can be used as important sentinels to surveil marine viruses that can potentially cause diseases in vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiong Gim Aw
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Sakyi ME, Kamio T, Kohyama K, Rahman MM, Shimizu K, Okada A, Inoshima Y. Assessing of the use of proteins A, G, and chimeric protein AG to detect marine mammal immunoglobulins. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291743. [PMID: 37733771 PMCID: PMC10513184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increase in infectious diseases in marine mammals, including brucellosis, infections of morbillivirus, herpesvirus, and poxvirus. Several serological diagnostic methods, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, immunofluorescence assays (ELISA), and western blotting, have been used to detect antibodies against pathogens in marine mammals. However, options for commercial secondary antibodies used to detect antibodies in marine mammals are limited; therefore, the use of proteins A, G, or chimeric protein AG may provide a suitable alternative. This study aimed to assess the use of proteins A, G, and chimeric protein AG to detect marine mammal immunoglobulins. Currently, there are no comparative studies on the use of proteins A, G, and chimeric protein AG for the detection of immunoglobulins in marine mammals. In this study, we used ten pinnipeds' species (Baikal seal, California sea lion, harbor seal, northern fur seal, ringed seal, South American fur seal, South American sea lion, spotted seal, Steller sea lion, and walrus) and five cetacean species (beluga whale, bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, killer whale, and Pacific white-sided dolphin) and compare binding ability to proteins A, G, or chimeric protein AG by ELISA. The results revealed that the immunoglobulins from pinniped and cetacean species reacted more strongly to protein A than protein G. In addition, the immunoglobulins of pinnipeds and cetaceans showed a strong binding ability to chimeric protein AG. These results suggest that proteins A, G, and chimeric protein AG would be used to help further develop serological assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Essien Sakyi
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takashi Kamio
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | | | - Md. Matiur Rahman
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Faculty for Veterinary, Department of Medicine, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Kaori Shimizu
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Ayaka Okada
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Education and Research Center for Food Animal Health, Gifu University (GeFAH), Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasuo Inoshima
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Education and Research Center for Food Animal Health, Gifu University (GeFAH), Gifu, Japan
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López-Martínez S, Giménez-Luque E, Molina-Pardo JL, Manzano-Medina S, Arribas-Arias H, Gavara R, Morales-Caselles C, L Rivas M. Plastic ingestion by two cetacean groups: Ziphiidae and Delphinidae. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:121932. [PMID: 37336348 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
The presence of plastic in our environment is having a massive impact on today's marine biota. Whales and dolphins are becoming sentinels of litter pollution as plastic entanglement and ingestion affect them with unknown consequences. Although information exists about this anthropogenic interaction, the compilation of this data on metastudies is difficult due to the use of varied methodologies. A combination of our own data as well as a review of historical data was used to complete an extensive study of how cetaceans are interacting with macro and micro-litter at a global level. Here, we identify the plastic uptake by two cetacean families: Ziphiidae and Delphinidae, thus allowing for a better understanding in order to offer a global overview of their current status. Additionally, analysis was run on the plastic found in the digestive contents of stranded specimens of two Cuvier's beaked whales and fourteen striped dolphins in the Alboran Sea, in the Western Mediterranean, a hotspot for marine megafauna. Out of 623 stranded cetaceans from datasets, beaked whales displayed the highest concentration of macro, meso and microplastic in the Western Pacific Ocean. Regarding striped dolphins, Eastern Spain was the location with the highest plastic ingestion. Moreover, deep divers such as beaked whales ingested more plastic than striped dolphins which could be as a consequence of their feeding behavior or habitat. Thus, this overview provides useful information concerning conservation issues on how cetacean hotspots are highly affected by marine plastic ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Rafael Gavara
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnologia de Alimentos, CSIC, Paterna, Spain
| | | | - Marga L Rivas
- Biology Department, Institute of Marine Science INMAR, University of Cádiz, Spain
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Segura-Göthlin S, Fernández A, Arbelo M, Andrada Borzollino MA, Felipe-Jiménez I, Colom-Rivero A, Fiorito C, Sierra E. Viral skin diseases in odontocete cetaceans: gross, histopathological, and molecular characterization of selected pathogens. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1188105. [PMID: 37745220 PMCID: PMC10514499 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1188105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifty-five skin lesions from 31 stranded cetaceans along the Canary coasts (2011-2021) were submitted to macroscopic, histological, and molecular analyses to confirm infection by cetacean poxvirus, herpesvirus and cetacean morbillivirus. They were macroscopically categorized into eight categories with respective subcategories according to their color, shape, size, and consistency. Cetacean poxvirus was detected in 54.54% of the skin lesions through real-time and conventional PCRs based on the DNA polymerase gene. Additionally, herpesvirus and morbillivirus were currently detected from 43.63 and 1.82% of the cutaneous lesions, respectively. Coinfection of poxvirus and herpesvirus was detected in nine of them (16.36%), which makes the present study the first to report coinfection by both pathogens in skin lesions in cetaceans. A plausible approach to histopathological characterization of poxvirus-and herpesvirus-positive skin lesions was established. Hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, ballooning degeneration, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in vacuolized keratinocytes through the stratum spinosum were common findings in poxvirus skin lesions. Alphaherpesvirus was associated with a prominent acanthotic epidermis, moderate necrosis, multifocal dyskeratosis, and irregular keratinocytes with both cellular and nuclei pleomorphism. The common histopathological findings of both pathogens were observed in coinfection lesions. However, those associated with herpesvirus were considerably more remarkable. Relationships between molecular and microscopic findings were observed for the lesions that showed tattoo-like and tortuous patterns. Further multidisciplinary diagnostic studies of infected skin lesions are needed to understand the epidemiology of these emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Segura-Göthlin
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Marisa Ana Andrada Borzollino
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Idaira Felipe-Jiménez
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Ana Colom-Rivero
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Carla Fiorito
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR-CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Eva Sierra
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas, Spain
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Lukić Bilela L, Matijošytė I, Krutkevičius J, Alexandrino DAM, Safarik I, Burlakovs J, Gaudêncio SP, Carvalho MF. Impact of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) on the marine environment: Raising awareness, challenges, legislation, and mitigation approaches under the One Health concept. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115309. [PMID: 37591052 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have long been known for their detrimental effects on the ecosystems and living organisms; however the long-term impact on the marine environment is still insufficiently recognized. Based on PFAS persistence and bioaccumulation in the complex marine food network, adverse effects will be exacerbated by global processes such as climate change and synergies with other pollutants, like microplastics. The range of fluorochemicals currently included in the PFAS umbrella has significantly expanded due to the updated OECD definition, raising new concerns about their poorly understood dynamics and negative effects on the ocean wildlife and human health. Mitigation challenges and approaches, including biodegradation and currently studied materials for PFAS environmental removal are proposed here, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and bridging research gaps. The PFAS EU regulations, good practices and legal frameworks are discussed, with emphasis on recommendations for improving marine ecosystem management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lada Lukić Bilela
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Inga Matijošytė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave. 7, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Jokūbas Krutkevičius
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave. 7, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Diogo A M Alexandrino
- CIIMAR Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, P. Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Ivo Safarik
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Biology Centre, ISBB, CAS, Na Sadkach 7, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Juris Burlakovs
- Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences, Józefa Wybickiego 7 A, 31-261 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Susana P Gaudêncio
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA Faculty for Sciences and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Maria F Carvalho
- CIIMAR Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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Pereira LG, Ferreira GVB, Justino AKS, de Oliveira KMT, de Queiroz MT, Schmidt N, Fauvelle V, Carvalho VL, Lucena-Frédou F. Exploring microplastic contamination in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis): Insights into plastic pollution in the southwestern tropical Atlantic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115407. [PMID: 37611337 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals are considered sentinel species and may act as indicators of ocean health. Plastic residues are widely distributed in the oceans and are recognised as hazardous contaminants, and once ingested can cause several adverse effects on wildlife. This study aimed to identify and characterise plastic ingestion in the Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic by evaluating the stomach contents of stranded individuals through KOH digestion and identification of subsample of particles by LDIR Chemical Imaging System. Most of the individuals were contaminated, and the most common polymers identified were PU, PET and EVA. Microplastics were more prevalent than larger plastic particles (meso- and macroplastics). Smaller particles were detected during the rainy seasons. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the stomach content mass and the number of microplastics, suggesting contamination through trophic transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia Gonçalves Pereira
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade - Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme V B Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Anne K S Justino
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Kelen Melo Tavares de Oliveira
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil
| | - Monique Torres de Queiroz
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil; Instituto Oceanográfico - Universidade de São Paulo, Praça Oceanográfico, 191, São Paulo, SP 05508-120, Brazil
| | - Natascha Schmidt
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Vincent Fauvelle
- Université de Toulouse, LEGOS (CNES/CNRS/IRD/UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Vitor Luz Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - Aquasis, Programa de Mamíferos Marinhos, Rua Pintor João Figueiredo, s/n, Iparana, Caucaia, CE 61627-250, Brazil
| | - Flávia Lucena-Frédou
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade - Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil; Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
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Szteren D, Aurioles-Gamboa D, Campos-Villegas LE, Alava JJ. Metal-specific biomagnification and trophic dilution in the coastal foodweb of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) off Bahía Magdalena, Mexico: The role of the benthic-pelagic foodweb in the trophic transfer of trace and toxic metals. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115263. [PMID: 37515868 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Trace metals concentrations along with stable isotopes ratios were measured in marine algae, sea grass, sponges, echinoderms, mollusks, crustaceans, fishes, and the California sea lion, to assess the bioaccumulation potential and detect potential risks for top predators off Bahia Magdalena, Mexico. We assessed the trophic magnification factor (TMF) to determine the potential for biomagnification of 11 trace metals. The concentrations of Fe and Zn were one order of magnitude higher than all other metals. Concentrations of As, Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni correlated negatively with trophic level, supporting trophic dilution (TMF < 1, p > 0.05), while Zn and Hg had significant trophic magnification (TMF > 1, p < 0.05) when assessing only the benthic-pelagic foodweb. This research provides a baseline concentration of metals in multiple species, metal-specific foodweb bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury, underscoring the key role of the macrobenthic community as biovectors for trophic transfer of Hg through the foodweb to the California sea lion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Szteren
- Laboratorio de Zoología Vertebrados, Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - David Aurioles-Gamboa
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Pinnípedos "Burney J. Le Boeuf", Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Avenida IPN, s/n Colonia Playa Polo de Santa Rita, C.P. 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Lorena Elizabeth Campos-Villegas
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Calle 30 de junio de 1520 s/n, Col. La Laguna Ticomán, C.P. 07340 Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico
| | - Juan José Alava
- Ocean Pollution Research Unit & Nippon Foundation-Ocean Litter Project, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, AERL 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Fundación Ecuatoriana para El Estudio de Mamíferos Marinos (FEMM), Guayaquil, Ecuador
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Bloodgood JCG, Deming AC, Colegrove KM, Russell ML, Díaz Clark C, Carmichael RH. Causes of death and pathogen prevalence in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus stranded in Alabama, USA, between 2015 and 2020, following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2023; 155:87-102. [PMID: 37650480 DOI: 10.3354/dao03746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Between 2010 and 2014, an unusual mortality event (UME) involving bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus occurred in the northern Gulf of Mexico, associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Cause of death (COD) patterns in bottlenose dolphins since then have not been analyzed, and baseline prevalence data for Brucella ceti and cetacean morbillivirus, 2 pathogens previously reported in this region, are lacking. We analyzed records from bottlenose dolphins stranded in Alabama from 2015 to 2020 with necropsy and histological findings to determine COD (n = 108). This period included another UME in 2019 associated with prolonged freshwater exposure. A subset of individuals that stranded during this period were selected for molecular testing for Brucella spp. and Morbillivirus spp. Causes of death for all age classes were grouped into 6 categories, including (1) human interaction, (2) infectious disease, (3) noninfectious disease (prolonged freshwater exposure and degenerative), (4) trauma, (5) multifactorial, and (6) unknown. Two additional categories unique to perinates included fetal distress and in utero pneumonia. Human interaction was the most common primary COD (19.4%) followed closely by infectious disease (17.6%) and noninfectious disease (freshwater exposure; 13.9%). Brucella was detected in 18.4% of the 98 animals tested, but morbillivirus was not detected in any of the 66 animals tested. Brucella was detected in some moderately to severely decomposed carcasses, indicating that it may be beneficial to test a broad condition range of stranded animals. This study provides valuable information on COD in bottlenose dolphins in Alabama following the DWHOS and is the first to examine baseline prevalence of 2 common pathogens in stranded animals from this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C G Bloodgood
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, USA
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Olmstead ARB, Mathieson OL, McLellan WA, Pabst DA, Keenan TF, Goldstein T, Erwin PM. Gut bacterial communities in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) throughout a disease-driven (Morbillivirus) unusual mortality event. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad097. [PMID: 37591660 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiomes are important determinants of animal health. In sentinel marine mammals where animal and ocean health are connected, microbiome impacts can scale to ecosystem-level importance. Mass mortality events affect cetacean populations worldwide, yet little is known about the contributory role of their gut bacterial communities to disease susceptibility and progression. Here, we characterized bacterial communities from fecal samples of common bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, across an unusual mortality event (UME) caused by dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed similar diversity and structure of bacterial communities in individuals stranding before, during, and after the 2013-2015 Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin UME and these trends held in a subset of dolphins tested by PCR for DMV infection. Fine-scale shifts related to the UME were not common (10 of 968 bacterial taxa) though potential biomarkers for health monitoring were identified within the complex bacterial communities. Accordingly, acute DMV infection was not associated with a distinct gut bacterial community signature in T. truncatus. However, temporal stratification of DMV-positive dolphins did reveal changes in bacterial community composition between early and late outbreak periods, suggesting that gut community disruptions may be amplified by the indirect effects of accumulating health burdens associated with chronic morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa R B Olmstead
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, United States
| | - Olivia L Mathieson
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, United States
| | - William A McLellan
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, United States
| | - D Ann Pabst
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, United States
| | - Tiffany F Keenan
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, United States
| | - Tracey Goldstein
- Zoological Pathology Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513, United States
| | - Patrick M Erwin
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, United States
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47
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Grattarola C, Petrella A, Lucifora G, Di Francesco G, Di Nocera F, Pintore A, Cocumelli C, Terracciano G, Battisti A, Di Renzo L, Farina D, Di Francesco CE, Crescio MI, Zoppi S, Dondo A, Iulini B, Varello K, Mignone W, Goria M, Mattioda V, Giorda F, Di Guardo G, Janowicz A, Tittarelli M, De Massis F, Casalone C, Garofolo G. Brucella ceti Infection in Striped Dolphins from Italian Seas: Associated Lesions and Epidemiological Data. Pathogens 2023; 12:1034. [PMID: 37623994 PMCID: PMC10459742 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella ceti infections have been increasingly reported in cetaceans. In this study, we analyzed all cases of B. ceti infection detected in striped dolphins stranded along the Italian coastline between 2012 and 2021 (N = 24). We focused on the pathogenic role of B. ceti through detailed pathological studies, and ad hoc microbiological, biomolecular, and serological investigations, coupled with a comparative genomic analysis of the strains. Neurobrucellosis was observed in 20 animals. The primary histopathologic features included non-suppurative meningoencephalitis (N = 9), meningitis (N = 6), and meningoencephalomyelitis (N = 5), which was also associated with typical lesions in other tissues (N = 8). Co-infections were detected in more than half of the cases, mostly involving Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV). The 24 B. ceti isolates were assigned primarily to sequence type 26 (ST26) (N = 21) and, in a few cases, ST49 (N = 3). The multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) based on whole genome sequencing (WGS) data showed that strains from Italy clustered into four genetically distinct clades. Plotting these clades onto a geographic map suggests a link between their phylogeny and the topographical distribution. These results support the role of B. ceti as a primary neurotropic pathogen for striped dolphins and highlight the utility of WGS data in understanding the evolution of this emerging pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Antonio Petrella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (A.P.); (D.F.)
| | - Giuseppe Lucifora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 89852 Vibo Valentia, Italy;
| | - Gabriella Di Francesco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (G.D.F.); (L.D.R.)
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy;
| | - Antonio Pintore
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Cristiano Cocumelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico del Lazio e della Toscana, 00178 Roma, Italy; (C.C.); (A.B.)
| | | | - Antonio Battisti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico del Lazio e della Toscana, 00178 Roma, Italy; (C.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Ludovica Di Renzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (G.D.F.); (L.D.R.)
| | - Donatella Farina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (A.P.); (D.F.)
| | | | - Maria Ines Crescio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Simona Zoppi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Alessandro Dondo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Barbara Iulini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Katia Varello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Walter Mignone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Maria Goria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Virginia Mattioda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (C.E.D.F.); (G.D.G.)
| | - Anna Janowicz
- National and OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.J.); (M.T.); (F.D.M.)
| | - Manuela Tittarelli
- National and OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.J.); (M.T.); (F.D.M.)
| | - Fabrizio De Massis
- National and OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.J.); (M.T.); (F.D.M.)
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (M.I.C.); (S.Z.); (A.D.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (W.M.); (M.G.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Giuliano Garofolo
- National and OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.J.); (M.T.); (F.D.M.)
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48
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Tashiro K, Segawa T, Futami T, Suzuki M, Itou T. Establishment and characterization of a novel kidney cell line derived from the common bottlenose dolphin. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2023; 59:536-549. [PMID: 37524977 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-023-00786-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a well-known cetacean species that inhabits temperate and tropical seas worldwide. Limited supply and poor quality of samples hinder the investigation of the effects of various pathogens and environmental pollutants on this cetacean species. Cultured cells are useful for experimental studies; however, no cell lines derived from cetaceans are generally available. Therefore, in this study, we established a novel kidney cell line, TK-ST, derived from T. truncatus. Primary cells exhibited the morphological characteristics of epithelial and fibroblast cells, but their immortalization and passaging resulted in a predominantly epithelial cell morphology. TK-ST was immortalized using the large T SV40 antigen and human telomerase reverse transcriptase and exhibited long-term stable cell growth. TK-ST cells are generally cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% fetal bovine serum at 37°C and 5% CO2 but can also be cultured in 5-20% fetal bovine serum and several other classical media commonly used for common animal cell culture. TK-ST cells were found to be susceptible to several viruses, including the dolphin morbillivirus (most important virus in cetaceans), and exhibited cytopathic effects, facilitating the replication of the dolphin morbillivirus. Furthermore, mRNA expression levels of cytokine genes were increased in TK-ST cells after stimulation with lipopolysaccharides and poly(I:C). Therefore, the novel TK-ST cell line derived in this study can potentially be used for further in vitro studies on cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaede Tashiro
- Nihon University Veterinary Research Center, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Takao Segawa
- Nihon University Veterinary Research Center, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Taketo Futami
- Minamichita Beachland Aquarium, 428-1 Okuda Mihama, Chita, Aichi, 470-3233, Japan
| | - Miwa Suzuki
- Department of Marine Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Takuya Itou
- Nihon University Veterinary Research Center, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan.
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49
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Liu Y, Wang Q, Ma L, Jin L, Zhang K, Tao D, Wang WX, Lam PKS, Ruan Y. Identification of key features relating to the coexistence mechanisms of trace elements and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in marine mammals. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108099. [PMID: 37481952 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Organic and inorganic substances coexist in the livers of marine mammals and may correlate with one another; however, their coexistence mechanisms and relevant key features remain largely unknown. In this study, temporal variations (2011-2021) in the concentrations of nine trace elements and 19 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the livers of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) were investigated. Interannual Cd in dolphins increased significantly whereas Pb concentrations decreased over the past decade (p < 0.05). Interannual levels of seven and four PFASs in dolphins and porpoises decreased significantly with time (p < 0.05). By further extending the timescale to 1993-2021, the sensitivity of trace elements to annual change further increased, whereas the sensitivity of PFASs remained relatively stable. Cu levels, similar to the majority of PFASs, were negatively correlated with the body length of the studied cetaceans, which led to positive correlations of Cu with six long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, perfluorodecane sulfonic acid, and perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonic acid. The concentrations of trace elements in the cetacean liver were closely correlated with cetacean sex, species, and body length, whereas PFAS concentration was responsive to time-related features such as stranded season and year. By further employing a machine learning method, we demonstrated that body length and a time-related factor (year) played a crucial role in predicting the concentrations of certain trace elements and PFASs, respectively, particularly Cu and perfluoroheptanoic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Lan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Linjie Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Macau Environmental Research Institute, Macau University of Science and Technology, 999078, Macau Special Administrative Region
| | - Danyang Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Paul K S Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
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50
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Parker KH, Bishop JM, Serieys LEK, Mateo R, Camarero PR, Leighton GRM. A heavy burden: Metal exposure across the land-ocean continuum in an adaptable carnivore. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 327:121585. [PMID: 37040831 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Urbanisation and associated anthropogenic activities release large quantities of toxic metals and metalloids into the environment, where they may bioaccumulate and threaten both wildlife and human health. In highly transformed landscapes, terrestrial carnivores may be at increased risk of exposure through biomagnification. We quantified metallic element and metalloid exposure in blood of caracals (Caracal caracal), an adaptable felid inhabiting the rapidly urbanising, coastal metropole of Cape Town, South Africa. Using redundancy analysis and mixed-effect models, we explored the influence of demography, landscape use, and diet on the concentration of 11 metals and metalloids. Although species-specific toxic thresholds are lacking, arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) were present at potentially sublethal levels in several individuals. Increased use of human-transformed landscapes, particularly urban areas, roads, and vineyards, was significantly associated with increased exposure to aluminium (Al), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb). Foraging closer to the coast and within aquatic food webs was associated with increased levels of mercury (Hg), selenium (Se) and arsenic, where regular predation on seabirds and waterbirds likely facilitates transfer of metals from aquatic to terrestrial food webs. Further, several elements were linked to lower haemoglobin levels (chromium, mercury, manganese, and zinc) and elevated levels of infection-fighting cells (mercury and selenium). Our results highlight the importance of anthropogenic activities as major environmental sources of metal contamination in terrestrial wildlife, including exposure across the land-ocean continuum. These findings contribute towards the growing evidence suggesting cities are particularly toxic areas for wildlife. Co-exposure to a suite of metal pollutants may threaten the long-term health and persistence of Cape Town's caracal population in unexpected ways, particularly when interacting with additional known pollutant and pathogen exposure. The caracal is a valuable sentinel for assessing metal exposure and can be used in pollution monitoring programmes to mitigate exposure and promote biodiversity conservation in human-dominated landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim H Parker
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jacqueline M Bishop
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Laurel E K Serieys
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Panthera, New York, NY, USA; Cape Leopard Trust, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pablo R Camarero
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Gabriella R M Leighton
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
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