1
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Zinzula L, Scholz J, Nagy I, Di Guardo G, Orsini M. Biophysical characterization of the cetacean morbillivirus haemagglutinin glycoprotein. Virus Res 2023; 336:199231. [PMID: 37769814 PMCID: PMC10550842 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199231] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is an enveloped, non-segmented, negative-stranded RNA virus that infects marine mammals, spreading across species and causing lethal disease outbreaks worldwide. Among the eight proteins encoded by the CeMV genome, the haemagglutinin (H) glycoprotein is responsible for the virus attachment to host cell receptors. CeMV H represents an attractive target for antiviral and diagnostic research, yet the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying its role in infection and inter-species transmission was hampered thus far due to the unavailability of recombinant versions of the protein. Here we present the cloning, expression and purification of a recombinant CeMV H ectodomain (rH-ecto), providing an initial characterization of its biophysical and structural properties. Sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) combined to Western blot analysis and periodic acid Schiff assay showed that CeMV rH-ecto is purifiable at homogeneity from insect cells as a secreted, soluble and glycosylated protein. Miniaturized differential scanning fluorimetry, Blue Native PAGE and size exclusion chromatography coupled to multiangle light scattering revealed that CeMV rH-ecto is globularly folded, thermally stable and exists in solution in the oligomeric states of dimer and multiple of dimers. Furthermore, negative stain electron microscopy single particle analysis allowed us to delineate a low-resolution molecular architecture of the CeMV rH-ecto dimer, which recapitulates native assemblies from other morbilliviral H proteins, such as those from measles virus and canine distemper virus. This set of experiments by orthogonal techniques validates the CeMV rH-ecto as an experimental model for future biochemical studies on its structure and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Zinzula
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; Centro di Educazione Ambientale e alla Sostenibilità (CEAS) Laguna di Nora, Pula, Italy.
| | - Judith Scholz
- Core Facility, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - István Nagy
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; Center of Research and Development, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Eger, Hungary
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- Retired Professor of General Pathology and Veterinary Pathophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Orsini
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
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2
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Van Bressem MF, Raga JA, Domingo M, Duignan P. Historical isolates of dolphin morbillivirus: origin and new data. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2023; 155:159-163. [PMID: 37706646 DOI: 10.3354/dao03752] [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: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) was isolated in striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba from the Mediterranean Sea stranded along the coast of Spain during a lethal epidemic that killed thousands of individuals in 1990-1992. Though some of these isolates (MUC, 16A and the reference strain) have been extensively characterised, details on their origin were not reported in the literature, and records for these isolates are often difficult to trace and are, sometimes, erroneous. Here, we provide unpublished biological and histopathological data for these isolates, summarize the literature on their characterization and make suggestions for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Françoise Van Bressem
- Cetacean Conservation Medicine Group, Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research, Museo de Delfines, Lima 20, Peru
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3
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Barratclough A, Ferguson SH, Lydersen C, Thomas PO, Kovacs KM. A Review of Circumpolar Arctic Marine Mammal Health-A Call to Action in a Time of Rapid Environmental Change. Pathogens 2023; 12:937. [PMID: 37513784 PMCID: PMC10385039 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070937] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The impacts of climate change on the health of marine mammals are increasingly being recognised. Given the rapid rate of environmental change in the Arctic, the potential ramifications on the health of marine mammals in this region are a particular concern. There are eleven endemic Arctic marine mammal species (AMMs) comprising three cetaceans, seven pinnipeds, and the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). All of these species are dependent on sea ice for survival, particularly those requiring ice for breeding. As air and water temperatures increase, additional species previously non-resident in Arctic waters are extending their ranges northward, leading to greater species overlaps and a concomitant increased risk of disease transmission. In this study, we review the literature documenting disease presence in Arctic marine mammals to understand the current causes of morbidity and mortality in these species and forecast future disease issues. Our review highlights potential pathogen occurrence in a changing Arctic environment, discussing surveillance methods for 35 specific pathogens, identifying risk factors associated with these diseases, as well as making recommendations for future monitoring for emerging pathogens. Several of the pathogens discussed have the potential to cause unusual mortality events in AMMs. Brucella, morbillivirus, influenza A virus, and Toxoplasma gondii are all of concern, particularly with the relative naivety of the immune systems of endemic Arctic species. There is a clear need for increased surveillance to understand baseline disease levels and address the gravity of the predicted impacts of climate change on marine mammal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Barratclough
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - Steven H. Ferguson
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada;
| | - Christian Lydersen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway; (C.L.); (K.M.K.)
| | - Peter O. Thomas
- Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Room 700, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Kit M. Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway; (C.L.); (K.M.K.)
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4
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Fernández A, Câmara N, Sierra E, Arbelo M, Bernaldo de Quirós Y, Jepson PD, Deaville R, Díaz-Delgado J, Suárez-Santana C, Castro A, Hernández JN, Godinho A. Cetacean Intracytoplasmic Eosinophilic Globules: A Cytomorphological, Histological, Histochemical, Immunohistochemical, and Proteomic Characterization. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2130. [PMID: 37443929 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132130] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The nature, etiopathogenesis, and clinicopathologic relevance of the prevalent intracytoplasmic eosinophilic globules (IEGs) within hepatocytes of cetaceans are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the presence and characterize the IEGs in the hepatocytes of cetaceans using histochemical and immunohistochemical electron microscopy, Western blot, lectin histochemistry, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques. A total of 95/115 (83%) animals (16 species) exhibited histologically evident intracytoplasmic round to oval, single to multiple, hyaline eosinophilic globules within the hepatocytes. These globules were largely PAS-positive, diastase resistant, and were immunopositive for fibrinogen (FB, 97%), albumin (Alb, 85%), and α1-antitrypsine (A1AT, 53%). The IEG positivity for FB and A1AT were correlated with live-stranding, hepatic congestion and a good nutritional status. The cetaceans lacking IEGs were consistently dead stranded and had poor body conditions. The IEGs in 36 bycaught cetaceans were, all except one, FB-positive and A1AT-negative. The IEGs exhibited morphologic and compositional variations at the ultrastructural level, suggesting various stages of development and/or etiopathogenesis(es). The glycocalyx analysis suggested an FB- and A1AT-glycosylation pattern variability between cetaceans and other animals. The proteomic analyses confirmed an association between the IEGs and acute phase proteins, suggesting a relationship between acute stress (i.e., bycatch), disease, and cellular protective mechanisms, allowing pathologists to correlate this morphological change using the acute hepatocytic cell response under certain stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Nakita Câmara
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
- The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), Carretera de Taliarte, s/n, 35200 Telde, Canary Islands, Spain
- Loro Parque Foundation, Avenida Loro Parque, s/n, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Yara Bernaldo de Quirós
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Paul D Jepson
- Zoological Society of London, Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Rob Deaville
- Zoological Society of London, Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Josué Díaz-Delgado
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Cristian Suárez-Santana
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Ayoze Castro
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
- The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), Carretera de Taliarte, s/n, 35200 Telde, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Julia N Hernández
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Ana Godinho
- 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, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
- Rua Central de Gandra, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS)-CESPU, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
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5
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Di Guardo G. Tsunami-Driven Spread of Toxoplasma gondii and Other Microbial Pathogens: Implications for Cetacean Health and Conservation. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040616. [PMID: 37111502 PMCID: PMC10141092 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Six years have now gone by since Dr James T [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Di Guardo
- General Pathology and Veterinary Pathophysiology, Veterinary Medical Faculty, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
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6
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Felipe-Jiménez I, Fernández A, Arbelo M, Segura-Göthlin S, Colom-Rivero A, Suárez-Santana CM, De La Fuente J, Sierra E. Molecular Diagnosis of Cetacean Morbillivirus in Beaked Whales Stranded in the Canary Islands (1999–2017). Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9030121. [PMID: 35324849 PMCID: PMC8950905 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9030121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A retrospective survey for detecting the cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) was carried out in beaked whales (BWs) stranded in the Canary Islands (1999–2017). CeMV is responsible for causing worldwide epizootic events with the highest mass die-offs in cetaceans, although the epidemic status of the Canarian Archipelago seems to be that of an endemic situation. A total of 319 tissue samples from 55 BWs (35 Cuvier’s BWs and 20 specimens belonging to the Mesoplodon genus) were subjected to the amplification of a fragment of the fusion protein (F) and/or phosphoprotein (P) genes of CeMV by means of one or more of three polymerase chain reactions (PCR). RNA integrity could not be demonstrated in samples from 11 animals. Positivity (dolphin morbillivirus strain (DMV)) was detected in the skin sample of only a subadult male Cuvier’s BW stranded in 2002, being the earliest confirmed occurrence of DMV in the Cuvier’s BW species. The obtained P gene sequence showed the closest relationship with other DMVs detected in a striped dolphin stranded in the Canary Islands in the same year. A phylogenetic analysis supports a previous hypothesis of a cross-species infection and the existence of the circulation of endemic DMV strains in the Atlantic Ocean similar to those later detected in the North-East Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the South-West Pacific.
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7
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Vargas-Castro I, Melero M, Crespo-Picazo JL, Jiménez MDLÁ, Sierra E, Rubio-Guerri C, Arbelo M, Fernández A, García-Párraga D, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Systematic Determination of Herpesvirus in Free-Ranging Cetaceans Stranded in the Western Mediterranean: Tissue Tropism and Associated Lesions. Viruses 2021; 13:v13112180. [PMID: 34834986 PMCID: PMC8621769 DOI: 10.3390/v13112180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The monitoring of herpesvirus infection provides useful information when assessing marine mammals’ health. This paper shows the prevalence of herpesvirus infection (80.85%) in 47 cetaceans stranded on the coast of the Valencian Community, Spain. Of the 966 tissues evaluated, 121 tested positive when employing nested-PCR (12.53%). The largest proportion of herpesvirus-positive tissue samples was in the reproductive system, nervous system, and tegument. Herpesvirus was more prevalent in females, juveniles, and calves. More than half the DNA PCR positive tissues contained herpesvirus RNA, indicating the presence of actively replicating virus. This RNA was most frequently found in neonates. Fourteen unique sequences were identified. Most amplified sequences belonged to the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily, but a greater variation was found in Alphaherpesvirinae sequences. This is the first report of systematic herpesvirus DNA and RNA determination in free-ranging cetaceans. Nine (19.14%) were infected with cetacean morbillivirus and all of them (100%) were coinfected with herpesvirus. Lesions similar to those caused by herpesvirus in other species were observed, mainly in the skin, upper digestive tract, genitalia, and central nervous system. Other lesions were also attributable to concomitant etiologies or were nonspecific. It is necessary to investigate the possible role of herpesvirus infection in those cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Vargas-Castro
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.M.); (C.R.-G.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Mar Melero
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.M.); (C.R.-G.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Division of External Health, Government Delegation in the Community of Madrid, Ministry of Territorial Policy, 28071 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Crespo-Picazo
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, 46013 Valencia, Spain; (J.L.C.-P.); (D.G.-P.)
| | - María de los Ángeles Jiménez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Eva Sierra
- Division of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain; (E.S.); (M.A.); (A.F.)
| | - Consuelo Rubio-Guerri
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.M.); (C.R.-G.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Department of Pharmacy, Facultad de CC de la Salud, UCH-CEU University, 46113 Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Division of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain; (E.S.); (M.A.); (A.F.)
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Division of Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain; (E.S.); (M.A.); (A.F.)
| | - Daniel García-Párraga
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, 46013 Valencia, Spain; (J.L.C.-P.); (D.G.-P.)
| | - José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.M.); (C.R.-G.); (J.M.S.-V.)
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8
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West KL, Silva-Krott I, Landrau-Giovannetti N, Rotstein D, Saliki J, Raverty S, Nielsen O, Popov VL, Davis N, Walker WA, Subramaniam K, Waltzek TB. Novel cetacean morbillivirus in a rare Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) stranding from Maui, Hawai'i. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15986. [PMID: 34373473 PMCID: PMC8352961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a global threat to cetaceans. We report a novel morbillivirus from a Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) that stranded in Maui, Hawaii in 2018 that is dissimilar to the beaked whale morbillivirus previously identified from Hawaii and to other CeMV strains. Histopathological findings included intranuclear inclusions in bile duct epithelium, lymphoid depletion, rare syncytial cells and non-suppurative meningitis. Cerebellum and lung tissue homogenates were inoculated onto Vero.DogSLAMtag cells for virus isolation and cytopathic effects were observed, resulting in the formation of multinucleated giant cells (i.e., syncytia). Transmission electron microscopy of infected cell cultures also revealed syncytial cells with intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions of viral nucleocapsids, consistent with the ultrastructure of a morbillivirus. Samples of the cerebellum, lung, liver, spleen and lymph nodes were positive for morbillivirus using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The resulting 559 bp L gene sequence had the highest nucleotide identity (77.3%) to porpoise morbillivirus from Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. The resulting 248 bp P gene had the highest nucleotide identity to porpoise morbillivirus in Northern Ireland and the Netherlands and to a stranded Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) in Brazil (66.9%). As Fraser’s dolphins are a pelagic species that infrequently strand, a novel strain of CeMV may be circulating in the central Pacific that could have additional population impacts through transmission to other small island-associated cetacean species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristi L West
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI, USA. .,Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
| | - Ilse Silva-Krott
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI, USA
| | - Nelmarie Landrau-Giovannetti
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Jeremiah Saliki
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Stephen Raverty
- Animal Health Center, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | - Ole Nielsen
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Vsevolod L Popov
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Nicole Davis
- Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - William A Walker
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kuttichantran Subramaniam
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas B Waltzek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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9
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Marutani VHB, Miyabe F, Alfieri AF, Domit C, de Matos AMRN, Filho MRCM, Bracarense APFRL. Systematic beach monitoring as a health assessment tool: Cetacean morbillivirus under non-epizootic circumstances in stranded dolphins. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e96-e103. [PMID: 34331405 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14271] [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: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) was identified as the etiologic agent of several epizootic episodes worldwide. Most of these studies are based on unusual mortality events or identification of new viral strains. We investigated the occurrence of CeMV under non-epizootic circumstances at a world heritage in Southern Brazil by a combination of pathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular assays. From 325 stranded cetaceans, 40 were included. Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) was the most frequent species. Interstitial pneumonia and non-suppurative encephalitis were the main pathologic findings associated with CeMV infection. Intracytoplasmic immunolabelling anti-CeMV was observed mainly in lungs and lymph nodes. All samples were negative in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. Diagnosis of CeMV is challenging in areas where epizootic episodes have not been recorded and due to post-mortem changes. We observed a CeMV prevalence of 27.5%. The results described here increase the knowledge about CeMV under non-epizootic conditions in Brazil and worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flávia Miyabe
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alice Fernandes Alfieri
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Camila Domit
- Centros de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil
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10
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Wessels ME, Deaville R, Perkins MW, Jepson PD, Penrose R, Rocchi MS, Maley M, Ballingall KT, Dagleish MP. Novel Presentation of DMV-Associated Encephalitis in a Long-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas). J Comp Pathol 2021; 183:51-56. [PMID: 33714432 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is an important global cause of morbidity and mortality in cetacean populations, with four pathological presentations including non-suppurative encephalitis. We describe an unusual case of dolphin morbillivirus (DMV)-associated non-suppurative encephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), in which the lesions were orientated on the periventricular white matter and comprised prominent multifocal syncytia formation in the absence of systemic lesions. DMV RNA was detected in brain tissue by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry for morbillivirus antigen yielded intense labelling of syncytia in periventricular sites, with sparse involvement of the deeper neuroparenchyma. The pattern of lesions raises the possibility of viral dissemination through the cerebrospinal fluid, as described for canine distemper virus, suggesting that similar pathogenic mechanisms may be implicated in lesion development. Further investigation is required to establish the pathogenesis of CeMV encephalitis and the behaviour of the virus within the central nervous system of cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Deaville
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Matthew W Perkins
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Paul D Jepson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Rod Penrose
- Marine Environmental Monitoring, Llechryd, Cardigan, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Mara S Rocchi
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Madeleine Maley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Keith T Ballingall
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark P Dagleish
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, UK
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11
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Cuvertoret-Sanz M, López-Figueroa C, O'Byrne A, Canturri A, Martí-Garcia B, Pintado E, Pérez L, Ganges L, Cobos A, Abarca ML, Raga JA, Van Bressem MF, Domingo M. Causes of cetacean stranding and death on the Catalonian coast (western Mediterranean Sea), 2012-2019. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2020; 142:239-253. [PMID: 33331291 DOI: 10.3354/dao03550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The causes of cetacean stranding and death along the Catalan coast between 2012 and 2019 were systematically investigated. Necropsies and detailed pathological investigations were performed on 89 well-preserved stranded cetaceans, including 72 striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, 9 Risso's dolphins Grampus griseus, 5 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, 1 common dolphin Delphinus delphis, 1 Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris and 1 fin whale Balaenoptera physalus. The cause of death was determined for 89.9% of the stranded cetaceans. Fisheries interaction was the most frequent cause of death in striped dolphins (27.8%) and bottlenose dolphins (60%). Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) was detected on the Catalan coast from 2016 to 2017, causing systemic disease and death in 8 of the 72 (11.1%) striped dolphins. Chronic CeMV infection of the central nervous system was observed from 2018-2019 in a further 5 striped dolphins. Thus, acute and chronic CeMV disease caused mortality in 18% of striped dolphins and 14.6% of all 89 cetaceans. Brucella ceti was isolated in 6 striped dolphins and 1 bottlenose dolphin with typical brucellosis lesions and in 1 striped dolphin with systemic CeMV. Sinusitis due to severe infestation by the nematode parasite Crassicauda grampicola caused the death of 4 out of 6 adult Risso's dolphins. Maternal separation, in some cases complicated with septicemia, was a frequent cause of death in 13 of 14 calves. Other less common causes of death were encephalomalacia of unknown origin, septicemia, peritonitis due to gastric perforation by parasites and hepatitis caused by Sarcocystis spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cuvertoret-Sanz
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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12
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Lacombe A, Pintado E, O'Byrne A, Allepuz A, Pérez-Rodriguez L, Domingo M. Ingestion of foreign materials by odontocetes along the Catalan coast: causes and consequences. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2020; 142:23-31. [PMID: 33150872 DOI: 10.3354/dao03527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ingestion of abnormal materials by cetaceans has been reported worldwide, but few studies have investigated the causes of foreign material ingestion. We retrospectively analysed necropsies performed between 2012 and 2019 on 88 cetaceans stranded along the coast of Catalonia, Spain, and evaluated the association of abnormal ingested materials with 2 risk factors, namely disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and maternal separation. Abnormal materials were found in the digestive tract in 19 of 88 (21.6%) cetaceans; of these, 13 (60%) had lesions in the CNS, such as morbilliviral encephalitis, neurobrucellosis or encephalomalacia, and 3 were diagnosed as having experienced maternal separation. In a logistic regression model, CNS lesions and maternal separation were identified as risk factors for ingestion of foreign material, but with wide confidence intervals, probably due to the small sample size. In contrast, abnormal ingestion was not identified in any of the 25 (28%) cetaceans whose cause of death was attributed to interaction with humans. Abnormal ingestion should be interpreted with caution, and efforts should be made at necropsy to exclude CNS diseases through pathologic and microbiologic investigations. If disease of the CNS is a significant risk factor for ingestion of marine debris by small odontocetes, results of monitoring programmes may be biased by the prevalence of CNS disease in a specific area or population.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lacombe
- Facultat de Veterinària de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain
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13
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Groch KR, Blazquez DNH, Marcondes MCC, Santos J, Colosio A, Díaz Delgado J, Catão-Dias JL. Cetacean morbillivirus in Humpback whales' exhaled breath. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:1736-1743. [PMID: 33070446 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The humpback whale (HW; Megaptera novaeangliae) population that seasonally resides along the Brazilian coast concentrates in the Abrolhos Bank (Bahia and Espírito Santo states) for breeding during austral winter and spring. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV, Paramyxoviridae family) is currently one of the most significant biological threats to cetaceans worldwide with high infection and mortality rates. CeMV is pleiotropic yet it has special tropism for the respiratory, lymphoid and nervous system and is primarily transmitted by the aerogenous route. A new lineage of CeMV, the Guiana dolphin morbillivirus (GDMV), is known to affect cetaceans off Brazil. GDMV was first detected in a Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) stranded in the Abrolhos Bank region, in 2010. In addition to pathologic examinations on stranded HW, pathogen survey of free-ranging HW may provide valuable insight into the epidemiology of diseases. We hypothesized that HW in the Brazilian breeding ground could be exposed to CeMV. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the presence of CeMV in exhaled breath condensates (EBC) of HW in the Abrolhos Bank. Overall, 73 samples of EBC from 48 groups of HW were collected during the breeding seasons of 2011 (n = 16) and 2012 (n = 57). One sample failed to have the reference gene amplified and was excluded from the study. CeMV was detected by a RT-qPCR method in 2 EBC samples, representing 2 whale groups. Phylogenetic analysis of partial morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene showed 100% homology to GDMV. Our results show that HW in Brazil are infected by CeMV with a relative prevalence of 4.3% (2/47) and demonstrate the suitability of using EBC and RT-qPCR as a non-invasive tool for CeMV survey in free-ranging whales. This pioneer study provides scientific basis for non-invasive CeMV monitoring of HW, suggests HW may play a role in the dynamics of CeMV and raises concern for potential conservation implications for this species.
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14
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Sierra E, Fernández A, Felipe-Jiménez I, Zucca D, Díaz-Delgado J, Puig-Lozano R, Câmara N, Consoli F, Díaz-Santana P, Suárez-Santana C, Arbelo M. Histopathological Differential Diagnosis of Meningoencephalitis in Cetaceans: Morbillivirus, Herpesvirus, Toxoplasma gondii, Brucella sp., and Nasitrema sp. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:650. [PMID: 33195505 PMCID: PMC7554640 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious and inflammatory processes are among the most common causes of central nervous system involvement in stranded cetaceans. Meningitis and encephalitis are among the leading known natural causes of death in stranded cetaceans and may be caused by a wide range of pathogens. This study describes histopathological findings in post-mortem brain tissue specimens from stranded cetaceans associated with five relevant infectious agents: viruses [Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) and Herpesvirus (HV); n = 29], bacteria (Brucella sp.; n = 7), protozoa (Toxoplasma gondii; n = 6), and helminths (Nasitrema sp.; n = 1). Aetiological diagnosis was established by molecular methods. Histopathologic evaluations of brain samples were performed in all the cases, and additional histochemical and/or immunohistochemical stains were carried out accordingly. Compared with those produced by other types of pathogens in our study, the characteristic features of viral meningoencephalitis (CeMV and HV) included the most severe and frequent presence of malacia, intranuclear, and/or intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, neuronal necrosis and associated neuronophagia, syncytia and hemorrhages, predominantly in the cerebrum. The characteristic features of Brucella sp. meningoencephalitis included the most severe and frequent presence of meningitis, perivascular cuffing, cerebellitis, myelitis, polyradiculoneuritis, choroiditis, ventriculitis, vasculitis, and fibrinoid necrosis of vessels. The characteristic features of T. gondii meningoencephalitis included lymphocytic and granulomatous encephalitis, tissue cysts, microgliosis, and oedema. In the case of Nasitrema sp. infection, lesions are all that we describe since just one animal was available. The results of this study are expected to contribute, to a large extent, to a better understanding of brain-pathogen-associated lesions in cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sierra
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Idaira Felipe-Jiménez
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Daniele Zucca
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Josué Díaz-Delgado
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.,Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Raquel Puig-Lozano
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Nakita Câmara
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Francesco Consoli
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.,Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Pablo Díaz-Santana
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Cristian Suárez-Santana
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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15
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Groch KR, Díaz-Delgado J, Santos-Neto EB, Ikeda JMP, Carvalho RR, Oliveira RB, Guari EB, Flach L, Sierra E, Godinho AI, Fernández A, Keid LB, Soares RM, Kanamura CT, Favero C, Ferreira-Machado E, Sacristán C, Porter BF, Bisi TL, Azevedo AF, Lailson-Brito J, Catão-Dias JL. The Pathology of Cetacean Morbillivirus Infection and Comorbidities in Guiana Dolphins During an Unusual Mortality Event (Brazil, 2017-2018). Vet Pathol 2020; 57:845-857. [PMID: 32964811 DOI: 10.1177/0300985820954550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV; Paramyxoviridae) is the most significant pathogen of cetaceans worldwide. The novel "multi-host" Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis; GD)-CeMV strain is reported in South American waters and infects Guiana dolphins and southern right whales (Eubalaena australis). This study aimed to describe the pathologic findings, GD-CeMV viral antigen distribution and detection by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), and infectious comorbidities in 29 Guiana dolphins that succumbed during an unusual mass-mortality event in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, between November 2017 and March 2018. The main gross findings were lack of ingesta, pulmonary edema, ascites, icterus, hepatic lipidosis, multicentric lymphadenomegaly, as well as pneumonia, polyserositis, and multiorgan vasculitis caused by Halocercus brasiliensis. Microscopically, the primary lesions were bronchointerstitial pneumonia and multicentric lymphoid depletion. The severity and extent of the lesions paralleled the distribution and intensity of morbilliviral antigen. For the first time in cetaceans, morbilliviral antigen was detected in salivary gland, optic nerve, heart, diaphragm, parietal and visceral epithelium of glomeruli, vulva, and thyroid gland. Viral antigen within circulating leukocytes suggested this as a mechanism of dissemination within the host. Comorbidities included disseminated toxoplasmosis, mycosis, ciliated protozoosis, and bacterial disease including brucellosis. These results provide strong evidence for GD-CeMV as the main cause of this unusual mass-mortality event.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Josué Díaz-Delgado
- 28133University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,67283Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Joana M P Ikeda
- 28130Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael R Carvalho
- 28130Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raissa B Oliveira
- 28130Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Emi B Guari
- 28130Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Flach
- Instituto Boto Cinza, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eva Sierra
- 16750University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Ana I Godinho
- 16750University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- 16750University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Lara B Keid
- 28133University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tatiana L Bisi
- 28130Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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16
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POSTMORTEM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN A CASE OF COINFECTION OF DOLPHIN MORBILLIVIRUS AND ASPERGILLUS FUMIGATUS IN A JUVENILE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN ( TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS). J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 51:448-454. [PMID: 32549578 DOI: 10.1638/2019-0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A freshly dead juvenile bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), recovered from the waters near Sand Key, Clearwater, FL, was imaged postmortem using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging prior to conventional necropsy. The pattern of imaging findings in the brain was compatible with severe multifocal meningoencephalitis with intralesional necrosis and/or hemorrhage, and the pattern of imaging findings in the lungs was compatible with severe multifocal bronchopneumonia. The subsequent investigation included necropsy, histology, culture, and molecular diagnostics and demonstrated disseminated coinfection of dolphin morbillivirus and Aspergillus fumigatus. This is the first report documenting the cross-sectional imaging findings of this important cetacean comorbidity and demonstrates advances in modern, cooperative investigations of marine mammal mortality events.
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17
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Groch KR, Santos-Neto EB, Díaz-Delgado J, Ikeda JMP, Carvalho RR, Oliveira RB, Guari EB, Bisi TL, Azevedo AF, Lailson-Brito J, Catão-Dias JL. Guiana Dolphin Unusual Mortality Event and Link to Cetacean Morbillivirus, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:1349-1354. [PMID: 29912687 PMCID: PMC6038766 DOI: 10.3201/eid2407.180139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During November-December 2017, a mass die-off of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) began in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Molecular and pathologic investigations on 20 animals indicated that cetacean morbillivirus played a major role. Our findings increase the knowledge on health and disease aspects of this endangered species.
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18
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Díaz-Delgado J, Groch KR, Sierra E, Sacchini S, Zucca D, Quesada-Canales Ó, Arbelo M, Fernández A, Santos E, Ikeda J, Carvalho R, Azevedo AF, Lailson-Brito J, Flach L, Ressio R, Kanamura CT, Sansone M, Favero C, Porter BF, Centelleghe C, Mazzariol S, Di Renzo L, Di Francesco G, Di Guardo G, Catão-Dias JL. Comparative histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical studies on CeMV infection among Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic cetaceans. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213363. [PMID: 30893365 PMCID: PMC6426187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a major natural cause of morbidity and mortality in cetaceans worldwide and results in epidemic and endemic fatalities. The pathogenesis of CeMV has not been fully elucidated, and questions remain regarding tissue tropism and the mechanisms of immunosuppression. We compared the histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical features in molecularly confirmed CeMV-infected Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from the Southwestern Atlantic (Brazil) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Northeast-Central Atlantic (Canary Islands, Spain) and the Western Mediterranean Sea (Italy). Major emphasis was placed on the central nervous system (CNS), including neuroanatomical distribution of lesions, and the lymphoid system and lung were also examined. Eleven Guiana dolphins, 13 striped dolphins, and 3 bottlenose dolphins were selected by defined criteria. CeMV infections showed a remarkable neurotropism in striped dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, while this was a rare feature in CeMV-infected Guiana dolphins. Neuroanatomical distribution of lesions in dolphins stranded in the Canary Islands revealed a consistent involvement of the cerebrum, thalamus, and cerebellum, followed by caudal brainstem and spinal cord. In most cases, Guiana dolphins had more severe lung lesions. The lymphoid system was involved in all three species, with consistent lymphoid depletion. Multinucleate giant cells/syncytia and characteristic viral inclusion bodies were variably observed in these organs. Overall, there was widespread lymphohistiocytic, epithelial, and neuronal/neuroglial viral antigen immunolabeling with some individual, host species, and CeMV strain differences. Preexisting and opportunistic infections were common, particularly endoparasitism, followed by bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. These results contribute to understanding CeMV infections in susceptible cetacean hosts in relation to factors such as CeMV strains and geographic locations, thereby establishing the basis for future neuro- and immunopathological comparative investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Díaz-Delgado
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Kátia R. Groch
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eva Sierra
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Simona Sacchini
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Daniele Zucca
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Óscar Quesada-Canales
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Elitieri Santos
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel’(MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Joana Ikeda
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel’(MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafael Carvalho
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel’(MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F. Azevedo
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel’(MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jose Lailson-Brito
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel’(MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Flach
- Projeto Boto cinza, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ressio
- Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL)–Pathology Center, Pacaembú, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Sansone
- Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL)–Pathology Center, Pacaembú, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Cíntia Favero
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Brian F. Porter
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Hygiene (BCA), University of Padova, Agripolis, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Hygiene (BCA), University of Padova, Agripolis, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Ludovica Di Renzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Di Francesco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Località Piano d'Accio, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - José Luiz Catão-Dias
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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19
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Díaz-Delgado J, Groch KR, Ressio R, Riskallah IPJ, Sierra E, Sacchini S, Quesada-Canales Ó, Arbelo M, Fernández A, Santos-Neto E, Ikeda J, de Carvalho RR, Azevedo ADF, Lailson-Brito J, Flach L, Kanamura CT, Fernandes NCCA, Cogliati B, Centelleghe C, Mazzariol S, Di Renzo L, Di Francesco G, Di Guardo G, Catão-Dias JL. Comparative Immunopathology of Cetacean morbillivirus Infection in Free-Ranging Dolphins From Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic. Front Immunol 2019; 10:485. [PMID: 30936878 PMCID: PMC6431672 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV; Paramyxoviridae) causes epizootic and interepizootic fatalities in odontocetes and mysticetes worldwide. Studies suggest there is different species-specific susceptibility to CeMV infection, with striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) ranking among the most susceptible cetacean hosts. The pathogenesis of CeMV infection is not fully resolved. Since no previous studies have evaluated the organ-specific immunopathogenetic features of CeMV infection in tissues from infected dolphins, this study was aimed at characterizing and comparing immunophenotypic profiles of local immune responses in lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen), lung and CNS in CeMV-molecularly (RT-PCR)-positive cetaceans from Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses targeted molecules of immunologic interest: caspase 3, CD3, CD20, CD57, CD68, FoxP3, MHCII, Iba1, IFNγ, IgG, IL4, IL10, lysozyme, TGFβ, and PAX5. We detected consistent CeMV-associated inflammatory response patterns. Within CNS, inflammation was dominated by CD3+ (T cells), and CD20+ and PAX5+ (B cells) lymphocytes, accompanied by fewer Iba1+, CD68+, and lysozyme+ histiocytes, mainly in striped dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Multicentric lymphoid depletion was characterized by reduced numbers of T cells and B cells, more pronounced in Guiana dolphins. Striped dolphins and bottlenose dolphins often had hyperplastic (regenerative) phenomena involving the aforementioned cell populations, particularly chronically infected animals. In the lung, there was mild to moderate increase in T cells, B cells, and histiocytes. Additionally, there was a generalized increased expression of caspase 3 in lymphoid, lung, and CNS tissues. Apoptosis, therefore, is believed to play a major role in generalized lymphoid depletion and likely overt immunosuppression during CeMV infection. No differences were detected regarding cytokine immunoreactivity in lymph nodes, spleen, and lung from infected and non-infected dolphins by semiquantitative analysis; however, there was striking immunoreactivity for IFNγ in the CNS of infected dolphins. These novel results set the basis for tissue-specific immunophenotypic responses during CeMV infection in three highly susceptible delphinid species. They also suggest a complex interplay between viral and host's immune factors, thereby contributing to gain valuable insights into similarities, and differences of CeMV infection's immunopathogenesis in relation to body tissues, CeMV strains, and cetacean hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Díaz-Delgado
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kátia R. Groch
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ressio
- Pathology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isis P. J. Riskallah
- Pathology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Morphologic and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eva Sierra
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain
| | - Simona Sacchini
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain
| | - Óscar Quesada-Canales
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain
| | - Elitieri Santos-Neto
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel' (MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joana Ikeda
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel' (MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael Ramos de Carvalho
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel' (MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre de Freitas Azevedo
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel' (MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Lailson-Brito
- Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals and Bioindicators: Profa Izabel M. G. do N. Gurgel' (MAQUA), Faculty of Oceanography, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Flach
- Instituto Boto Cinza, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Bruno Cogliati
- Laboratory of Morphologic and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Hygiene (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Hygiene (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Ludovica Di Renzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Di Francesco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - José Luiz Catão-Dias
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Marcer F, Marchiori E, Centelleghe C, Ajzenberg D, Gustinelli A, Meroni V, Mazzariol S. Parasitological and pathological findings in fin whales Balaenoptera physalus stranded along Italian coastlines. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 133:25-37. [PMID: 30997882 DOI: 10.3354/dao03327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mediterranean fin whales Balaenoptera physalus face many threats to their conservation, including both anthropogenic and natural issues. There are few records of the parasitic fauna of this species in this geographical area. To partially fill in this gap of knowledge, we investigated the presence and potential impact of parasitic diseases in Mediterranean fin whales. Seven animals stranded along Italian coastlines between 2006 and 2015 were submitted for necropsy and parasitological examination. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii was detected in 1 fin whale and, for the first time in mysticetes, it was successfully genotyped as a type II strain with 15 microsatellite markers. One crustacean (Pennella spp.) and 4 helminth taxa (Crassicauda boopis, Ogmogaster antarcticus, Tetrabothrius ruudi and Bolbosoma sp.) were detected and morphologically identified. Different degrees of ectoparasitism by adult P. balaenoptera were recorded. Immature stages of Pennella sp. were also detected in 2 animals and are described here for the first time in cetaceans. Infestation by C. boopis was confirmed or suspected in 5 cases. Parasitic thrombi, involving renal veins and caudal vena cava, and fibrosis of renal parenchyma were associated with C. boopis and likely resulted in some degree of renal dysfunction. Larval nematodes were found within foci of mesenteric endarteritis. Further research to evaluate the prevalence of this potentially fatal endoparasitosis in Mediterranean fin whales is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Marcer
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
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Pautasso A, Iulini B, Grattarola C, Giorda F, Goria M, Peletto S, Masoero L, Mignone W, Varello K, Petrella A, Carbone A, Pintore A, Denurra D, Scholl F, Cersini A, Puleio R, Purpari G, Lucifora G, Fusco G, Di Guardo G, Mazzariol S, Casalone C. Novel dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) outbreak among Mediterranean striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba in Italian waters. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 132:215-220. [PMID: 31188137 DOI: 10.3354/dao03323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
An unusual mortality event (UME) of striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba occurred in the period July to December 2016 along the Italian Ionian coastline. We conducted a complete postmortem examination on 28 specimens and detected dolphin morbillivirus (DMV), by means of biomolecular analyses, in the target tissues of 17 animals. Unlike previous outbreaks occurring in the Mediterranean Sea in 2011 and 2013, we observed typical pathological changes suggestive of morbilliviral infection in an acute/subacute phase and immunohistochemical reactivity. The same findings were observed in 13 other specimens beached along the Italian coastline during 2016 with no temporal and geographical relationship with the ongoing epidemic outbreak. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis showed that DMV sequences detected in Italy in 2016 clustered with those identified in Portugal and Galicia (Spain), representing a novel DMV strain of Atlantic origin which entered the Mediterranean Sea and affected a naïve striped dolphin population. DMV sequences detected in the previous Mediterranean outbreaks exhibited a marked genetic relatedness and diverged from those detected in cetaceans stranded along the Galician and Portuguese coasts since 2007.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Pautasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy
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Díaz-Delgado J, Fernández A, Sierra E, Sacchini S, Andrada M, Vela AI, Quesada-Canales Ó, Paz Y, Zucca D, Groch K, Arbelo M. Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204444. [PMID: 30289951 PMCID: PMC6173391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes the pathologic findings and most probable causes of death (CD) of 224 cetaceans stranded along the coastline of the Canary Islands (Spain) over a 7-year period, 2006-2012. Most probable CD, grouped as pathologic categories (PCs), was identified in 208/224 (92.8%) examined animals. Within natural PCs, those associated with good nutritional status represented 70/208 (33.6%), whereas, those associated with significant loss of nutritional status represented 49/208 (23.5%). Fatal intra- and interspecific traumatic interactions were 37/208 (17.8%). Vessel collisions included 24/208 (11.5%). Neonatal/perinatal pathology involved 13/208 (6.2%). Fatal interaction with fishing activities comprised 10/208 (4.8%). Within anthropogenic PCs, foreign body-associated pathology represented 5/208 (2.4%). A CD could not be determined in 16/208 (7.7%) cases. Natural PCs were dominated by infectious and parasitic disease processes. Herein, our results suggest that between 2006 and 2012, in the Canary Islands, direct human activity appeared responsible for 19% of cetaceans deaths, while natural pathologies accounted for 81%. These results, integrating novel findings and published reports, aid in delineating baseline knowledge on cetacean pathology and may be of value to rehabilitators, caregivers, diagnosticians and future conservation policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Díaz-Delgado
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
- Wildlife Comparative Pathology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Eva Sierra
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Simona Sacchini
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Marisa Andrada
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Ana Isabel Vela
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary College, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Óscar Quesada-Canales
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Yania Paz
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Daniele Zucca
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Kátia Groch
- Wildlife Comparative Pathology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Hygiene (IUSA), University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
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Li WT, Wang LY, Chang HW, Yang WC, Lo C, Pang VF, Chen MH, Jeng CR. Th2 cytokine bias induced by silver nanoparticles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus). PeerJ 2018; 6:e5432. [PMID: 30245924 PMCID: PMC6147119 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in many commercial products due to their excellent antibacterial ability. The AgNPs are released into the environment, gradually accumulate in the ocean, and may affect animals at high trophic levels, such as cetaceans and humans, via the food chain. Hence, the negative health impacts caused by AgNPs in cetaceans are of concern. Cytokines play a major role in the modulation of immune system and can be classified into two types: Th1 and Th2. Th1/Th2 balance can be evaluated by the ratios of their polarizing cytokines (i.e., interferon [IFN]-γ/Interleukin [IL]-4), and animals with imbalanced Th1/Th2 response may become more susceptible to certain kinds of infection. Therefore, the present study evaluated the in vitro cytokine responses of cetacean peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) to 20 nm citrate-AgNPs (C-AgNP20) by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). METHODS Blood samples were collected from six captive common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The cPBMCs were isolated and utilized for evaluating the in vitro cytokine responses. The cytokines evaluated included IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The geometric means of two housekeeping genes (HKGs), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and β2-microglobulin (B2M), of each sample were determined and used to normalize the mRNA expression levels of target genes. RESULTS The ratio of late apoptotic/necrotic cells of cPBMCs significantly increased with or without concanavalin A (ConA) stimulation after 24 h of 10 µg/ml C-AgNP20 treatment. At 4 h of culture, the mRNA expression level of IL-10 was significantly decreased with 1 µg/ml C-AgNP20 treatment. At 24 h of culture with 1 µg/ml C-AgNP20, the mRNA expression levels of all cytokines were significantly decreased, with the exceptions of IL-4 and IL-10. The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was significantly decreased at 24 h of culture with 1 µg/ml C-AgNP20 treatment, and the IL-12/IL-4 ratio was significantly decreased at 4 or 24 h of culture with 0.1 or 1 µg/ml C-AgNP20 treatment, respectively. Furthermore, the mRNA expression level of TNF-α was significantly decreased by 1 µg/ml C-AgNP20 after 24 h of culture. DISCUSSION The present study demonstrated that the sublethal dose of C-AgNP20 (≤1 µg/ml) had an inhibitory effect on the cytokine mRNA expression levels of cPBMCs with the evidence of Th2 cytokine bias and significantly decreased the mRNA expression level of TNF-α. Th2 cytokine bias is associated with enhanced immunity against parasites but decreased immunity to intracellular microorganisms. TNF-α is a contributing factor for the inflammatory response against the infection of intracellular pathogens. In summary, our data indicate that C-AgNP20 suppresses the cellular immune response and thereby increases the susceptibility of cetaceans to infection by intracellular microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ta Li
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lei-Ya Wang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Wen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Cheng Yang
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chieh Lo
- Farglory Ocean Park, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Victor Fei Pang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Hsien Chen
- Department of Oceanography and Asia-Pacific Ocean Research Center, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chian-Ren Jeng
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Cerezo A, Quesada-Canales O, Sierra E, Díaz-Delgado J, Fernández A, Henningson J, Arbelo M. Pyogranulomatous obliterative laryngotracheitis by Rhizopus arrhizus (syn. R. oryzae) in a free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2018; 130:153-158. [PMID: 30198490 DOI: 10.3354/dao03268] [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: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We report the gross and microscopic findings and molecular identification of fungal hyphate infection in a juvenile female Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis found dead off Arguineguin, Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). On necropsy examination, the animal had a large cranial intrathoracic mass and multiple variably-sized nodules throughout the larynx and trachea that obliterated the lumen. Microscopically, the masses were composed of abundant pyogranulomatous inflammation with numerous fungal hyphae. These were pauciseptate (coenocytic) and had non-parallel walls, non-dichotomous irregular to right angle branching, and bulbous dilations. PCR analysis from these inflammatory foci yielded Rhizopus arrhizus (syn. R. oryzae). This fungal pathogen is often ascribed to opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed humans and animals. In the present case, a potential cause for immunosuppression was not identified; PCR analysis for cetacean morbillivirus was negative. Herein, we report the first confirmed case of R. arrhizus infection in a free-living Atlantic cetacean. These findings add to the body of knowledge on fungal disease in cetaceans in general and, in particular, in odontocetes, where respiratory involvement is common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argiñe Cerezo
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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Sierra E, Fernández A, Zucca D, Câmara N, Felipe-Jiménez I, Suárez-Santana C, de Quirós YB, Díaz-Delgado J, Arbelo M. Morbillivirus infection in Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus: a phylogenetic and pathological study of cases from the Canary Islands. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2018; 129:165-174. [PMID: 30154276 DOI: 10.3354/dao03248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The earliest evidence of cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) infection dates from 1982, when the dolphin morbillivirus strain (DMV) was identified in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus stranded in the mid-Atlantic region. Since then, CeMV has been detected globally in at least 26 species of mysticetes and odontocetes, causing widespread mortality and a wide range of pathological effects. In the Canary Islands, DMV and pilot whale morbillivirus have been detected in cetacean species, including short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus and bottlenose dolphins. Risso's dolphins Grampus griseus have been reported year-round in waters of the Canary Islands and are considered a resident species. No information is currently available on CeMV prevalence in this species in this ocean region. We searched for evidence of CeMV infection in 12 Risso's dolphins stranded in the Canary Islands from 2003 to 2015 by means of histopathology, PCR and immunohistochemistry. PCR revealed 2 CeMV-positive animals (16.6%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the strains from the 2 positive specimens were phylogenetically quite distant, proving that more than 1 strain infects the Risso's dolphin population in this region. We also determined that the strain detected in one of the specimens mainly circulated in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from 2007 to 2013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sierra
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Institute of Animal Health, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
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Tracking Toxoplasma gondii in freshwater ecosystems: interaction with the invasive American mink (Neovison vison) in Spain. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:2275-2281. [PMID: 29785616 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5916-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Water-borne transmission may play an important role in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii. Mammals closely related to freshwater ecosystems, such as the American mink (Neovison vison), are potentially valuable sentinels for T. gondii. To assess the importance of freshwater ecosystems in T. gondii epidemiology, sera of 678 American minks collected during the 2010 to 2015 Spanish national eradication campaigns were tested for the presence of T. gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut-off 1:25). A high prevalence of samples, 78.8% (CI95%: 75.5-81.8), were seropositive. In addition, a specific real-time PCR was performed in 120 brain samples and the parasite DNA was detected in 9.2% (CI95%: 5.2-15.7). Significant differences in seroprevalence were detected among bioregions, with the highest levels detected in coastal areas, and by age. The higher seroprevalence observed in older animals (80.0% adults versus 68.7% juveniles) confirms the importance of the horizontal transmission. These results indicate a widespread presence of T. gondii oocysts in freshwater ecosystems from Spain and further support the importance of water-borne transmission in the epidemiology of T. gondii.
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Groch KR, Díaz-Delgado J, Sacristán C, Oliveira DE, Souza G, Sánchez-Sarmiento AM, Costa-Silva S, Marigo J, Castilho PV, Cremer MJ, Rodrigues Hoffmann A, Esperón F, Catão-Dias JL. Pulmonary and systemic fungal infections in an Atlantic spotted dolphin and a Bryde's whale, Brazil. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2018; 128:73-79. [PMID: 29565255 DOI: 10.3354/dao03207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We report the gross and microscopic findings and molecular identification of 2 cases of hyphate fungal infection in cetaceans from Brazil. The first case involved an adult male Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis with localized pulmonary disease characterized by pyogranulomatous and necrotizing bronchopneumonia with intralesional hyphae. The second case involved an adult male Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni with orchitis, periorchitis, mesenteric lymphadenitis and pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia with intralesional hyphae. PCR analysis from the dolphin's lung yielded Aspergillus fumigatus, and the fungus from the whale's mesenteric lymph node showed the greatest identity to Nanniziopsis obscura and Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum These cases represent the first reports of pulmonary aspergillosis by A. fumigatus in an Atlantic spotted dolphin and systemic mycosis by a possibly novel Onygenales in marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kátia R Groch
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
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Grattarola C, Giorda F, Iulini B, Pautasso A, Ballardini M, Zoppi S, Marsili L, Peletto S, Masoero L, Varello K, Garibaldi F, Scaglione FE, Di Guardo G, Dondo A, Goria M, Serracca L, Mignone W, Casalone C. Occlusive mycotic tracheobronchitis and systemic Alphaherpesvirus coinfection in a free-living striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba in Italy. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2018; 127:137-144. [PMID: 29384483 DOI: 10.3354/dao03190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A juvenile female striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba live stranded on 4 March 2016 at Alassio, western Ligurian Sea coast, Italy. The dolphin died shortly after stranding, and a complete postmortem examination was performed. Necropsy revealed severe tracheal occlusion and unilateral bronchial stenosis with luminal accumulation of abundant green-yellow mucous-gelatinous material. Histological features suggestive of tracheobronchial aspergillosis were observed. Cultures of lung tissue and tracheo-bronchial exudate isolated Aspergillus fumigatus, identified by a Microseq D2 LSUrDNA fungal sequencing kit. A pan-Herpesvirus nested-PCR assay on frozen samples obtained from multiple organs was positive. Phylogenetic analysis on the partial DNA polymerase gene revealed that the striped dolphin isolate was closely related to known cetacean Alphaherpesvirus sequences from the same host species. Attempted virus isolation was unsuccessful. The tissue levels of different persistent organic pollutants and the toxicological stress, evaluated using a theoretical model, showed a severely impaired immune response. This study reports the first case of occlusive mycotic tracheobronchitis in a free-living cetacean and the first molecular identification of an Alphaherpesvirus in a free-ranging striped dolphin stranded on the coast of Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Grattarola
- C.Re.Di.Ma., Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy
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Abstract
We summarized the neuropathologic findings in 60 cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline from 2002 to 2014. The following neuropathologic changes were detected in 45% (27/60) of animals: nonsuppurative meningo-encephalitides (30%, 18/60), nonspecific lesions (12%, 7/60), suppurative encephalitis (2%, 1/60), and neoplasm (2%, 1/60). No histologic lesions were found in 47% (28/60) of the specimens. Five (8%, 5/60) samples were unsuitable for analysis. Analysis with PCR detected Brucella spp., morbillivirus, and Toxoplasma gondii infection in one, six, and seven individuals, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed positivity for morbillivirus and for T. gondii infection in three cases each. No evidence of the scrapie-associated prion protein PrPSc was detected. Our findings underscore the importance of an adequate surveillance system for monitoring aquatic mammal pathologies and for protecting both animal and human health.
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Pfeffermann K, Dörr M, Zirkel F, von Messling V. Morbillivirus Pathogenesis and Virus-Host Interactions. Adv Virus Res 2018; 100:75-98. [PMID: 29551144 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines against measles and several animal morbilliviruses, they continue to cause regular outbreaks and epidemics in susceptible populations. Morbilliviruses are highly contagious and share a similar pathogenesis in their respective hosts. This review provides an overview of morbillivirus history and the general replication cycle and recapitulates Morbillivirus pathogenesis focusing on common and unique aspects seen in different hosts. It also summarizes the state of knowledge regarding virus-host interactions on the cellular level with an emphasis on viral interference with innate immune response activation, and highlights remaining knowledge gaps.
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Díaz-Delgado J, Sierra E, Vela AI, Arbelo M, Zucca D, Groch KR, Fernández A. Coinfection by Streptococcus phocae and cetacean morbillivirus in a short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2017; 124:247-252. [PMID: 28492181 DOI: 10.3354/dao03124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We describe gross, histopathological, and immunohistochemical features of Streptococcus phocae and cetacean morbillivirus coinfection in a short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis. Major gross findings were cutaneous purulent nodules in the tail fluke, vegetative mitral valve endocarditis, and presumed postpartum pyometra. Histologic examination revealed bacterial septicemia characterized by widespread intravascular coccoid bacterial emboli. These were associated with fibrinonecrotizing to pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis, embolic pneumonia, neutrophilic and lymphoplasmacytic meningochoroiditis, random neutrophilic hepatitis, lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis and epicarditis, necrotizing adrenalitis, suppurative endometritis, and multicentric reactive lymphadenopathy. Bacteriology and molecular analysis with sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene identified S. phocae from lung, brain, and adrenal gland tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis for morbillivirus detection revealed positive immunolabeling in the epithelium of the choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle. Published reports on S. phocae infection in cetaceans are rare, and pathological details are limited. The present case indicates that S. phocae has potential pathogenic capacity in common dolphins. The pathogenesis is proposed to have involved cutaneous penetration after a skin trauma, leading to initial cutaneous disease and eventual systemic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Díaz-Delgado
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health, Veterinary College, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, Arucas 35413, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Sierra E, Fernández A, Suárez-Santana C, Xuriach A, Zucca D, Bernaldo de Quirós Y, García-Álvarez N, De la Fuente J, Sacchini S, Andrada M, Díaz-Delgado J, Arbelo M. Morbillivirus and Pilot Whale Deaths, Canary Islands, Spain, 2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 22:740-2. [PMID: 26982571 PMCID: PMC4806956 DOI: 10.3201/eid2204.150954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Cassle SE, Landrau-Giovannetti N, Farina LL, Leone A, Wellehan JFX, Stacy NI, Thompson P, Herring H, Mase-Guthrie B, Blas-Machado U, Saliki JT, Walsh MT, Waltzek TB. Coinfection by Cetacean morbillivirus and Aspergillus fumigatus in a juvenile bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Mexico. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016; 28:729-734. [PMID: 27698174 DOI: 10.1177/1040638716664761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A recently deceased juvenile male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found floating in the Gulf of Mexico, off Sand Key in Clearwater, Florida. At autopsy, we identified pneumonia and a focus of malacia in the right cerebrum. Cytologic evaluation of tissue imprints from the right cerebrum revealed fungal hyphae. Fungal cultures of the lung and brain yielded Aspergillus fumigatus, which was confirmed by amplification of a portion of the fungal nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 region sequence. Microscopic pulmonary lesions of bronchiolar epithelial cell syncytia with intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions within bronchiolar epithelial cells were suggestive of Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) infection. The occurrence of CeMV infection was supported by positive immunohistochemical staining for morbillivirus antigen. CeMV detection was confirmed by amplification and sequencing a portion of the morbilliviral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene from lung tissue. This case provides CeMV sequence data available from the Gulf of Mexico and underscores the need for genomic sequencing across diverse host, temporospatial, and population (i.e., single animal vs. mass mortality events) scales to improve our understanding of these globally emerging pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen E Cassle
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Nelmarie Landrau-Giovannetti
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Lisa L Farina
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Angelique Leone
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - James F X Wellehan
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Nicole I Stacy
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Patrick Thompson
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Hada Herring
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Blair Mase-Guthrie
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Uriel Blas-Machado
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Jeremiah T Saliki
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Michael T Walsh
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
| | - Thomas B Waltzek
- Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Cassle, Stacy, Walsh), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLInfectious Diseases and Pathology (Landrau-Giovannetti, Farina, Leone, Thompson, Waltzek), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLSmall Animal Clinical Sciences (Wellehan), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLClearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL (Herring, Walsh)National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, Southeast Region, Miami, FL (Mase-Guthrie)Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Blas-Machado, Saliki)
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Bento MCRDM, Eira CICS, Vingada JV, Marçalo AL, Ferreira MCT, Fernandez AL, Tavares LMM, Duarte AISP. New insight into dolphin morbillivirus phylogeny and epidemiology in the northeast Atlantic: opportunistic study in cetaceans stranded along the Portuguese and Galician coasts. BMC Vet Res 2016; 12:176. [PMID: 27566667 PMCID: PMC5002201 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0795-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Screening Atlantic cetacean populations for Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) is essential to understand the epidemiology of the disease. In Europe, Portugal and Spain have the highest cetacean stranding rates, mostly due to the vast extension of coastline. Morbillivirus infection has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in cetaceans, especially in outbreaks reported in the Mediterranean Sea. However, scarce information is available regarding this disease in cetaceans from the North-East Atlantic populations. The presence of CeMV genomic RNA was investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in samples from 279 specimens stranded along the Portuguese and Galician coastlines collected between 2004 and 2015. Results A total of sixteen animals (n = 16/279, 5.7 %) were positive. The highest prevalence of DMV was registered in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) (n = 14/69; 20.3 %), slightly higher in those collected in Galicia (n = 8/33; 24.2 %) than in Portugal (n = 6/36; 16.7 %). Conclusions Phylogenetic analysis revealed that, despite the low genetic distances between samples, the high posterior probability (PP) values obtained strongly support the separation of the Portuguese and Galician sequences in an independent branch, separately from samples from the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. Furthermore, evidence suggests an endemic rather than an epidemic situation in the striped dolphin populations from Portugal and Galicia, since no outbreaks have been detected and positive samples have been detected annually since 2007, indicating that this virus is actively circulating in these populations and reaching prevalence values as high as 24 % among the Galician samples tested. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0795-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catarina Isabel Costa Simões Eira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.,Portuguese Wildlife Society, Department of Biology, Minho University, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - José Vitor Vingada
- Portuguese Wildlife Society, Department of Biology, Minho University, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,Department of Biology and CESAM, Minho University, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Luisa Marçalo
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.,Portuguese Wildlife Society, Department of Biology, Minho University, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Marisa Cláudia Teixeira Ferreira
- Portuguese Wildlife Society, Department of Biology, Minho University, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,Department of Biology and CBMA, Minho University, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Alfredo Lopez Fernandez
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.,Coordinadora para o Estudo dos Mamíferos Mariños, 36380, Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Luís Manuel Morgado Tavares
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Simões Pereira Duarte
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal
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35
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A simultaneous diagnosis and genotyping method for global surveillance of cetacean morbillivirus. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30625. [PMID: 27484954 PMCID: PMC4971491 DOI: 10.1038/srep30625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is considered one of the most important viral pathogens in cetaceans. CeMV outbreaks of lethal disease have repeatedly been observed in Europe, the Americas, and Australia, while large herds of gregarious species were found to be the likely reservoirs and sources of CeMV infection to susceptible species in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Furthermore, three new strains were detected recently in Hawaii, Brazil and Australia. To clarify the real global distribution of CeMV and possible carriers, we showed a novel technique successfully diagnosing and distinguishing different virus strains (DMV, PWMV and novel CeMVs) using FFPE samples from 1996 to 2011. This efficient method that combines qRT-PCR and high resolution melting (HRM) could be applied to the future retrospective global studies for better understanding of different prevalence and outbreak conditions among ocean basins and the mechanism of variable host response to pathogens.
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36
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Grattarola C, Giorda F, Iulini B, Pintore MD, Pautasso A, Zoppi S, Goria M, Romano A, Peletto S, Varello K, Garibaldi F, Garofolo G, Di Francesco CE, Marsili L, Bozzetta E, Di Guardo G, Dondo A, Mignone W, Casalone C. Meningoencephalitis and Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. coinfection in a dolphin in Italy. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2016; 118:169-74. [PMID: 26912047 DOI: 10.3354/dao02957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. can infect a wide range of species, including humans. In cetaceans, meningoencephalitis has been associated with T. gondii and Brucella spp. infection, whereas to our knowledge, L. monocytogenes infection has not previously been reported. Meningoencephalitis and L. monocytogenes, T. gondii and Brucella spp. were identified by means of both direct and indirect laboratory techniques in an adult female striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba found stranded in January 2015 on the Ligurian Sea coast, northwestern Italy. The animal was emaciated, and histopathology disclosed severe meningoencephalitis. The nature of the inflammatory response and intra-lesional protozoa were consistent with a mixed infection by L. monocytogenes, T. gondii and Brucella spp. We believe this is an unprecedented case of infection by 3 zoonotic pathogens and also the first bacteriologically confirmed case report of neurolisteriosis in cetaceans. Cerebral toxoplasmosis and neurobrucellosis may have led to the animal's disorientation and stranding, with L. monocytogenes having likely exacerbated the coinfection leading to the demise of this dolphin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
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37
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Di Guardo G, Mazzariol S. Cetacean Morbillivirus-Associated Pathology: Knowns and Unknowns. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:112. [PMID: 26903991 PMCID: PMC4744835 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The present minireview deals with the pathology of Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) infection in free-ranging cetaceans. In this respect, while "classical" CeMV-associated lesions were observed in the lung, brain, and lymphoid tissues from striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and pilot whales (Globicephala melas) which were victims of the 1990-1992 and 2006-2008 epidemics in the Western Mediterranean, an apparent reduction in CeMV neurovirulence, along with a different viral antigen's tissue and cell distribution, were found during the 2010-2011 and the 2013 outbreaks in the same area. Of remarkable concern are also the documented CeMV ability to induce maternally acquired infections in wild cetaceans, coupled with the progressively expanding geographic and host range of the virus in both Hemispheres, as well as in conjunction with the intriguing forms of "brain-only" morbilliviral infection increasingly reported in Mediterranean-striped dolphins. Future research in this area should address the virus-host interaction dynamics, with particular emphasis on the cell receptors specifying viral tissue tropism in relation to the different cetacean species and to their susceptibility to infection, as well as to the CeMV strains circulating worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Hygiene, University of Padova Padova, Italy
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38
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Melero M, Giménez-Lirola LG, Rubio-Guerri C, Crespo-Picazo JL, Sierra E, García-Párraga D, García-Peña FJ, Arbelo M, Álvaro T, Valls M, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Fluorescent microbead-based immunoassay for anti-Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae antibody detection in cetaceans. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2016; 117:237-243. [PMID: 26758657 DOI: 10.3354/dao02948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A fluorescent microbead-based immunoassay (FMIA) for detection of anti-Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae antibodies in pigs was adapted for use in cetaceans. The FMIA was validated and adjusted using serum samples from 10 vaccinated captive bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus collected between 1 and 13 mo after immunization. The technique was then used to analyze specimens from 15 free-ranging cetaceans stranded alive on the Valencian Mediterranean coast between 2006 and 2014: 11 striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, 3 Risso's dolphins Grampus griseus and 1 bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus. One of these wild animals was confirmed to have died from E. rhusiopathiae septicemia, but no anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibodies were detected in its serum, pericardial fluid or milk samples. Another free-ranging individual, which lacked any signs or lesions that might be indicative of E. rhusiopathiae infection, showed high fluorescence intensity similar to that measured in captive dolphins at 6-13 mo after vaccination. These results suggest that this animal underwent an E. rhusiopathiae infection several months before stranding. The findings in the present study suggest that FMIA can be useful for detecting anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibodies in cetaceans, and its application to free-ranging animals is particularly interesting because of the great value of these specimens. Furthermore, the FMIA can be multiplexed to allow the determination of up to 100 analytes per sample in a single well, thereby reducing the cost, time and sample volume needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Melero
- VISAVET Center and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Diagnosis of Cetacean morbillivirus: A sensitive one step real time RT fast-PCR method based on SYBR® Green. J Virol Methods 2015; 226:25-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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40
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Dual congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona in a late-term aborted pup from a chronically infected southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). Parasitology 2015; 143:276-88. [PMID: 26494610 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182015001377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona are protozoan parasites with terrestrial definitive hosts, and both pathogens can cause fatal disease in a wide range of marine animals. Close monitoring of threatened southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in California allowed for the diagnosis of dual transplacental transmission of T. gondii and S. neurona in a wild female otter that was chronically infected with both parasites. Congenital infection resulted in late-term abortion due to disseminated toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma gondii and S. neurona DNA was amplified from placental tissue culture, as well as from fetal lung tissue. Molecular characterization of T. gondii revealed a Type X genotype in isolates derived from placenta and fetal brain, as well as in all tested fetal organs (brain, lung, spleen, liver and thymus). This report provides the first evidence for transplacental transmission of T. gondii in a chronically infected wild sea otter, and the first molecular and immunohistochemical confirmation of concurrent transplacental transmission of T. gondii and S. neurona in any species. Repeated fetal and/or neonatal losses in the sea otter dam also suggested that T. gondii has the potential to reduce fecundity in chronically infected marine mammals through parasite recrudescence and repeated fetal infection.
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41
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Profeta F, Di Francesco CE, Marsilio F, Mignone W, Di Nocera F, De Carlo E, Lucifora G, Pietroluongo G, Baffoni M, Cocumelli C, Eleni C, Terracciano G, Ferri N, Di Francesco G, Casalone C, Pautasso A, Mazzariol S, Centelleghe C, Di Guardo G. Retrospective seroepidemiological investigations against Morbillivirus, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. in cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline (1998-2014). Res Vet Sci 2015; 101:89-92. [PMID: 26267096 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study reports the results of seroepidemiological investigations carried out against Morbillivirus, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. on blood serum samples collected from 70 cetacean specimens found stranded along the Italian coastline between 1998 and 2014. A total number of 23 serum samples (32.8%) obtained from Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Balaenoptera physalus and Globicephala melas harboured anti-Morbillivirus neutralizing antibodies. Ten sera (16%) collected from S. coeruleoalba and T. truncatus were found positive against T. gondii, while no antibodies against Brucella spp. were found. These data reveal that stranded cetaceans provide a unique opportunity for monitoring the health status of free-ranging animals living in the Mediterranean Sea, in order to investigate the level of exposure of cetacean populations to selected infectious agents representing a serious threat for aquatic mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fulvio Marsilio
- University of Teramo, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teramo, Italy
| | - Walter Mignone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Marina Baffoni
- University of Teramo, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Eleni
- IZS delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana "M. Aleandri", Italy
| | | | - Nicola Ferri
- IZS dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Italy
| | | | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pautasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Italy
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy
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42
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Van Bressem MF, Duignan PJ, Banyard A, Barbieri M, Colegrove KM, De Guise S, Di Guardo G, Dobson A, Domingo M, Fauquier D, Fernandez A, Goldstein T, Grenfell B, Groch KR, Gulland F, Jensen BA, Jepson PD, Hall A, Kuiken T, Mazzariol S, Morris SE, Nielsen O, Raga JA, Rowles TK, Saliki J, Sierra E, Stephens N, Stone B, Tomo I, Wang J, Waltzek T, Wellehan JFX. Cetacean morbillivirus: current knowledge and future directions. Viruses 2014; 6:5145-81. [PMID: 25533660 PMCID: PMC4276946 DOI: 10.3390/v6125145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We review the molecular and epidemiological characteristics of cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) and the diagnosis and pathogenesis of associated disease, with six different strains detected in cetaceans worldwide. CeMV has caused epidemics with high mortality in odontocetes in Europe, the USA and Australia. It represents a distinct species within the Morbillivirus genus. Although most CeMV strains are phylogenetically closely related, recent data indicate that morbilliviruses recovered from Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), from Western Australia, and a Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), from Brazil, are divergent. The signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) cell receptor for CeMV has been characterized in cetaceans. It shares higher amino acid identity with the ruminant SLAM than with the receptors of carnivores or humans, reflecting the evolutionary history of these mammalian taxa. In Delphinidae, three amino acid substitutions may result in a higher affinity for the virus. Infection is diagnosed by histology, immunohistochemistry, virus isolation, RT-PCR, and serology. Classical CeMV-associated lesions include bronchointerstitial pneumonia, encephalitis, syncytia, and lymphoid depletion associated with immunosuppression. Cetaceans that survive the acute disease may develop fatal secondary infections and chronic encephalitis. Endemically infected, gregarious odontocetes probably serve as reservoirs and vectors. Transmission likely occurs through the inhalation of aerosolized virus but mother to fetus transmission was also reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Françoise Van Bressem
- Cetacean Conservation Medicine Group (CMED), Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research (CEPEC), Pucusana, Lima 20, Peru
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +49-30-53051397
| | - Pádraig J. Duignan
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL T2N 4Z6, Canada; E-Mail:
| | - Ashley Banyard
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK; E-Mail:
| | - Michelle Barbieri
- The Marine Mammal Centre, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA; E-Mails: (M.B.); (F.G.)
| | - Kathleen M Colegrove
- Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Maywood, IL 60153 , USA; E-Mail:
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, and Connecticut Sea Grant College Program, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; E-Mail:
| | - Andrew Dobson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; E-Mails: (A.D.); (B.G.); (S.E.M.)
| | - Mariano Domingo
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain; E-Mail:
| | - Deborah Fauquier
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; E-Mails: (D.F.); (T.K.R.)
| | - Antonio Fernandez
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Institute of Animal Health, Veterinary School, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas 35413, Spain; E-Mails: (A.F.); (E.S.)
| | - Tracey Goldstein
- One Health Institute School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Bryan Grenfell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; E-Mails: (A.D.); (B.G.); (S.E.M.)
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kátia R. Groch
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-207, Brazil; E-Mail:
- Instituto Baleia Jubarte (Humpback Whale Institute), Caravelas, Bahia 45900-000, Brazil
| | - Frances Gulland
- The Marine Mammal Centre, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA; E-Mails: (M.B.); (F.G.)
- Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Brenda A Jensen
- Department of Natural Sciences, Hawai`i Pacific University, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Paul D Jepson
- Institute of Zoology, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; E-Mail:
| | - Ailsa Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 8LB, UK; E-Mail:
| | - Thijs Kuiken
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, The Netherlands; E-Mail:
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Padua 35020, Italy; E-Mail:
| | - Sinead E Morris
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; E-Mails: (A.D.); (B.G.); (S.E.M.)
| | - Ole Nielsen
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Central and Arctic Region, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 , Canada; E-Mail:
| | - Juan A Raga
- Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia 22085, Spain; E-Mail:
| | - Teresa K Rowles
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; E-Mails: (D.F.); (T.K.R.)
| | - Jeremy Saliki
- Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA GA 30602 , USA; E-Mail:
| | - Eva Sierra
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Institute of Animal Health, Veterinary School, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas 35413, Spain; E-Mails: (A.F.); (E.S.)
| | - Nahiid Stephens
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Western Australia, Australia; E-Mail:
| | - Brett Stone
- QML Vetnostics, Metroplex on Gateway, Murarrie, Queensland 4172, Australia; E-Mail:
| | - Ikuko Tomo
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia; E-Mail:
| | - Jianning Wang
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), East Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia; E-Mail:
| | - Thomas Waltzek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; E-Mail:
| | - James FX Wellehan
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; E-Mail:
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Isidoro-Ayza M, Ruiz-Villalobos N, Pérez L, Guzmán-Verri C, Muñoz PM, Alegre F, Barberán M, Chacón-Díaz C, Chaves-Olarte E, González-Barrientos R, Moreno E, Blasco JM, Domingo M. Brucella ceti infection in dolphins from the Western Mediterranean sea. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:206. [PMID: 25224818 PMCID: PMC4180538 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-014-0206-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brucella ceti infections have been increasingly reported in cetaceans. Brucellosis in these animals is associated with meningoencephalitis, abortion, discospondylitis', subcutaneous abscesses, endometritis and other pathological conditions B. ceti infections have been frequently described in dolphins from both, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the Mediterranean Sea, only two reports have been made: one from the Italian Tyrrhenian Sea and the other from the Adriatic Sea. RESULTS We describe the clinical and pathological features of three cases of B. ceti infections in three dolphins stranded in the Mediterranean Catalonian coast. One striped dolphin had neurobrucellosis, showing lethargy, incoordination and lateral swimming due to meningoencephalitis, A B. ceti infected bottlenose dolphin had discospondylitis, and another striped dolphin did not show clinical signs or lesions related to Brucella infection. A detailed characterization of the three B. ceti isolates was performed by bacteriological, molecular, protein and fatty acid analyses. CONCLUSIONS All the B. ceti strains originating from Mediterranean dolphins cluster together in a distinct phylogenetic clade, close to that formed by B. ceti isolates from dolphins inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean. Our study confirms the severity of pathological signs in stranded dolphins and the relevance of B. ceti as a pathogen in the Mediterranean Sea.
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44
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Lane EP, de Wet M, Thompson P, Siebert U, Wohlsein P, Plön S. A systematic health assessment of indian ocean bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus) and indo-pacific humpback (Sousa plumbea) dolphins incidentally caught in shark nets off the KwaZulu-Natal Coast, South Africa. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107038. [PMID: 25203143 PMCID: PMC4159300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Coastal dolphins are regarded as indicators of changes in coastal marine ecosystem health that could impact humans utilizing the marine environment for food or recreation. Necropsy and histology examinations were performed on 35 Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and five Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) incidentally caught in shark nets off the KwaZulu-Natal coast, South Africa, between 2010 and 2012. Parasitic lesions included pneumonia (85%), abdominal and thoracic serositis (75%), gastroenteritis (70%), hepatitis (62%), and endometritis (42%). Parasitic species identified were Halocercus sp. (lung), Crassicauda sp. (skeletal muscle) and Xenobalanus globicipitis (skin). Additional findings included bronchiolar epithelial mineralisation (83%), splenic filamentous tags (45%), non-suppurative meningoencephalitis (39%), and myocardial fibrosis (26%). No immunohistochemically positive reaction was present in lesions suggestive of dolphin morbillivirus, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella spp. The first confirmed cases of lobomycosis and sarcocystosis in South African dolphins were documented. Most lesions were mild, and all animals were considered to be in good nutritional condition, based on blubber thickness and muscle mass. Apparent temporal changes in parasitic disease prevalence may indicate a change in the host/parasite interface. This study provided valuable baseline information on conditions affecting coastal dolphin populations in South Africa and, to our knowledge, constitutes the first reported systematic health assessment in incidentally caught dolphins in the Southern Hemisphere. Further research on temporal disease trends as well as disease pathophysiology and anthropogenic factors affecting these populations is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily P. Lane
- Department of Research and Scientific Services, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Morné de Wet
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Peter Thompson
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Foundation, Germany
| | - Peter Wohlsein
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Foundation, Germany
| | - Stephanie Plön
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, c/o Port Elizabeth Museum/Bayworld, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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45
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Sierra E, Zucca D, Arbelo M, García-Álvarez N, Andrada M, Déniz S, Fernández A. Fatal systemic morbillivirus infection in bottlenose dolphin, canary islands, Spain. Emerg Infect Dis 2014; 20:269-71. [PMID: 24447792 PMCID: PMC3901504 DOI: 10.3201/eid2002.131463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A systemic morbillivirus infection was diagnosed postmortem in a juvenile bottlenose dolphin stranded in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean in 2005. Sequence analysis of a conserved fragment of the morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene indicated that the virus is closely related to dolphin morbillivirus recently reported in striped dolphins in the Mediterranean Sea.
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46
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Central Nervous System Mucormycosis Caused by Cunninghamella Bertholletiae in a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). J Wildl Dis 2014; 50:634-8. [DOI: 10.7589/2013-10-284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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47
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Retrospective study of etiologic agents associated with nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis in stranded cetaceans in the canary islands. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 52:2390-7. [PMID: 24759718 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02906-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nineteen natural cases of etiologically undetermined encephalitides in free-ranging cetaceans were studied retrospectively. Histological examination of the brains revealed variable degrees of nonsuppurative encephalitis or meningoencephalitis, characterized predominantly by perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrates. A PCR assay was used on brain and other available tissues to detect the presence of morbillivirus, herpesvirus, West Nile virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Brucella spp. In addition, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on selected tissues to determine the presence of morbilliviral antigens. Six animals (5 striped dolphins and 1 common dolphin) showed IHC and/or molecular evidence of morbilliviral antigens and/or genomes, mainly in brain tissue. Conventional nested PCR detected herpesviral DNA in brain tissue samples from two striped dolphins. There was no evidence of West Nile virus, T. gondii, or Brucella spp. in any of the brain tissue samples examined. The information presented here increases the number of confirmed morbillivirus-positive cases within the Canarian archipelago from two previously reported cases to eight. Furthermore, a new nested-PCR method for the detection of morbillivirus is described here. Regarding herpesvirus, the phylogenetic analysis performed in the current study provides valuable information about a possible pathogenic branch of cetacean alphaherpesviruses that might be responsible for some fatal cases worldwide.
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48
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Casalone C, Mazzariol S, Pautasso A, Di Guardo G, Di Nocera F, Lucifora G, Ligios C, Franco A, Fichi G, Cocumelli C, Cersini A, Guercio A, Puleio R, Goria M, Podestà M, Marsili L, Pavan G, Pintore A, De Carlo E, Eleni C, Caracappa S. Cetacean strandings in Italy: an unusual mortality event along the Tyrrhenian Sea coast in 2013. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2014; 109:81-86. [PMID: 24781797 DOI: 10.3354/dao02726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
An unusual mortality event involving cetaceans, mainly striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833), occurred along the Tyrrhenian Sea coast of Italy during the first 3 mo of 2013. Based on post-mortem analyses carried out according to body condition on 66 dolphins (54% of stranded animals), several hypotheses to explain the causes of this mortality event were proposed. Although no definitive conclusions can be drawn, dolphin morbillivirus was deemed the most likely cause, although other infectious agents (including Photobacterium damselae damselae and herpesvirus) or environmental factors may also have contributed to this recent mortality event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Casalone
- IZS Piemonte Liguria Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna, 148,10154 Torino, Italy
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49
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Burge CA, Mark Eakin C, Friedman CS, Froelich B, Hershberger PK, Hofmann EE, Petes LE, Prager KC, Weil E, Willis BL, Ford SE, Harvell CD. Climate change influences on marine infectious diseases: implications for management and society. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2014; 6:249-77. [PMID: 23808894 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010213-135029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are common in marine environments, but the effects of a changing climate on marine pathogens are not well understood. Here we review current knowledge about how the climate drives host-pathogen interactions and infectious disease outbreaks. Climate-related impacts on marine diseases are being documented in corals, shellfish, finfish, and humans; these impacts are less clearly linked for other organisms. Oceans and people are inextricably linked, and marine diseases can both directly and indirectly affect human health, livelihoods, and well-being. We recommend an adaptive management approach to better increase the resilience of ocean systems vulnerable to marine diseases in a changing climate. Land-based management methods of quarantining, culling, and vaccinating are not successful in the ocean; therefore, forecasting conditions that lead to outbreaks and designing tools/approaches to influence these conditions may be the best way to manage marine disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen A Burge
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853; , *
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50
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Bernal-Guadarrama MJ, Salichs J, Almunia J, García-Parraga D, Fernández-Gallardo N, Santana-Morales MÁ, Pacheco V, Afonso-Lehmann RN, Déniz D, Lorenzo-Morales J, Valladares B, Martínez-Carretero E. Development of an indirect immunofluorescence technique for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in bottlenose dolphins. Parasitol Res 2013; 113:451-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3674-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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