1
|
Wang MH, Chen CF, Lim YC, Albarico FPJB, Tsai WP, Chen CW, Dong CD. Microplastics and phthalate esters contamination in top oceanic predators: A study on multiple shark species in the Pacific Ocean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116769. [PMID: 39059223 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Marine organisms, especially top predators such as sharks, are susceptible to environmental pollutants like microplastics (MPs) and phthalate esters (PAEs), leading to ecosystem risks. Research on contamination in these apex species is, however, still limited. This study investigated MPs and PAEs in multiple shark species (Isurus oxyrinchus, Alopias superciliosus, Alopias pelagicus, Carcharhinus brevipinna, and Sphyrna zygaena) off Taiwan's eastern coast. Gastric tissue analyses revealed ubiquitous microplastics (2-31 particles), which positively correlated with body lengths and weights for Isurus oxyrinchus. Blue, fiber-shaped (1-2 mm), and rayon-based MPs are likely associated with textile fiber pollution. The PAEs concentration mean was 7035 ± 6829 ng/g, ww, having DEHP and DiNP as primary compounds. This study highlights pervasive contamination in Pacific Ocean sharks, emphasizing anthropogenic impact on top oceanic predators and providing essential insights for food safety and MP accumulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Huang Wang
- Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, College of Hydrosphere Science, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Feng Chen
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan
| | - Yee Cheng Lim
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan
| | - Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Pei Tsai
- Department of Fisheries Production and Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan
| | - Chiu-Wen Chen
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Di Dong
- Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, College of Hydrosphere Science, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Prandi I, Dervas E, Colombino E, Bonaffini G, Zanet S, Orusa R, Robetto S, Vacchetta M, Mauthe von Degerfeld M, Quaranta G, Hetzel U, Capucchio MT. Causes of Admission, Mortality and Pathological Findings in European Hedgehogs: Reports from Two University Centers in Italy and Switzerland. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1852. [PMID: 38997963 PMCID: PMC11240775 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131852] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are nocturnal insectivores frequently found in urban areas. In the last decades, their population has declined in various European countries and human activities have emerged as significant contributors to this trend. While the literature has mainly focused on trauma as the major cause of mortality, few authors have considered pathological findings. The present study is based on the results of full post-mortem examinations performed on 162 European hedgehogs in Italy and 109 in Switzerland. Unlike in previous studies, the main cause of mortality was infectious diseases (60.5%), followed by traumatic insults (27.7%). The lungs were the main organ affected, showing mostly lymphoplasmacytic (45.9%), granulomatous (18.1%) or suppurative (8.2%) pneumonia. Nematodes were detected in 57.2% of all lungs and were significantly associated with pneumonia (p-value < 0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first study to report infectious diseases as the main cause of hedgehog death, emphasizing the need for wildlife rescue centers to adopt appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Further research is necessary to determine the broad range of infectious agents that affect this species and elucidate their interplay with the host. Finally, citizen sensitization should be implemented to promote responsible behaviors that could reduce human-related traumatic events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Prandi
- Centro Animali Non Convenzionali, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (G.B.); (M.M.v.D.); (G.Q.); (M.T.C.)
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (E.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Eva Dervas
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (E.D.); (U.H.)
| | - Elena Colombino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (E.C.); (S.Z.)
- Patología y Sanidad Animal, Departamento Producción Sanidad Animal, Salud Pública Veterinaria y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Bonaffini
- Centro Animali Non Convenzionali, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (G.B.); (M.M.v.D.); (G.Q.); (M.T.C.)
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (E.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Stefania Zanet
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (E.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Riccardo Orusa
- National Reference Centre for Wild Animals Diseases (CeRMAS), S.C. Valle d’Aosta, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta (IZSPLV), 11020 Quart, Italy; (R.O.); (S.R.)
| | - Serena Robetto
- National Reference Centre for Wild Animals Diseases (CeRMAS), S.C. Valle d’Aosta, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta (IZSPLV), 11020 Quart, Italy; (R.O.); (S.R.)
| | | | - Mitzy Mauthe von Degerfeld
- Centro Animali Non Convenzionali, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (G.B.); (M.M.v.D.); (G.Q.); (M.T.C.)
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (E.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Giuseppe Quaranta
- Centro Animali Non Convenzionali, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (G.B.); (M.M.v.D.); (G.Q.); (M.T.C.)
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (E.C.); (S.Z.)
| | - Udo Hetzel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (E.D.); (U.H.)
| | - Maria Teresa Capucchio
- Centro Animali Non Convenzionali, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (G.B.); (M.M.v.D.); (G.Q.); (M.T.C.)
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (E.C.); (S.Z.)
- National Research Council of Italy-Institute of Sciences of Food Production (CNR-ISPA), 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Berger A. Occurrence and Characteristics of Cut Injuries in Hedgehogs in Germany: A Collection of Individual Cases. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:57. [PMID: 38200788 PMCID: PMC10778023 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The number of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) is in long-term decline across Europe. Recently, an additional threat to hedgehogs' lives has been cutting injuries caused by garden care equipment, but to date, there have been no reliable data on their spatial and temporal occurrence as well as characteristics such as mortality rate. Usually, found injured hedgehogs are admitted to care centres. In this study, data on hedgehogs with cutting injuries were collected from care centres throughout Germany. Over a period of 16 months, data on a total of 370 hedgehogs with cut injuries were reported by 71 care centres. At least 60% of these hedgehogs were found more than 12 h after the accident and at least 47% did not survive as a result of the injury. The comparatively high mortality rate coupled with a possible high number of unreported cases of hedgehogs with laceration injuries show that these accidents pose an additional, serious danger to hedgehogs, both impacting the welfare of individual animals and having a broader effect on the conservation potential of this species. Moreover, the data collected objectify the current discussion on the need for possible technical or political solutions to prevent such injuries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Berger
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|