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Vargas-Castro I, Peletto S, Mattioda V, Goria M, Serracca L, Varello K, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Puleio R, Nocera FD, Lucifora G, Acutis P, Casalone C, Grattarola C, Giorda F. Epidemiological and genetic analysis of Cetacean Morbillivirus circulating on the Italian coast between 2018 and 2021. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1216838. [PMID: 37583469 PMCID: PMC10424449 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1216838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) has caused several outbreaks, unusual mortality events, and interepidemic single-lethal disease episodes in the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2012, a new strain with a northeast (NE) Atlantic origin has been circulating among Mediterranean cetaceans, causing numerous deaths. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of CeMV in cetaceans stranded in Italy between 2018 and 2021 and characterize the strain of CeMV circulating. Out of the 354 stranded cetaceans along the Italian coastlines, 113 were CeMV-positive. This prevalence (31.9%) is one of the highest reported without an associated outbreak. All marine sectors along the Italian coastlines, except for the northern Adriatic coast, reported a positive molecular diagnosis of CeMV. In one-third of the CeMV-positive cetaceans submitted to a histological evaluation, a chronic form of the infection (detectable viral antigen, the absence of associated lesions, and concomitant coinfections) was suspected. Tissues from 24 animals were used to characterize the strain, obtaining 57 sequences from phosphoprotein, nucleocapsid, and fusion protein genes, which were submitted to GenBank. Our sequences showed the highest identity with NE-Atlantic strain sequences, and in the phylogenetic study, they clustered together with them. Regarding age and species, most of these individuals were adults (17/24, 70.83%) and striped dolphins (19/24, 79.16%). This study improves our understanding on the NE-Atlantic CeMV strain in the Italian waters, supporting the hypothesis of an endemic circulation of the virus in this area; however, additional studies are necessary to deeply comprehend the epidemiology of this strain in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Vargas-Castro
- VISAVET Center and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Simone Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Virginia Mattioda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Goria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Serracca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Katia Varello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lucifora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Naples, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Acutis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta - WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Health of Marine Mammals, Turin, Italy
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Fundamental Concepts, Knowledge Gaps and Key Concerns Relating to Welfare and Survival of Stranded Cetaceans. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14050338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Wildlife management can influence animal welfare and survival, although both are often not explicitly integrated into decision making. This study explores fundamental concepts and key concerns relating to the welfare and survival of stranded cetaceans. Using the Delphi method, the opinions of an international, interdisciplinary expert panel were gathered, regarding the characterisation of stranded cetacean welfare and survival likelihood, knowledge gaps and key concerns. Experts suggest that stranded cetacean welfare should be characterised based on interrelated aspects of animals’ biological function, behaviour, and mental state and the impacts of human interventions. The characterisation of survival likelihood should reflect aspects of stranded animals’ biological functioning and behaviour as well as a 6-month post-re-floating survival marker. Post-release monitoring was the major knowledge gap for survival. Welfare knowledge gaps related to diagnosing internal injuries, interpreting behavioural and physiological parameters, and euthanasia decision making. Twelve concerns were highlighted for both welfare and survival likelihood, including difficulty breathing and organ compression, skin damage and physical traumas, separation from conspecifics, and suffering and stress due to stranding and human intervention. These findings indicate inextricable links between perceptions of welfare state and the likely survival of stranded cetaceans and demonstrate a need to integrate welfare science alongside conservation biology to achieve effective, ethical management at strandings.
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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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Giorda F, Crociara P, Iulini B, Gazzuola P, Favole A, Goria M, Serracca L, Dondo A, Crescio MI, Audino T, Peletto S, Di Francesco CE, Caramelli M, Sierra E, Di Nocera F, Lucifora G, Petrella A, Puleio R, Mazzariol S, Di Guardo G, Casalone C, Grattarola C. Neuropathological Characterization of Dolphin Morbillivirus Infection in Cetaceans Stranded in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040452. [PMID: 35203160 PMCID: PMC8868427 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040452] [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: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary There is abundant literature reporting demyelination in dogs and pinnipeds affected by morbillivirus infection, but myelinopathy is poorly investigated in stranded cetaceans affected with the virus. Also, the neuropathogenesis of cetacean morbillivirus infection has not been fully clarified, leaving questions on cell tropism unanswered. A novel dolphin morbillivirus lineage of Atlantic origin circulating in Italian waters replaced the previous Mediterranean strain in late 2015; however, differences in virulence and pathogenesis between the two strains have not yet been documented. The aims of the present study were to: describe histopathological changes and immunohistochemical findings in the central nervous system of 31 cetaceans which tested positive on molecular investigations for the two dolphin morbillivirus strains; characterize by double indirect immunofluorescence staining the areas of myelin damage. The most frequently observed morbillivirus-associated lesions were astro-microgliosis, neuronal necrosis, spongiosis, malacia, and non-suppurative meningoencephalitis. Demyelination was detected by means of a specific myelin biomarker. Inside and around the demyelinated areas there were morbillivirus antigen-bearing cells of mainly neuronal and microglial origin, associated with marked astro and microglia reactivity. Molecular and immunohistochemical analysis suggested a higher neurotropic affinity of the novel circulating strain. Abstract Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is responsible for epidemic and endemic fatalities in free-ranging cetaceans. Neuro-inflammation sustained by CeMV is a leading cause of death in stranded cetaceans. A novel dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) strain of Atlantic origin circulating in Italian waters since early 2016 has caused acute/subacute lesions associated with positive immunolabelling of the virus. To date, myelin damage has not been fully documented and investigated in cetaceans. This study describes neuropathological findings in the brain tissue of 31 cetaceans found stranded along the Italian coastline and positive for DMV infection on molecular testing. Cell changes in the areas of myelinopathy were revealed by double indirect immunofluorescence. The most frequent DMV-associated lesions were astro-microgliosis, neuronal necrosis, spongiosis, malacia, and non-suppurative meningoencephalitis. Myelin reduction and areas of demyelination were revealed by means of a specific myelin biomarker. Morbilliviral antigen immunolabelling was mainly observed in neurons and microglial cells, in association with a marked activation of microglia and astrocytes. These findings extend our knowledge of DMV-associated brain lesions and shed light on their pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Paola Crociara
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
- Department of Prevention, Local Veterinary Services (ASLTO4), SS Sanità Animale, Piazza Gino Viano Bellandi, Cuorgnè, 10082 Torino, Italy
| | - Barbara Iulini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Paola Gazzuola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Alessandra Favole
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Maria Goria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Laura Serracca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Alessandro Dondo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Maria Ines Crescio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Tania Audino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Simone Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | | | - Maria Caramelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Eva Sierra
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain;
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via della Salute, 2, Portici, 80055 Napoli, Italy; (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Giuseppe Lucifora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via della Salute, 2, Portici, 80055 Napoli, Italy; (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Antonio Petrella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi, 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- Retired Professor of General Pathology and Veterinary Pathophysiology, Veterinary Medical Faculty, University of Teramo, Localita’ Piano d’Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
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Giorda F, Di Guardo G, Varello K, Pautasso A, Sierra E, Pintore MD, Grattarola C, Colella EM, Berio E, Goria M, Bozzetta E, Casalone C, Iulini B. Retrospective immunohistochemical investigation on dolphin morbillivirus infection by comparing the performance of heterologous monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies - Short communication. Acta Vet Hung 2021; 69:204-210. [PMID: 34297685 DOI: 10.1556/004.2021.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) is a pathogen of great concern in free-ranging cetaceans. Confirmation and staging of morbillivirus infections rely on histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC), following molecular detection. As at the present time no specific antibodies (Abs) against DMV are available, two heterologous Abs have been used worldwide for the examinations of morbillivirus infections of cetaceans. One is a monoclonal Ab (MoAb) prepared against the N protein of canine distemper virus (CDV), whereas the other is a polyclonal Ab raised in rabbits against rinderpest virus (RPV). Both Abs are known to show cross-reactivity with DMV. In this study we compared the labelling quality and the neuroanatomical distribution of staining with these two Abs by means of IHC analysis. To this end, serial sections of the target organs from ten free-ranging stranded cetaceans, previously diagnosed as being infected with DMV by PCR and/or serology, were subjected to IHC. The brain, lungs and lymph nodes of one animal were found to be positive with both Abs. From two other animals, the brain and the spleen, respectively, tested positive only with the polyclonal Ab. In the positive brain tissues, multifocal immunostaining was observed, with similar staining location and extent, with the two antibodies tested. Our results suggest that the polyclonal anti-RPV Ab might have a stronger binding activity to DMV than the anti-CDV MoAb. Nevertheless, the elaboration and use of specific anti-DMV Abs might be essential to guarantee conclusive results in diagnostic and pathogenetic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Giorda
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
- 2Institute of Animal Health, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | | | - Katia Varello
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pautasso
- 4Department of Prevention, Local Veterinary Services (ASL1 Imperiese), Bussana di Sanremo, Imperia, Italy
| | - Eva Sierra
- 2Institute of Animal Health, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | | | - Carla Grattarola
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
| | - Erika Molica Colella
- 6Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrica Berio
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Goria
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
| | - Elena Bozzetta
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Casalone
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
| | - Barbara Iulini
- 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italy
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Specific capture and whole-genome phylogeography of Dolphin morbillivirus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20831. [PMID: 33257791 PMCID: PMC7704663 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77835-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) is considered an emerging threat having caused several epidemics worldwide. Only few DMV genomes are publicly available. Here, we report the use of target enrichment directly from cetacean tissues to obtain novel DMV genome sequences, with sequence comparison and phylodynamic analysis. RNA from 15 tissue samples of cetaceans stranded along the Italian and French coasts (2008-2017) was purified and processed using custom probes (by bait hybridization) for target enrichment and sequenced on Illumina MiSeq. Data were mapped against the reference genome, and the novel sequences were aligned to the available genome sequences. The alignment was then used for phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis using MrBayes and BEAST. We herein report that target enrichment by specific capture may be a successful strategy for whole-genome sequencing of DMV directly from field samples. By this strategy, 14 complete and one partially complete genomes were obtained, with reads mapping to the virus up to 98% and coverage up to 7800X. The phylogenetic tree well discriminated the Mediterranean and the NE-Atlantic strains, circulating in the Mediterranean Sea and causing two different epidemics (2008-2015 and 2014-2017, respectively), with a limited time overlap of the two strains, sharing a common ancestor approximately in 1998.
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Capanni F, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Marsili L, Fossi MC, Jiménez B. Assessment of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PBDEs in Mediterranean striped dolphins. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 156:111207. [PMID: 32510364 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bio-accumulation of high levels of persistent organic pollutants represent a serious conservation concern for Mediterranean marine odontocetes. In this study, blubber samples from 10 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Italian coasts during 2015-2016 were analyzed. All specimens showed dl-PCBs > PBDEs ≫ PCDD/Fs. Median concentrations were 1820 ng/g l.w., 456 ng/g l.w. and 23.9 pg/g l.w., respectively. dl-PCBs accounted for 93.3% of total TEQs. PBDE concentrations suggest that the Mediterranean basin may be considered a hotspot for organobromine compounds. OCDD did not represent the greatest contributor to PCDD/Fs profile, most likely due to a change in dioxin environmental sources in the last two-three decades. Despite international regulations, the present study emphasized that POP exposure levels in Mediterranean striped dolphins have not declined significantly in recent years. Toxicological and risk assessment studies on this sentinel species may provide an early indication of potential adverse health effects on Mediterranean ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Capanni
- Dept. Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Dept. Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Juan Muñoz-Arnanz
- Dept. Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Dept. Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - M Cristina Fossi
- Dept. Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Dept. Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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