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Schweizer S, Halder K, Schäfer A, Hauns J, Marsili L, Mazzariol S, Fossi MC, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Jiménez B, Vetter W. High Amounts of Halogenated Natural Products in Sperm Whales ( Physeter macrocephalus) from Two Italian Regions in the Mediterranean Sea. Environ Health (Wash) 2024; 2:233-242. [PMID: 38660428 PMCID: PMC11036390 DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.3c00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Halogenated natural products (HNPs) are considered to be emerging contaminants whose environmental distribution and fate are only incompletely known. Therefore, several persistent and bioaccumulative HNP groups, together with man-made polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), were quantified in the blubber of nine sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Italy. The naturally occurring polybrominated hexahydroxanthene derivatives (PBHDs; sum of TetraBHD and TriBHD) were the most prominent substance class with up to 77,000 ng/g blubber. The mean PBHD content (35,800 ng/g blubber) even exceeded the one of PCBs (28,400 ng/g blubber), although the region is known to be highly contaminated with man-made contaminants. Based on mean values, Q1 ∼ PBDEs > MeO-BDEs ∼ 2,2'-diMeO-BB 80 and several other HNPs followed with decreasing amounts. All blubber samples contained an abundant compound whose molecular formula (C16H19Br3O2) was verified using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The only plausible matching isomer was (2S,4'S,9R,9'S)-2,7-dibromo-4'-bromomethyl-1,1-dimethyl-2,3,4,4',9,9'-9,9'-hexahydro-1H-xanthen-9-ol (OH-TriBHD), a hydroxylated secondary metabolite previously detected together with TriBHD and TetraBHD in a sponge known to be a natural producer of PBHDs. The estimated mean amount of the presumed OH-TriBHD was 3000 ng/g blubber, which is unexpectedly high for hydroxylated compounds in the lipids of marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Schweizer
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry (170b), University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Kristin Halder
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry (170b), University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Annika Schäfer
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry (170b), University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jakob Hauns
- European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Halogenated POPs in Feed and Food, 79114 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Public Health, Comparative Pathology and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Juan Muñoz-Arnanz
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Walter Vetter
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry (170b), University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
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Capanni F, Karamanlidis AA, Dendrinos P, Zaccaroni A, Formigaro C, D'Agostino A, Marsili L. Monk seals (Monachus monachus) in the Mediterranean Sea: The threat of organochlorine contaminants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Sci Total Environ 2024; 915:169854. [PMID: 38185159 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is an emblematic species of conservation concern. Anthropogenic pressures have led to severe population declines and significant fragmentation of the remaining populations. Because of their close relationship with coastal areas, Mediterranean monk seals may be potentially exposed to pollution from agricultural sources, as well as from oil tanker spills. Although monitoring of pollution has long been considered a priority for this species, data on monk seal contamination levels are scarce. In this study, 55 blubber samples of all genders and age classes collected during necropsies (1995-2013) from seals of the Eastern Mediterranean subpopulation were analyzed for organochlorine compounds (OCs), i.e., hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Overall, PCBs > DDTs ≫ PAHs > HCB in all samples. Results showed a significant downward trend over the 19-year period for DDTs and HCB. No marked pattern was found for PAHs, even though relative abundance of cancerogenic PAH fraction rose in recent years. PCB levels in subadult specimens increased noticeably over time despite worldwide ban. Our findings did not suggest recent releases of DDT or new pesticides (e.g., Dicofol) in the environment, but may indicate an improper disposal of ancient storages of PCBs or a remobilization from reservoirs. OC levels exceeded thresholds that are commonly associated with immunosuppression and reproductive impairment in other pinnipeds. Hence, OCs could be responsible of potential toxicological effects in this subpopulation. This study represents the first report on PAH and one of the few reports on OC bioaccumulation in Mediterranean monk seals. Based on the levels found in the blubber of monk seals from the Eastern Mediterranean, and given the known harmful effects associated to the prolonged exposure to these substances and the reduced long-term expectations of species recovery, regular monitoring is advocated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Capanni
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Alexandros A Karamanlidis
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Dendrinos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico, FC, Italy
| | - Costanza Formigaro
- Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico, FC, Italy
| | - Antonella D'Agostino
- Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Siena, P.zza S. Francesco 8, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sui Cetacei (CIRCE), Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Strada Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Parri S, Campani T, Conti V, Cai G, Romi M, Casini S, Zari R, Caldini F, Marsili L. New olive-pomace fertilizer tested with a 2-tiers approach: Biomarkers on Eisenia fetida, physiochemical effects on Solanum lycopersicum and Olea europaea. J Environ Manage 2024; 351:119915. [PMID: 38169256 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Every year, the olive oil industry generates a substantial amount of pomace, a semi-solid residue made up of skin, pulp, pit, and kernel fragments. Rather than being disposed of, the pomace can be dried and transported to an extraction facility where pomace oil can be extracted. Utilizing its high thermal capacity, the extracted pomace can be used as a supplementary fuel in the drying process, resulting in the production of ashes. In this study, the effect of pomace waste applied to the soil was investigated by testing two mixtures with different proportions of de-oiled pomace flour and kernel ash (50:50 and 70:30, respectively) in powder and pellet form. We used a dual approach, evaluating the effects of the mixtures on both soil communities and plant physiology and productivity, to assess the actual usability of the fertilizer in agriculture. The biomarker approach was valuable in assessing the sublethal effects of the two mixtures in powder form in soil. After 30 days of exposure, the bioindicator organism Eisena fetida showed lipid peroxidation, glutathione S-transferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels similar to the control, while lysozyme activity was reduced in all treatments. The powder mixture was lethal to the tomato plants, while there was no evidence of any damage to the olive trees. During 60 days of monitoring, both mixtures in pellet form showed a slight increase in physiological parameters, suggesting a benefit to the photosynthetic system. The improved carbon assimilation in tomato plants treated with the mixtures results in increased plant productivity, both in terms of number and weight of fruits, while maintaining the antioxidant content. This study paves the way for the use of the pomace mixture as a soil improver, thus increasing the value of this waste product.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Parri
- Department of Life Science, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - T Campani
- Department of Physical, Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - V Conti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Cai
- Department of Life Science, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - M Romi
- Department of Life Science, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - S Casini
- Department of Physical, Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - R Zari
- Studio ZARI Agronomi & Forestali, 53014, Monteroni d'Arbia, Siena, Italy
| | - F Caldini
- Caldini Guido s.r.l., 53030, Radicondoli, Siena, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Physical, Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
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Ceciarini I, Franchi E, Capanni F, Consales G, Minoia L, Ancora S, D'Agostino A, Lucchetti A, Li Veli D, Marsili L. Assessment of interactive acoustic deterrent devices set on trammel nets to reduce dolphin-fishery interactions in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20680. [PMID: 38001158 PMCID: PMC10673957 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46836-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Dolphin-fishery interaction is a worldwide issue affecting dolphins through bycatch and fishers through catch or gear damages. Concerning the Mediterranean Sea, problematic interactions mainly occur between common bottlenose dolphin and small-scale fisheries. Acoustic Deterrent Devices such as pingers, are one of the most widespread measures used in attempts to face this issue. Therefore, the efficiency of interactive pingers (DiD01) in protecting the trammel nets from dolphin interactions was assessed in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. From March to October 2021, a total of 139 fishing trials using nets with pingers (TEST) and without pingers (CTRL), respectively n = 97 and n = 42, were carried out. Non-parametric statistic of the Catch per Unit Effort, comparing control and test nets, was not significantly different (p > 0.05) using catches weights (CPUEW) while it was significant (p < 0.01) considering the number of individuals (CPUEN). Moreover, richness and relative abundance of species resulted statistically higher in test nets (p < 0.05). This finding suggests that the absence of dolphin in the neighbourhood of fishing areas thanks to the use of pingers increases the diversity of target species. Catch damages caused by dolphins were statistically higher in nets without pinger than in nets with pinger (p < 0.05). No dolphin bycatch was recorded during fishing operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Ceciarini
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
- La Casa dei Pesci Onlus, Via Montianese 41, Fonteblanda, 58015, Talamone, Grosseto, Italy
| | - Enrica Franchi
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Capanni
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Guia Consales
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Minoia
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italian National Institute for Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Center (GMC), Via De Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Ancora
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Antonella D'Agostino
- Department of Business and Quantitative Studies, University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, 80132, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Lucchetti
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Largo Fiera della Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - Daniel Li Veli
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Largo Fiera della Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Pier Andrea Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
- La Casa dei Pesci Onlus, Via Montianese 41, Fonteblanda, 58015, Talamone, Grosseto, Italy
- Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sui Cetacei (CIRCE), Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Strada Laterina 8, 53100, Siena, Italy
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Consales G, Bottaro M, Mancusi C, Neri A, Sartor P, Voliani A, D'Agostino A, Marsili L. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in three bathyal chondrichthyes from the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 196:115647. [PMID: 37832499 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The deep-sea can act as a sink for legacy contaminants such as organochlorines (OCs), causing damages in its inhabitants for their persistence and their prolonged effects in the organisms. HCB, DDT and its isomers, and 28 PCBs congeners were detected in muscle and embryonic tissues of three deep-sea chondrichthyes Chimaera monstrosa (n = 16), Dalatias licha (n = 12) and Etmopterus spinax (n = 51) sampled in Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Contaminant distribution in E. spinax and C. monstrosa was PCBs > DDTs ≫ HCB while in D. licha was DDTs > PCBs ≫ HCB. Statistically significant differences were highlighted in OC levels among the species, but no such differences were found among sexes. Ratios between DDT isomers highlighted an historical input of the pesticide in the environment. For the first time was also demonstrated maternal transfer in deep water chondrichthyes, specifically in E. spinax where was highlighted that transfer of contaminants increases with increasing compound's Log Kow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guia Consales
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Genoa Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italian National Institute for Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Villa del Principe, Piazza del Principe 4, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Bottaro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Genoa Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italian National Institute for Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Villa del Principe, Piazza del Principe 4, 16126 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Cecilia Mancusi
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy; ARPAT Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Tuscany, Via Marradi 114, 57126 Livorno, Italy
| | - Alessandra Neri
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy; Consortium for the Inter-University Center of Marine Biology and Applied Ecology "G.Bacci", Viale Nazario Sauro 4, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Paolo Sartor
- Consortium for the Inter-University Center of Marine Biology and Applied Ecology "G.Bacci", Viale Nazario Sauro 4, 57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Voliani
- ARPAT Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Tuscany, Via Marradi 114, 57126 Livorno, Italy
| | | | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy; Inter-University Center of Cetacean Research (CIRCE), Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy
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Gallo S, Nania G, Caruso V, Zicarelli G, Leonetti FL, Giglio G, Fedele G, Romano C, Bottaro M, Mangoni O, Scannella D, Vitale S, Falsone F, Sardo G, Geraci ML, Neri A, Marsili L, Mancusi C, Barca D, Sperone E. Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in the Muscle of the Blackmouth Catshark Galeus melastomus from Mediterranean Waters. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:951. [PMID: 37508382 PMCID: PMC10376227 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution, particularly in the marine environment, has become a significant concern due to the increasing presence of pollutants and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) from different areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Trace elements are of interest due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential for bioaccumulation. This research aims to assess the distribution and accumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of G. melastomus and investigate their potential impact on the deep-sea environment of the Mediterranean. The focused areas include the Ligurian Sea, the northern and central Tyrrhenian Sea, the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Pantelleria Waters, and the Gela Waters. Samples were collected following established protocols, and trace element analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study provides data on the concentrations of 17 trace elements, namely aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, selenium, strontium, lead, chromium, iron, barium, bismuth, and uranium. The findings contribute to a better understanding of trace element bioaccumulation patterns in elasmobranch species, specifically G. melastomus, and highlight the potential risks associated with chemical contamination in the Mediterranean Sea. This research emphasizes the importance of studying the impacts of pollutants on marine organisms, particularly those occupying key ecological roles, like sharks, to support effective conservation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Gallo
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Gianluca Nania
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Valentina Caruso
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Giorgia Zicarelli
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Luigi Leonetti
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Genoa Marine Centre, Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianni Giglio
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Giorgio Fedele
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Chiara Romano
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Bottaro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Genoa Marine Centre, Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Olga Mangoni
- Department of Biology, University of Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Danilo Scannella
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Sergio Vitale
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Fabio Falsone
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Giacomo Sardo
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Michele Luca Geraci
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
- Marine Biology and Fisheries Laboratory of Fano, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Adriatico 1/n, 61032 Fano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Neri
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata "G. Bacci" (CIBM), Viale N. Sauro 4, 57128 Livorno, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Mancusi
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Environmental Protection Agency-Tuscany Region (ARPAT), Via Marradi 114, 57126 Livorno, Italy
| | - Donatella Barca
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Emilio Sperone
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
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Giovacchini P, Russo R, Anselmi G, Battisti C, Marsili L. Do academic students overestimate marine litter pollution? A threat analysis using plover birds as a target in a Mediterranean site. Isr J Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.1163/22244662-bja10046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Marine litter is known to pose a threat to biodiversity. In this work, we wanted to verify if marine litter was overestimated as a threat by academic students when compared to other threats acting on a specific conservation target, a coastal bird of conservation concern, breeding on Mediterranean coastal dunes (Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus) in a site of central Italy (Maremma Regional Park, Tuscany). To test this hypothesis, before conducting any direct local survey (a priori), a panel of academic students in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Sustainability (Second cycle degree; Siena University) collected indirect information on a set of threats (trampling, coastal erosion, marine litter, presence of dogs and illegal plant collection), known as impacting on the target, assigning a score (from 1: low to 4: high) to two selected threat regime attributes (extent and intensity), and obtaining a magnitude score based the judgment only on general information communicated by park operators. After a field survey on the plover’s breeding site, students were newly assigned a posteriori scores (‘after’ phase). The before-after comparison showed that no threat showed a significant difference in scores, except for marine litter, which was significantly a priori overestimated. Although marine litter is known to threatened plover birds, it has been significantly overestimated at the local level suggesting a prejudice in student evaluation. This biased overestimation could be due to the high media exposure of the marine litter as a threat, making it charismatic, affecting the a priori judgment.
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Zicarelli G, Romano C, Gallo S, Valentino C, Pepe Bellomo V, Leonetti FL, Giglio G, Neri A, Marsili L, Milazzo C, Faggio C, Mancusi C, Sperone E. Diet and Plastic Ingestion in the Blackmouth Catshark Galeus melastomus, Rafinesque 1810, in Italian Waters. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13061039. [PMID: 36978580 PMCID: PMC10044643 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Galeus melastomus is the most common Pentanchidae in the Mediterranean Sea. A scavenger and opportunistic feeder, and despite the wide distribution, little is known about its feeding habits in Italian waters. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the diet of the blackmouth catshark by analysing the stomach contents. The specimens analysed were obtained from five populations of the Tyrrhenian and of the Ionian Seas, collected from a depth between 40 and 700 m. A total of 259 stomachs were analysed. The stomach contents were grouped into macro-categories and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Crustaceans such as Parapenaeus longirostris, the Cephalopods Heteroteuthis dispar and Onychoteuthis banksii, and Osteichthyes, mostly Myctophidae, were identified. Plastic debris was also found among the stomach contents and classified according to its colour and shape. Osteichthyes represent the most abundant item (44%), above all the Myctophidae family, except for the catshark population from Tuscany, in which the most frequent species were Cephalopods, such as Abralia veranyi and Heteroteuthis dispar. Differences in the plastic debris contents were also observed between the Tuscany population and other populations. These could be explained as a probable consequence of the different depths at which the blackmouth catshark populations were sampled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Zicarelli
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Chiara Romano
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Samira Gallo
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Carmen Valentino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Victor Pepe Bellomo
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Francesco Luigi Leonetti
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Gianni Giglio
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Alessandra Neri
- Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata “G. Bacci” (CIBM), Viale N. Sauro 4, 57128 Livorno, Italy
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Concetta Milazzo
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Caterina Faggio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Cecilia Mancusi
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Environmental Protection Agency of the Tuscany Region (ARPAT), Via Marradi 114, 57126 Livorno, Italy
| | - Emilio Sperone
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0984492972
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9
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Minoia L, Consales G, Mazzariol S, Mancusi C, Terracciano G, Ceciarini I, Capanni F, Neri A, D'Agostino A, Marsili L. Preliminary assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in tissues of Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) specimens stranded along the Italian coasts. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 186:114470. [PMID: 36528010 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ecotoxicological and pathological research on Grampus griseus (Cuvier, 1812) (Risso's dolphins) is scarce both globally and in the Mediterranean Sea. This species has been classified as "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the Mediterranean Sea. To evaluate the presence of "persistent organic pollutants" (POPs), especially organochlorine compounds (OCs), in the animals, chemical analyses were performed on tissues and organs of Risso's dolphin stranded along the Italian coasts between 1998 and 2021. Toxic contaminants such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) were examined in the blubber, liver, muscle, and brain of 20 animals, and data was correlated with sex, age, and stranding locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Minoia
- Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre, Villa del Principe, Via San Benedetto 2, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - G Consales
- Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre, Villa del Principe, Via San Benedetto 2, 16126 Genoa, Italy.
| | - S Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science - BCA, University of Padua, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - C Mancusi
- Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Environmental Protection Agency Tuscany Region (ARPAT), Via Giovanni Marradi 114, 57126 Livorno, Italy
| | - G Terracciano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana - Sezione di Pisa, Via SS Abetone Brennero 4, 56123 Pisa, Italy
| | - I Ceciarini
- Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - F Capanni
- Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - A Neri
- Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; CIBM - Consortium for the Interuniversity Center of Marine Biology and Applied Ecology "G. Bacci", viale N. Sauro 4, 57128 Livorno, Italy
| | - A D'Agostino
- Department of Management Studies and Quantitative Methods (DISAQ), University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, 80132 Napoli, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sui CEtacei (CIRCE), Department of Physical Sciences Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Strada Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy
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10
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Richardson M, Bonnet JP, Domanski O, Coulon C, Constans B, Estevez-Gonzalez M, Gautier S, Marsili L, Yasmine O, Brigadeau F, Schurtz G, Coisne A, Mugnier A, Juthier F, Moussa M, Mounier-Vehier C, Lemesle G, Lamblin N, Montaigne D, Ghesquiere L. Pregnancy in women with cardiac disease: Management and outcomes in a European cardio-obstetric team. Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases Supplements 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.acvdsp.2022.10.308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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11
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Pedà C, Romeo T, Panti C, Caliani I, Casini S, Marsili L, Campani T, Baini M, Limonta G, de Rysky E, Caccamo L, Perdichizzi A, Gai F, Maricchiolo G, Consoli P, Fossi MC. Integrated biomarker responses in European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) chronically exposed to PVC microplastics. J Hazard Mater 2022; 438:129488. [PMID: 35999717 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Few studies evaluated long-term effects of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics (MPs) ingestion in fish. The present study aimed to investigate the integrated biomarker responses in the liver and blood of 162 European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, exposed for 90 days to control, virgin and marine incubated PVC enriched diets (0.1 % w/w) under controlled laboratory condition. Enzymatic and tissue alterations, oxidative stress, gene expression alterations and genotoxicity were examined. Additives and environmental contaminants levels in PVC-MPs, control feed matrices and in seabass muscles were also detected. The results showed that the chronic exposure at environmentally realistic PVC-MPs concentrations in seabass, cause early warning signs of toxicological harm in liver by induction of oxidative stress, the histopathological alterations and also by the modulation of the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and Estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) genes expression. A trend of increase of DNA alterations and the observation of some neoformations attributable to lipomas suggest also genotoxic and cancerogenic effects of PVC. This investigation provides important data to understand the regulatory biological processes affected by PVC-MPs ingestion in marine organisms and may also support the interpretation of results provided by studies on wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Pedà
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology, Sicily Marine Centre, Integrative Marine Ecology Department (EMI), Villa Pace, Contrada Porticatello 29, 98167 Messina, Italy
| | - Teresa Romeo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology, Sicily Marine Centre, Integrative Marine Ecology Department (EMI), Villa Pace, Contrada Porticatello 29, 98167 Messina, Italy; Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via dei Mille 56, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy.
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Giacomo Limonta
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Erica de Rysky
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Letteria Caccamo
- Institute of Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology National Research Council (IRBIM, CNR), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Anna Perdichizzi
- Institute of Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology National Research Council (IRBIM, CNR), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Gai
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Giulia Maricchiolo
- Institute of Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology National Research Council (IRBIM, CNR), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Consoli
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology, Sicily Marine Centre, Integrative Marine Ecology Department (EMI), Villa Pace, Contrada Porticatello 29, 98167 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena 53100, Italy
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12
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Poirier MC, Marsili L, Fossi MC, Godard-Codding CAJ, Hernandez-Ramon EE, Si N, Divi KV, Divi RL, Kerr I, Wise JP, Wise CF, Wise SS, Aboueissa AEM, Wise JTF, Wise JP. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-DNA Adducts in Gulf of Mexico Sperm Whale Skin Biopsies Collected in 2012. Toxicol Sci 2021; 181:115-124. [PMID: 33566103 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The northern Gulf of Mexico has a long history of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination from anthropogenic activities, natural oil seepages, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. The continental shelf of the same area is a known breeding ground for sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). To evaluate PAH-DNA damage, a biomarker for potential cancer risk, we compared skin biopsies collected from Gulf of Mexico sperm whales in 2012 with skin biopsies collected from sperm whales in areas of the Pacific Ocean in 1999-2001. All samples were obtained by crossbow and comprised both epidermis and subcutaneous blubber. To evaluate exposure, 7 carcinogenic PAHs were analyzed in lipids extracted from Pacific Ocean sperm whale blubber, pooled by sex, and location. To evaluate PAH-DNA damage, portions of all tissue samples were formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and examined for PAH-DNA adducts by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using an antiserum elicited against benzo[a]pyrene-modified DNA, which crossreacts with several high molecular weight carcinogenic PAHs bound to DNA. The IHC showed widespread epidermal nuclear localization of PAH-DNA adducts in the Gulf of Mexico whales (n = 15) but not in the Pacific Ocean whales (n = 4). A standard semiquantitative scoring system revealed significantly higher PAH-DNA adducts in the Gulf of Mexico whales compared to the whales from the Pacific Ocean study (p = .0002).
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam C Poirier
- Carcinogen-DNA Interactions Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4255, USA
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Céline A J Godard-Codding
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409-1163, USA
| | - Elena E Hernandez-Ramon
- Carcinogen-DNA Interactions Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4255, USA
| | - Nancy Si
- Carcinogen-DNA Interactions Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4255, USA
| | - Kathyayini V Divi
- Carcinogen-DNA Interactions Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4255, USA
| | - Rao L Divi
- Methods and Technologies Branch, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 6909 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
| | - Iain Kerr
- Ocean Alliance, 32 Horton St., Gloucester, Maryland 01930, USA
| | - John Pierce Wise
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 571 S. Floyd St., Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA.,Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Preston St., Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Catherine F Wise
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 850 Main Campus Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA.,Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Sandra S Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Preston St., Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Abou El-Makarim Aboueissa
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Southern Maine, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, Maine 04104-9300, USA
| | - James T F Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Preston St., Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock St., Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - John Pierce Wise
- Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Preston St., Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
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13
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Giorda F, Romani-Cremaschi U, Marsh AE, Grattarola C, Iulini B, Pautasso A, Varello K, Berio E, Gazzuola P, Marsili L, Di Francesco CE, Goria M, Verna F, Audino T, Peletto S, Caramelli M, Fernández-Escobar M, Sierra E, Fernández A, Calero-Bernal R, Casalone C. Evidence for Unknown Sarcocystis-Like Infection in Stranded Striped Dolphins ( Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Ligurian Sea, Italy. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051201. [PMID: 33922074 PMCID: PMC8143450 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Two stranded striped dolphins presented meningoenchepalitic lesions associated with the presence of unknown protozoan tissue cysts. The present study aimed at fully characterizing these previously undescribed parasites. Light microscopy re-examination of affected CNS areas showed high numbers of tissue cysts with morphological features resembling those of Sarcocystis species. Tissue cyst bradyzoites positively stained when labeled with polyclonal antisera but cross-reactivity could not be precluded. Sarcocystis sp. sequences with high homology to species infecting livestock were amplified by means of PCR from myocardial and muscle tissues. This is the first report of Sarcocystis-like tissue cysts in the cerebral tissue of stranded cetaceans with muscular sarcocystosis in Mediterranean dolphins. The obtained results may suggest a land-to-sea cycling of Apicomplexan parasites in this region and the need for further investigations in order to foster marine mammal conservation. Abstract Two striped dolphins (SD1, SD2), stranded along the Ligurian coast of Italy, were diagnosed with a nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis associated with previously undescribed protozoan tissue cysts. As tissue cysts were morphologically different from those of Toxoplasma gondii, additional histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and biomolecular investigations were performed, aiming to fully characterize the organism. Histopathology revealed the presence of large Sarcocystis-like tissue cysts, associated with limited inflammatory lesions in all CNS areas studied. IHC was inconclusive, as positive staining with polyclonal antisera did not preclude cross-reaction with other Sarcocystidae coccidia. Applied to each animal, 11 different PCR protocols precluded a neural infection by Sarcocystis neurona, Sarcocystis falcatula, Hammondia hammondi, and Neospora caninum. T. gondii coinfection was confirmed only in dolphin SD2. Sarcocystis sp. sequences, showing the highest homology to species infecting the Bovidae family, were amplified from SD1 myocardium and SD2 skeletal muscle. The present study represents the first report of Sarcocystis-like tissue cysts in the brain of stranded cetaceans along with the first description of Sarcocystis sp. infection in muscle tissue of dolphins from the Mediterranean basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain; (E.S.); (A.F.)
| | | | - Antoinette E. Marsh
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1920 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Barbara Iulini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Alessandra Pautasso
- Department of Prevention, Local Veterinary Services (ASL1 Imperiese), Via Aurelia Ponente 97, Bussana di Sanremo, 18038 Imperia, Italy;
| | - Katia Varello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Enrica Berio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Paola Gazzuola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Cristina E. Di Francesco
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Strada Provinciale 18 Località Piano d’Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Maria Goria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Federica Verna
- Department of Prevention, Local Veterinary Services, Via Conte Verde 125, 35040 Asti, Italy;
| | - Tania Audino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Simone Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Maria Caramelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- SALUVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.F.-E.); (R.C.-B.)
| | - Eva Sierra
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain; (E.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain; (E.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.F.-E.); (R.C.-B.)
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (F.G.); (C.G.); (B.I.); (K.V.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (M.G.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Consales
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - L. Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Inter-University Center of Cetacean Research (CIRCE), Siena, Italy
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15
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Lenzi M, Franchi E, Leporatti-Persiano M, D'Agostino A, Gennaro P, Marsili L. Assessment of the causes of Hg bioaccumulation in the fish of a Mediterranean lagoon subject to environmental management interventions. Mar Pollut Bull 2021; 162:111907. [PMID: 33338927 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In a Mediterranean lagoon characterized by high levels of Hg in the sediment, Hg content in commercial fish species was determined, and, in order to establish Hg concentration in the water column, Diffusive Gradient in Thin films technique (DGT) was used. The results allowed to state (1) the disturbance of the surface sediment and its resuspension in the water column did not cause detectable increase in Hg releases, (2) the East basin acted more than the West one in contamination of fish species, (3) the small-sized sea-breams (<400 g) were more contaminated than larger sizes ones (>400 g). We concluded: (1) fish contamination may also depend on direct contact with releases of the contaminant and small, gregarious and less sedentary subjects are more likely to incur releases of Hg; (2) Hg releases can be greater in areas with a relatively low sedimentary organic matter load compared to areas subjected to high density macroalgal mat, regardless of the amount of Hg present in the sediments; (3) wind transport of plant masses in low energy storage areas, may constitute an increase factor of Hg in the sediment. A critical review of the results was made in comparison with the available literature reports and some hypotheses were proposed regarding the possible dynamics and availability of the contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lenzi
- Lagoon Ecology and Aquaculture Laboratory (LEALab - WWF Oasi), Strada Provinciale Giannella 154, 58015 Orbetello, Italy.
| | - E Franchi
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | | | - A D'Agostino
- Department of Business and Quantitative Studies, University of Naples Parthenope, Italy
| | - P Gennaro
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Leghorn, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy.
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16
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Ricciardi L, De Angelis A, Marsili L, Faiman I, Pradhan P, Pereira EA, Edwards MJ, Morgante F, Bologna M. Hypomimia in Parkinson’s disease: an axial sign responsive to levodopa. Eur J Neurol 2020; 27:2422-2429. [DOI: 10.1111/ene.14452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Ricciardi
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute St George's University of London London UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit Oxford UK
| | - A. De Angelis
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute St George's University of London London UK
| | - L. Marsili
- Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Department of Neurology University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH USA
| | - I. Faiman
- Clinical Neuropsychology Service St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London UK
| | - P. Pradhan
- Clinical Neuropsychology Service St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London UK
| | - E. A. Pereira
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute St George's University of London London UK
| | - M. J. Edwards
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute St George's University of London London UK
| | - F. Morgante
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute St George's University of London London UK
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine University of Messina Messina Italy
| | - M. Bologna
- Department of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed Pozzilli (IS) Italy
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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. Mar Pollut Bull 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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18
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Sturchio A, Marsili L, Mahajan A, Grimberg MB, Kauffman MA, Espay AJ. How have advances in genetic technology modified movement disorder nosology? Eur J Neurol 2020; 27:1461-1470. [PMID: 32356310 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The role of genetics and its technological development have been fundamental in advancing the field of movement disorders, opening the door to precision medicine. Starting from the revolutionary discovery of the locus of the Huntington's disease gene, we review the milestones of genetic discoveries in movement disorders and their impact on clinical practice and research efforts. Before the 1980s, early techniques did not allow the identification of genetic alteration in complex diseases. Further advances increasingly defined a large number of pathogenic genetic alterations. Moreover, these techniques allowed epigenomic, transcriptomic and microbiome analyses. In the 2020s, these new technologies are poised to displace phenotype-based classifications towards a nosology based on genetic/biological data. Advances in genetic technologies are engineering a reversal of the phenotype-to-genotype order of nosology development, replacing convergent clinicopathological disease models with the genotypic divergence required for future precision medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sturchio
- Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - L Marsili
- Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - A Mahajan
- Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - M B Grimberg
- Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - M A Kauffman
- Consultorio y Laboratorio de Neurogenética, Centro Universitario de Neurología 'José María Ramos Mejía' y División Neurología, Hospital JM Ramos Mejía, Facultad de Medicina, UBA and Programa de Medicina de Precision y Genomica Clinica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Pilar, Argentina
| | - A J Espay
- Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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19
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Marsili L, Overwater E, Hanna N, Baujat G, Baars MJH, Brehin AC, Gerard M, Gouya L, Houweling AC, Vanlerberghe C, Voorhoeve E, Van Tintelen JP, Maugeri A, Arnaud P. P6497Loeys-Dietz syndrome-5: phenotypic spectrum of TGFB3 mutations in an international cohort and first report of a homozygous patient. Eur Heart J 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz746.1087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Mutations in TGFB3 cause Loeys-Dietz syndrome-5 (LDS5), an autosomal dominantly inherited connective tissue disorder. LDS5 is characterized by aortic aneurysms and dissections associated with systemic features mainly involving the ocular and skeletal systems. Precise delineation of LDS5 phenotype is difficult because of the small number of identified cases.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to further define LDS5 with an emphasis on cardiologic features by describing the genotype and phenotype in an international cohort of patients.
Methods
We performed a retrospective cross-sectional multicentre study. Genetic testing was performed as a part of standard medical care. Clinical data were collected by means of an anonymized questionnaire, which was sent to the referent physicians.
Results
Ten (7 novel) TGFB3 mutations were identified in 31 patients (16 index patients). The mean age at last evaluation was 32 years (range 4–60 years). Aortic root dilatation, varices, and mitral valve insufficiency were the most common cardiovascular findings, reported in 28%, 22%, and 21% of patients, respectively. Higher incidences (40%, 29%, and 25%) of these findings were observed in the index patients. Four patients (8%) underwent aortic surgery, all after age 40. Abdominal aortic aneurysms were reported in 2/26 (8%) patients. Extra aortic artery disease included iliac artery aneurysm (one index patient) and tortuosity of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries (one index patient and one relative). The most frequently reported systemic features were high-arched palate, arachnodactyly, pes planus, pectus deformity, and joint hypermobility. Interestingly, we identified an homozygous TGFB3 mutation in a patient who presented with aortic dilatation at age 17, splenic torsion, severe myopia, cleft palate, and other skeletal features. Her heterozygous parents, brother, and sister displayed signs of the disease, but to a milder degree. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first identification of homozygous TGFB3 mutation.
Conclusions
Our data are in line with previous research, showing that aortic root dilatation is the main cardiovascular feature of LDS5. No deaths related to cardiovascular events were reported in any of the presented families. The cardiovascular phenotype of LDS5 appears to be milder compared to other vascular connective tissue disorder, such as Marfan syndrome, although our findings suggest that homozygosity is associated with a more severe and early-onset phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Marsili
- CHRU Lille, Clinique de Génétique, Lille, France
| | - E Overwater
- VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam, Netherlands (The)
| | - N Hanna
- Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Département de Génétique, Paris, France
| | - G Baujat
- Hospital Necker, Service de Génétique, Paris, France
| | - M J H Baars
- Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam, Netherlands (The)
| | - A C Brehin
- University Hospital of Rouen, Department of Genetics, Rouen, France
| | - M Gerard
- University Hospital of Caen, Service de Génétique, Caen, France
| | - L Gouya
- Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Centre de référence pour le syndrome de Marfan et apparentés, Paris, France
| | - A C Houweling
- VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam, Netherlands (The)
| | | | - E Voorhoeve
- VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam, Netherlands (The)
| | - J P Van Tintelen
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Clinical Genetics, Utrecht, Netherlands (The)
| | - A Maugeri
- VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam, Netherlands (The)
| | - P Arnaud
- Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Département de Génétique, Paris, France
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20
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Marsili L, Di Guardo G, Mazzariol S, Casini S. Insights Into Cetacean Immunology: Do Ecological and Biological Factors Make the Difference? Front Immunol 2019; 10:1219. [PMID: 31214183 PMCID: PMC6554325 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related protein A (MICA) in fibroblast cell cultures of cetaceans (skin biopsies of free-ranging specimens and skin samples of freshly stranded cetaceans) by an immunofluorescence technique and to outline possible variations in MICA expression linked to different ecological and biological factors, while also investigating MICA expression after in vitro treatments with different contaminants. Free-ranging or stranded specimens of cetaceans were sampled in the Sea of Cortez (Mexico) (Balaenoptera edeni, Delphinus capensis, and Orcinus orca) and in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenoptera physalus, Physeter macrocephalus, Tursiops truncatus, and Stenella coeruleoalba). Cell cultures were treated with an OC mixture, flame retardants, PAHs, MeHg, and BPA. The three species from the Sea of Cortez showed higher basal activity of MICA and lower levels of DDTs and PCBs than the Mediterranean species. A Pearson's linear coefficient equal to −0.45 also confirmed this tendency to have high levels of MICA and low total OC levels. Treatment of cultured fibroblasts with different contaminants mostly resulted in the upregulation of MICA protein expression by at least one treatment dose; downregulation was also found in some species or treatments. MICA alteration indicates a state of stress of the organism and a modification of the immune system's response and can be proposed as a non-invasive immunological marker that can be measured in skin biopsy samples, thus offering a good alternative to blood measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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21
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Habib AM, Matsuyama A, Okorokov AL, Santana-Varela S, Bras JT, Aloisi AM, Emery EC, Bogdanov YD, Follenfant M, Gossage SJ, Gras M, Humphrey J, Kolesnikov A, Le Cann K, Li S, Minett MS, Pereira V, Ponsolles C, Sikandar S, Torres JM, Yamaoka K, Zhao J, Komine Y, Yamamori T, Maniatis N, Panov KI, Houlden H, Ramirez JD, Bennett DLH, Marsili L, Bachiocco V, Wood JN, Cox JJ. A novel human pain insensitivity disorder caused by a point mutation in ZFHX2. Brain 2019; 141:365-376. [PMID: 29253101 PMCID: PMC5837393 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a major global public health issue causing a severe impact on both the quality of life for sufferers and the wider economy. Despite the significant clinical burden, little progress has been made in terms of therapeutic development. A unique approach to identifying new human-validated analgesic drug targets is to study rare families with inherited pain insensitivity. Here we have analysed an otherwise normal family where six affected individuals display a pain insensitive phenotype that is characterized by hyposensitivity to noxious heat and painless bone fractures. This autosomal dominant disorder is found in three generations and is not associated with a peripheral neuropathy. A novel point mutation in ZFHX2, encoding a putative transcription factor expressed in small diameter sensory neurons, was identified by whole exome sequencing that segregates with the pain insensitivity. The mutation is predicted to change an evolutionarily highly conserved arginine residue 1913 to a lysine within a homeodomain. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mice bearing the orthologous murine p.R1907K mutation, as well as Zfhx2 null mutant mice, have significant deficits in pain sensitivity. Gene expression analyses in dorsal root ganglia from mutant and wild-type mice show altered expression of genes implicated in peripheral pain mechanisms. The ZFHX2 variant and downstream regulated genes associated with a human pain-insensitive phenotype are therefore potential novel targets for the development of new analgesic drugs.awx326media15680039660001.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdella M Habib
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,College of Medicine, Member of Qatar Health Cluster, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ayako Matsuyama
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Andrei L Okorokov
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sonia Santana-Varela
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jose T Bras
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Anna Maria Aloisi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Edward C Emery
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Yury D Bogdanov
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Maryne Follenfant
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sam J Gossage
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Mathilde Gras
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Anna Kolesnikov
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Kim Le Cann
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Shengnan Li
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Michael S Minett
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Vanessa Pereira
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Clara Ponsolles
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Shafaq Sikandar
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jesus M Torres
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada 18012, Spain
| | - Kenji Yamaoka
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jing Zhao
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Yuriko Komine
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yamamori
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Nikolas Maniatis
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Konstantin I Panov
- Medical Biology Centre, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Juan D Ramirez
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - David L H Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Valeria Bachiocco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - John N Wood
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - James J Cox
- Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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22
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Centelleghe C, Da Dalt L, Marsili L, Zanetti R, Fernandez A, Arbelo M, Sierra E, Castagnaro M, Di Guardo G, Mazzariol S. Insights Into Dolphins' Immunology: Immuno-Phenotypic Study on Mediterranean and Atlantic Stranded Cetaceans. Front Immunol 2019; 10:888. [PMID: 31110505 PMCID: PMC6499212 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunology of marine mammals is a relatively understudied field and its monitoring plays an important role in the individual and group management of these animals, along with an increasing value as an environmental health indicator. This study was aimed at implementing the knowledge on the immune response in cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline to provide a baseline useful for assessing the immune status of bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins. In particular, since the Mediterranean Sea is considered a heavily polluted basin, a comparison with animals living in open waters such as the Atlantic Ocean was made. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded spleen, thymus, and lymph node tissues from 16 animals stranded along Italian and 11 cetaceans from the Canary Island shores were sampled within 48 h from death. Information regarding stranding sites, gender, and age as well as virologic, microbiological, and parasitological investigations, and the cause and/or the death mechanism were also collected in order to carry out statistical analyses. Selected tissues were routinely stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and with immunohistochemical techniques (IHC). For IHC analysis, anti-human CD5 monoclonal mouse antibody to identify T lymphocytes, CD20 monoclonal mouse antibody for the identification of mature B lymphocytes and HLA-DR antigen (alpha-chain) monoclonal mouse antibody for the identification of the major histocompatibility complex type II were previously validated for both species by Western-blotting technique. T-test method applied to quantitative evaluation of IHC positive cells showed a significant relationship between the number of (expression) of CD20 stained lymphocytes and normal and hypoplastic lymph nodes, respectively. No other significant correlations were noticed. Analyses for organochlorines (OC) compounds were performed in animals (n°5) having frozen blubber tissue available. A simple linear regression was calculated to predict if the amount of OCs could influence the number of inflammatory cell subpopulations and a moderate negative correlation was found between the presence of high quantity of contaminants and the number of T lymphocytes. Future analysis should be aimed to understand the effect of the major immunomodulatory pathogens on sub-populations of B and T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Laura Da Dalt
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Rossella Zanetti
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Antonio Fernandez
- Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universitad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universitad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Eva Sierra
- Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universitad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Massimo Castagnaro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | | | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
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23
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Grattarola C, Gallina S, Giorda F, Pautasso A, Ballardini M, Iulini B, Varello K, Goria M, Peletto S, Masoero L, Serracca L, Romano A, Dondo A, Zoppi S, Garibaldi F, Scaglione FE, Marsili L, Di Guardo G, Lettini AA, Mignone W, Fernandez A, Casalone C. First report of Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- in free-ranging striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), Italy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6061. [PMID: 30988332 PMCID: PMC6465278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42474-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Between 2015 and the beginning of 2018 (January-March), 30 cetaceans were found stranded along the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy. Necropsies were performed in 22 cases and infectious diseases resulted the most common cause of death. Three striped dolphins, showed a severe coinfection involving the monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium (Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:-). The isolates were characterized based on antimicrobial resistance, Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem-repeat Analysis (MLVA) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). All isolates demonstrated the same multidrug resistant genotype (ASSuT isolates), showed three different MLVA profiles, two of which closely related, and were identified as Sequence Type 34. Moreover, Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) analysis confirmed strong correlations between two out of the three isolates. To our knowledge, S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-, one of the most common serovars in cases of human infection and food sources worldwide, has not previously been described in marine mammals, and reports of Salmonella-associated disease in free-ranging cetaceans are rare. These results highlight the role of cetaceans as sentinel species for zoonotic and terrestrial pathogens in the marine environment, suggest a potential risk for cetaceans and public health along the North Western Italian coastline and indicate cetaceans as a novel potential reservoir for one of the most widespread Salmonella serovars.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy.
| | - S Gallina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - F Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy.,Institute of Animal Health, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Las Palmas, 35416, Spain
| | - A Pautasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - M Ballardini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - B Iulini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - K Varello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - M Goria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - S Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - L Masoero
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - L Serracca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - A Romano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - A Dondo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - S Zoppi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - F Garibaldi
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - F E Scaglione
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - G Di Guardo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, 64100, Italy
| | - A A Lettini
- Reference Laboratory for Salmonella, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, 35020, Italy
| | - W Mignone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
| | - A Fernandez
- Institute of Animal Health, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Las Palmas, 35416, Spain
| | - C Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, 10154, Italy
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24
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Di Stasio F, Suppa A, Marsili L, Upadhyay N, Asci F, Bologna M, Colosimo C, Fabbrini G, Pantano P, Berardelli A. Corticobasal syndrome: neuroimaging and neurophysiological advances. Eur J Neurol 2019; 26:701-e52. [PMID: 30720235 DOI: 10.1111/ene.13928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by 4R tau protein deposition in several brain regions that clinically manifests itself as a heterogeneous atypical parkinsonism typically expressed in adulthood. The prototypical clinical phenotype of CBD is corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Important insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying motor and higher cortical symptoms in CBS have been gained by using advanced neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies often show asymmetric cortical and subcortical abnormalities, mainly involving perirolandic and parietal regions and basal ganglia structures. Neurophysiological investigations including electroencephalography and somatosensory evoked potentials provide useful information on the origin of myoclonus and on cortical sensory loss. Transcranial magnetic stimulation demonstrates heterogeneous and asymmetric changes in the excitability and plasticity of primary motor cortex and abnormal hemispheric connectivity. Neuroimaging and neurophysiological abnormalities in multiple brain areas reflect asymmetric neurodegeneration, leading to asymmetric motor and higher cortical symptoms in CBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Di Stasio
- IRCCS Neuromed Institute, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Pozzilli (Isernia), Italy
| | - A Suppa
- IRCCS Neuromed Institute, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Pozzilli (Isernia), Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - N Upadhyay
- Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - F Asci
- Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - M Bologna
- IRCCS Neuromed Institute, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Pozzilli (Isernia), Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - C Colosimo
- Department of Neurology, Santa Maria University Hospital, Terni, Italy
| | - G Fabbrini
- IRCCS Neuromed Institute, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Pozzilli (Isernia), Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - P Pantano
- IRCCS Neuromed Institute, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Pozzilli (Isernia), Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - A Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed Institute, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Pozzilli (Isernia), Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Bartalini A, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Marsili L, Mazzariol S, Fossi MC, Jiménez B. Evaluation of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PBDEs in sperm whales from the Mediterranean Sea. Sci Total Environ 2019; 653:1417-1425. [PMID: 30759580 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies to date have reported concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in different marine mammal species worldwide. Yet data on sperm whales are scarce from rich and unique biodiverse areas such as the Mediterranean Sea. This work aimed to assess levels of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) in blubber of sperm whales stranded along the Italian coast between 2008 and 2016. POP mean concentrations (dl-PCBs: 6410 ng/g l.w.; PBDEs: 612 ng/g l.w.; PCDD/Fs: 57.8 pg/g l.w.) were mostly in line with what has been previously reported on the same species in the Mediterranean environment and tended to be higher than those reported from other geographical regions. The relative abundance followed the order dl-PCBs > PBDEs ≫ PCDD/Fs. Interestingly, the non-ortho dl-PCB pattern (126 > 169 > 77) was similar to that described in other studies worldwide and different from what is described in its main prey. This could be linked to particular metabolic activities in sperm whales against these highly toxic contaminants. Total TEQs ranged from 275 to 987 pg/g l.w. and showed the pattern Σnon-ortho-dl-PCBs > Σortho-dl-PCBs > PCDDs > PCDFs, with PCBs' contribution about 96%. These findings highlight the high abundance of PCBs still found in the Mediterranean environment despite having been banned for decades. All sperm whales analyzed in this study surpassed the threshold of 210 pg WHO-TEQ/g l.w. proposed as starting point of immunosuppression in harbour seals; a level of contamination that may have contributed to an impairment of their immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bartalini
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - J Muñoz-Arnanz
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, CSIC. Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - S Mazzariol
- Department of Public Health, Comparative Pathology and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - M C Fossi
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - B Jiménez
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, CSIC. Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Cagnazzi D, Consales G, Broadhurst MK, Marsili L. Bioaccumulation of organochlorine compounds in large, threatened elasmobranchs off northern New South Wales, Australia. Mar Pollut Bull 2019; 139:263-269. [PMID: 30686427 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), which are resistant to biodegradation and therefore accumulate in the marine environment. In Australia, POPs occur in high concentrations primarily in costal water near farming regions and urban centres. From contaminated sediments and biota, POPs are transferred and biomagnified in larger marine organisms. We quantified POPs concentrations in 57 individuals from ten species of sharks and rays caught in bather-protection gillnets deployed off northern New South Wales, Australia. Polychlorinated biphenyls, DDTs and HCB were detected in all species. For some individuals, concentrations were at levels known to have deleterious sub-lethal effects. Overall, the POP concentrations analysed in this study were comparable to those in similar species from more polluted regions, and may have negative impacts on longer-term health. Future research is warranted to investigate spatio-temporal patterns of species-specific contaminant loads and their implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Cagnazzi
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
| | - Guia Consales
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matt K Broadhurst
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Conservation Technology Unit, National Marine Science Centre, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia; Marine and Estuarine Ecology Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Gaspari S, Marsili L, Natali C, Airoldi S, Lanfredi C, Deeming C, Moura AE. Spatio-temporal patterns of genetic diversity in the Mediterranean striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba
). J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environmental Science; University of Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Chiara Natali
- Department of Biology; University of Florence; Florence Italy
| | | | | | | | - André E. Moura
- School of Life Sciences; University of Lincoln; Lincoln UK
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Cocumelli C, Fichi G, Marsili L, Senese M, Cardeti G, Cersini A, Ricci E, Garibaldi F, Scholl F, Di Guardo G, Terracciano G. Cetacean Poxvirus in Two Striped Dolphins ( Stenella coeruleoalba) Stranded on the Tyrrhenian Coast of Italy: Histopathological, Ultrastructural, Biomolecular, and Ecotoxicological Findings. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:219. [PMID: 30255028 PMCID: PMC6141780 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tattoo skin disease (TSD) is a poxviral disease typical of cetaceans. Two juvenile and well-preserved male striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), found stranded along the Tuscany and Latium coasts of Italy in 2015 and 2016, respectively, showed typical skin lesions ascribable to TSD. Histological, ultrastructural and biomolecular investigations confirmed a poxviral aetiology for the aforementioned skin lesions. To our knowledge, this should be the first report of TSD in cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline. As organochlorines like PCBs and DDTs are known to be highly immunotoxic, the tissue loads of these contaminants were evaluated, in order to increase our knowledge on their potential role as well as on the relationships between the level of exposure to these pollutants and poxviral infection's occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Cocumelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Senese
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Cardeti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Cersini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Ricci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Rome, Italy
| | - Fulvio Garibaldi
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Scholl
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuliana Terracciano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Rome, Italy
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Casini S, Caliani I, Giannetti M, Marsili L, Maltese S, Coppola D, Bianchi N, Campani T, Ancora S, Caruso C, Furii G, Parga M, D'Agostino A, Fossi MC. First ecotoxicological assessment of Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Mediterranean Sea using an integrated nondestructive protocol. Sci Total Environ 2018; 631-632:1221-1233. [PMID: 29727947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a long-lived carnivorous reptile included in the IUCN Red List. The IUCN assessment for this species underlines the lack of information regarding pollution and pathogens and indicates as a priority effort to investigate and reduce the impacts of these threats. In this contest, the aim of our study was to conduct the first ecotoxicological assessment of this species in the Mediterranean Sea using a nondestructive integrated methodology. We set up and applied a monitoring protocol which includes endpoints, such as CYP1A, LPO, ENA assay, B esterases, never investigated before in this species. Seventy-five loggerhead turtles were sampled in a nondestructive way in Italian Sea Turtle Rescue Centers or free-ranging along the Spanish coasts. Blood, skin and carapace samples were used to test biomarker responses (CYP1A, VTG, LPO, Comet and ENA assay, BChE, GGT) and contaminant (OCs, PAHs, Pb, Cd, Hg) levels. Elaboration of experimental results was carried out taking also into consideration different age classes of the specimens. Among the main results obtained we should underline the statistically significant correlation between carcinogenic PAHs in blood and DNA fragmentation as well as between Cd in carapace and GGT in plasma. We also evidenced as youngest animals showed significantly higher DNA fragmentations, BChE inhibition and increase of GGT. Older specimens showed the highest levels of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities which may indicate a long term toxicological stress. This study contributed to expand the knowledge about the ecotoxicology of C. caretta in the Mediterranean. The nondestructive protocol could also be applied to other marine ecosystems and other sea turtle species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Giannetti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Maltese
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Daniele Coppola
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Nicola Bianchi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Ancora
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Chiara Caruso
- CRTM Ente Parco Regionale della Maremma, Via Nizza, 24, 58010 Talamone, Gr, Italy
| | - Giovanni Furii
- CRTM Legambiente, Sp.141 delle Saline, 71043 Manfredonia, FG, Italy
| | | | - Antonella D'Agostino
- Department of Management and Quantitative Studies, University of Naples "Parthenope", via generale Parisi 13, 80132 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Mazzariol S, Centelleghe C, Cozzi B, Povinelli M, Marcer F, Ferri N, Di Francesco G, Badagliacca P, Profeta F, Olivieri V, Guccione S, Cocumelli C, Terracciano G, Troiano P, Beverelli M, Garibaldi F, Podestà M, Marsili L, Fossi MC, Mattiucci S, Cipriani P, De Nurra D, Zaccaroni A, Rubini S, Berto D, de Quiros YB, Fernandez A, Morell M, Giorda F, Pautasso A, Modesto P, Casalone C, Di Guardo G. Multidisciplinary studies on a sick-leader syndrome-associated mass stranding of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) along the Adriatic coast of Italy. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11577. [PMID: 30068967 PMCID: PMC6070578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29966-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are rare in the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, in 2014 a pod of 7 specimens stranded alive along the Italian coast of the Central Adriatic Sea: 3 individuals died on the beach after a few hours due to internal damages induced by prolonged recumbency; the remaining 4 whales were refloated after great efforts. All the dead animals were genetically related females; one was pregnant. All the animals were infected by dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and the pregnant whale was also affected by a severe nephropathy due to a large kidney stone. Other analyses ruled out other possible relevant factors related to weather conditions or human activities. The results of multidisciplinary post-mortem analyses revealed that the 7 sperm whales entered the Adriatic Sea encountering adverse weather conditions and then kept heading northward following the pregnant but sick leader of the pod, thereby reaching the stranding site. DMV infection most likely played a crucial role in impairing the health condition and orientation abilities of the whales. They did not steer back towards deeper waters, but eventually stranded along the Central Adriatic Sea coastline, a real trap for sperm whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Bruno Cozzi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Michele Povinelli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Federica Marcer
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferri
- 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
| | - Pietro Badagliacca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy
| | - Francesca Profeta
- University of Teramo, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Località Piano d'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | | | | | - Cristiano Cocumelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuliana Terracciano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, Rome, Italy
| | - Pasquale Troiano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Foggia, Italy
| | - Matteo Beverelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Foggia, Italy
| | | | | | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Simonetta Mattiucci
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Cipriani
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele De Nurra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Silva Rubini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Yara Beraldo de Quiros
- Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universitad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernandez
- Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universitad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Maria Morell
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (Inserm UMR 1051), Montpellier, France
| | - Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Val d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pautasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Val d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Paola Modesto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Val d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Val d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- University of Teramo, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Località Piano d'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy
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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. Dis Aquat Organ 2018; 127:137-144. [PMID: 29384483 DOI: 10.3354/dao03190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Fossi MC, Baini M, Panti C, Galli M, Jiménez B, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Marsili L, Finoia MG, Ramírez-Macías D. Are whale sharks exposed to persistent organic pollutants and plastic pollution in the Gulf of California (Mexico)? First ecotoxicological investigation using skin biopsies. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 199:48-58. [PMID: 28274762 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2017.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is an endangered species that may be exposed to micro- and macro-plastic ingestion as a result of their filter-feeding activity, particularly on the sea surface. In this pilot project we perform the first ecotoxicological investigation on whale sharks sampled in the Gulf of California exploring the potential interaction of this species with plastic debris (macro-, micro-plastics and related sorbed contaminants). Due to the difficulty in obtaining stranded specimens of this endangered species, an indirect approach, by skin biopsies was used for the evaluation of the whale shark ecotoxicological status. The levels of organochlorine compounds (PCBs, DDTs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) plastic additives, and related biomarkers responses (CYP1A) were investigated for the first time in the whale shark. Twelve whale shark skin biopsy samples were collected in January 2014 in La Paz Bay (BCS, Mexico) and a preliminary investigation on microplastic concentration and polymer composition was also carried out in seawater samples from the same area. The average abundance pattern for the target contaminants was PCBs>DDTs>PBDEs>HCB. Mean concentration values of 8.42ng/g w.w. were found for PCBs, 1.31ng/g w.w. for DDTs, 0.29ng/g w.w. for PBDEs and 0.19ng/g w.w. for HCB. CYP1A-like protein was detected, for the first time, in whale shark skin samples. First data on the average density of microplastics in the superficial zooplankton/microplastic samples showed values ranging from 0.00items/m3 to 0.14items/m3. A focused PCA analysis was performed to evaluate a possible correlation among the size of the whale sharks, contaminants and CYP1A reponses. Further ecotoxicological investigation on whale shark skin biopsies will be carried out for a worldwide ecotoxicological risk assessment of this endangerd species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Galli
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry. Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC). Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Muñoz-Arnanz
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry. Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC). Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Finoia
- ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via V. Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Dení Ramírez-Macías
- Tiburon Ballena Mexico proyecto de ConCiencia Mexico AC, La Paz, BCS, Mexico
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Suppa A, Leone C, Di Stasio F, Marsili L, Di Santo A, Biasiotta A, La Cesa S, Truini A, Cruccu G, Berardelli A. Pain-motor integration in the primary motor cortex in Parkinson's disease. Brain Stimul 2017; 10:806-816. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.04.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gallerini
- Unit of Neurology Misericordia Hospital Grosseto, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Unit of Neurology Misericordia Hospital Grosseto, Italy.,Department of Neurology and Psychiatry "Sapienza" University of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - M Bartalucci
- Unit of Neurology Misericordia Hospital Grosseto, Italy
| | - C Marotti
- Unit of Neurology Misericordia Hospital Grosseto, Italy
| | - R Marconi
- Unit of Neurology Misericordia Hospital Grosseto, Italy
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Gallerini S, Marsili L, Bartalucci M, Marotti C, Innocenti E, Marconi R. An unusual cause of cervicobrachial pain: vertebral artery dissection. Neurol Sci 2017; 38:1111-1113. [PMID: 28204889 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-017-2847-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Gallerini
- Unit of Neurology, Misericordia Hospital, Via Senese, 161, 58100, Grosseto, Italy.
| | - L Marsili
- Unit of Neurology, Misericordia Hospital, Via Senese, 161, 58100, Grosseto, Italy.,Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, "Sapienza", University of Rome,, Rome, Italy
| | - M Bartalucci
- Unit of Neurology, Misericordia Hospital, Via Senese, 161, 58100, Grosseto, Italy
| | - C Marotti
- Unit of Neurology, Misericordia Hospital, Via Senese, 161, 58100, Grosseto, Italy
| | - E Innocenti
- Unit of Neurology, Misericordia Hospital, Via Senese, 161, 58100, Grosseto, Italy
| | - R Marconi
- Unit of Neurology, Misericordia Hospital, Via Senese, 161, 58100, Grosseto, Italy
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Formigaro C, Karamanlidis AA, Dendrinos P, Marsili L, Silvi M, Zaccaroni A. Trace element concentrations in the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sci Total Environ 2017; 576:528-537. [PMID: 27810742 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. The biggest sub-population of the species survives in Greece, where understanding the effects of pollution on the survival of the species has been identified as a national research and conservation priority. From 1990 to 2013 we collected tissue samples from 59 deceased monk seals in order to: (i) Define the concentration of trace elements (As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Cr, Ni) in three different matrices (i.e., blubber, liver and kidney), (ii) Determine whether differences in trace element concentrations are age- or gender-related, (iii) Evaluate the potential effects of these pollutants. The study recorded differences in trace element concentrations among matrices, but in general, trace element exposure in Mediterranean monk seals in Greece was low and within the non-acutely toxic levels for Pinnipeds. Only arsenic concentrations were at the upper limit of the normal range observed in other marine mammals (0.69±0.55mg/kg w.w. in blubber, 0.79±0.62mg/kg w.w. in liver and 0.79±0.59mg/kg w.w. in kidney). We recorded also exceptionally high Hg concentrations in a single adult female (24.88mg/kg w.w.). Age- and gender-related differences were also recorded and were due to various biological, ecological and chemical factors. Based on the results of the study, potentially adverse effects on the immune and endocrine system of the Mediterranean monk seal from some pollutants (e.g., As, Cd, Se, Ni, Cr) cannot be ruled out, which may expose the Mediterranean seal population in Greece to epizootics and stochastic phenomena of mass mortality. It is therefore of utmost importance that pollutant monitoring becomes an integral component of the standard monitoring protocol of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal in the eastern Mediterranean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Formigaro
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Alexandros A Karamanlidis
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Dendrinos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena (SI), Italy
| | - Marina Silvi
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy.
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Marsili L, Suppa A, Di Stasio F, Belvisi D, Upadhyay N, Berardelli I, Pasquini M, Petrucci S, Ginevrino M, Fabbrini G, Cardona F, Defazio G, Berardelli A. BDNF and LTP-/LTD-like plasticity of the primary motor cortex in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Exp Brain Res 2016; 235:841-850. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4847-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Gonzalvo J, Lauriano G, Hammond PS, Viaud-Martinez KA, Fossi MC, Natoli A, Marsili L. The Gulf of Ambracia's Common Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus: A Highly Dense and yet Threatened Population. Adv Mar Biol 2016; 75:259-296. [PMID: 27770987 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the only cetacean present in the semiclosed waters of the Gulf of Ambracia, Western Greece. This increasingly degraded coastal ecosystem hosts one of the highest observed densities in the Mediterranean Sea for this species. Photo-identification data and tissue samples collected through skin-swabbing and remote biopsy sampling techniques during boat-based surveys conducted between 2006 and 2015 in the Gulf, were used to examine bottlenose dolphin abundance, population trends, site fidelity, genetic differentiation and toxicological status. Bottlenose dolphins showed high levels of year-round site fidelity throughout the 10-year study period. Dolphin population estimates mostly fell between 130 and 170 with CVs averaging about 10%; a trend in population size over the 10 years was a decline of 1.6% per year (but this was not significant). Genetic differentiation between the bottlenose dolphins of the Gulf and their conspecifics from neighbouring populations was detected, and low genetic diversity was found among individuals sampled. In addition, pesticides where identified as factors posing a real toxicological problem for local bottlenose dolphins. Therefore, in the Gulf of Ambracia, high dolphin density does not seem to be indicative of favourable conservation status or pristine habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gonzalvo
- Tethys Research Institute, Milan, Italy.
| | - G Lauriano
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Roma, Italy
| | - P S Hammond
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - A Natoli
- UAE Dolphin Project, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Mazzariol S, Marsili L, Di Guardo G. Cetacean mass strandings and multidisciplinary work. Chemosphere 2016; 148:32-33. [PMID: 26800488 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Mazzariol
- University of Padova, Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Hygiene, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
| | - Letizia Marsili
- University of Siena, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- University of Teramo, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Località Piano d'Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
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Lunardi D, Abelli L, Panti C, Marsili L, Fossi MC, Mancia A. Transcriptomic analysis of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) skin biopsies to assess the effects of emerging contaminants. Mar Environ Res 2016; 114:74-79. [PMID: 26794494 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Chemicals discovered in water at levels that may be significantly different than expected are referred to as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) because the risk to environmental health posed by their occurrence/frequency is still unknown. The worldwide distributed compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and bisphenol A (BPA) may fall into this category due to effects on endocrine receptors. We applied an ex vivo assay using small slices of bioptic skin from the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, cultured and treated for 24 h with different PFOA or BPA concentrations to analyze global gene expression. RNA was labeled and hybridized to a species-specific oligomicroarray. The skin transcriptome held information on the contaminant exposure, potentially predictive about long-term effects on health, being the genes affected involved in immunity modulation, response to stress, lipid homeostasis, and development. The transcriptomic signature of dolphin skin could be therefore relevant as classifier for a specific contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Lunardi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - Luigi Abelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Annalaura Mancia
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.
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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. Dis Aquat Organ 2016; 118:169-74. [PMID: 26912047 DOI: 10.3354/dao02957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Fossi MC, Marsili L, Baini M, Giannetti M, Coppola D, Guerranti C, Caliani I, Minutoli R, Lauriano G, Finoia MG, Rubegni F, Panigada S, Bérubé M, Urbán Ramírez J, Panti C. Fin whales and microplastics: The Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Cortez scenarios. Environ Pollut 2016; 209:68-78. [PMID: 26637933 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The impact that microplastics have on baleen whales is a question that remains largely unexplored. This study examined the interaction between free-ranging fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and microplastics by comparing populations living in two semi-enclosed basins, the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California, Mexico). The results indicate that a considerable abundance of microplastics and plastic additives exists in the neustonic samples from Pelagos Sanctuary of the Mediterranean Sea, and that pelagic areas containing high densities of microplastics overlap with whale feeding grounds, suggesting that whales are exposed to microplastics during foraging; this was confirmed by the observation of a temporal increase in toxicological stress in whales. Given the abundance of microplastics in the Mediterranean environment, along with the high concentrations of Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) chemicals, plastic additives and biomarker responses detected in the biopsies of Mediterranean whales as compared to those in whales inhabiting the Sea of Cortez, we believe that exposure to microplastics because of direct ingestion and consumption of contaminated prey poses a major threat to the health of fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Giannetti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniele Coppola
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Cristiana Guerranti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Roberta Minutoli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Fabrizio Rubegni
- Technical Department Civil Engineering and Marine Works, Tuscany Region, Grosseto, Italy
| | | | - Martine Bérubé
- Marine Evolution and Conservation Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jorge Urbán Ramírez
- Department of Marine Biology, Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
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Suppa A, Marsili L, Giovannelli F, Di Stasio F, Rocchi L, Upadhyay N, Ruoppolo G, Cincotta M, Berardelli A. Abnormal motor cortex excitability during linguistic tasks in adductor-type spasmodic dysphonia. Eur J Neurosci 2015; 42:2051-60. [PMID: 26061279 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In healthy subjects (HS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied during 'linguistic' tasks discloses excitability changes in the dominant hemisphere primary motor cortex (M1). We investigated 'linguistic' task-related cortical excitability modulation in patients with adductor-type spasmodic dysphonia (ASD), a speech-related focal dystonia. We studied 10 ASD patients and 10 HS. Speech examination included voice cepstral analysis. We investigated the dominant/non-dominant M1 excitability at baseline, during 'linguistic' (reading aloud/silent reading/producing simple phonation) and 'non-linguistic' tasks (looking at non-letter strings/producing oral movements). Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the contralateral hand muscles. We measured the cortical silent period (CSP) length and tested MEPs in HS and patients performing the 'linguistic' tasks with different voice intensities. We also examined MEPs in HS and ASD during hand-related 'action-verb' observation. Patients were studied under and not-under botulinum neurotoxin-type A (BoNT-A). In HS, TMS over the dominant M1 elicited larger MEPs during 'reading aloud' than during the other 'linguistic'/'non-linguistic' tasks. Conversely, in ASD, TMS over the dominant M1 elicited increased-amplitude MEPs during 'reading aloud' and 'syllabic phonation' tasks. CSP length was shorter in ASD than in HS and remained unchanged in both groups performing 'linguistic'/'non-linguistic' tasks. In HS and ASD, 'linguistic' task-related excitability changes were present regardless of the different voice intensities. During hand-related 'action-verb' observation, MEPs decreased in HS, whereas in ASD they increased. In ASD, BoNT-A improved speech, as demonstrated by cepstral analysis and restored the TMS abnormalities. ASD reflects dominant hemisphere excitability changes related to 'linguistic' tasks; BoNT-A returns these excitability changes to normal.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Suppa
- Neuromed Institute, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - F Giovannelli
- Unit of Neurology, Florence Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - F Di Stasio
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - L Rocchi
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - N Upadhyay
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - G Ruoppolo
- Otorhinolaryngology Section, Department of Sensorial Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - M Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology, Florence Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - A Berardelli
- Neuromed Institute, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.,Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
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Di Guardo G, Falconi A, Di Francesco A, Mazzariol S, Centelleghe C, Casalone C, Pautasso A, Cocumelli C, Eleni C, Petrella A, Di Francesco CE, Sabatucci A, Leonardi L, Serroni A, Marsili L, Storelli MM, Giacominelli-Stuffler R. Western blot expression of 5-lipoxygenase in the brain from striped dolphins (stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus) with or without encephalitis/meningo-encephalitis of infectious nature. J BIOL REG HOMEOS AG 2015; 29:245-250. [PMID: 25864766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV), Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella ceti are pathogens of major concern for wild cetaceans. Although a more or less severe encephalitis/meningo-encephalitis may occur in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) infected by the aforementioned agents, almost no information is available on the neuropathogenesis of brain lesions, including the neuronal and non-neuronal cells targeted during infection, along with the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. We analyzed 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) expression in the brain of 11 striped dolphins and 5 bottlenose dolphins, affected or not by encephalitic lesions of various degrees associated with DMV, T. gondii and B. ceti. All the 8 striped dolphins with encephalitis showed a more consistent 5-LOX expression than that observed in the 3 striped dolphins showing no morphologic evidence of brain lesions, with the most prominent band intensity being detected in a B. ceti-infected animal. Similar results were not obtained in T. gondii-infected vs T. gondii-uninfected bottlenose dolphins. Overall, the higher 5-LOX expression found in the brain of the 8 striped dolphins with infectious neuroinflammation is of interest, given that 5-LOX is a putative marker for neurodegeneration in human patients and in experimental animal models. Therefore, further investigation on this challenging issue is also needed in stranded cetaceans affected by central neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Di Guardo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - A Falconi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - A Di Francesco
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - S Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, AGRIPOLIS, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - C Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, AGRIPOLIS, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - C Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle dAosta, Turin, Italy
| | - A Pautasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle dAosta, Turin, Italy
| | - C Cocumelli
- IZS del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, Rome, Italy
| | - C Eleni
- IZS del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, Rome, Italy
| | - A Petrella
- IZS della Puglia e della Basilicata, Foggia, Italy
| | - C E Di Francesco
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - A Sabatucci
- Faculty of Biosciences and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Mosciano S. Angelo, Teramo, Italy
| | - L Leonardi
- Department of Biopathological Sciences and Hygiene of Animal and Alimentary Productions, University of Perugia, Italy
| | - A Serroni
- IZS dellUmbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment,University of Siena, Italy
| | - M M Storelli
- Department of Pharmaco-Biology, University of Bari, Italy
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Fossi MC, Panti C, Marsili L, Maltese S, Coppola D, Jimenez B, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Finoia MG, Rojas-Bracho L, Urban RJ. Could feeding habit and migratory behaviour be the causes of different toxicological hazard to cetaceans of Gulf of California (Mexico)? Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2014; 21:13353-66. [PMID: 24510600 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-2574-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In this work, a suite of diagnostic biomarkers was applied to seven cetacean species to evaluate the role of the feeding habits and migratory behavior in the toxicological status of these species from the Gulf of California, Mexico. We investigate the interspecific differences in cytochrome P450 1A1 and 2B (CYP1A1 and CYP2B, respectively), aryl hydrocarbon receptor and E2F transcription factor 1 and the contaminants levels [organochlorine compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] in four odontocete species (common bottlenose dolphin, long-beaked common dolphin, sperm whale and killer whale) and three mysticete species (blue whale, fin whale, and Bryde's whale) using skin biopsy. Differences in contaminant levels and molecular biomarker responses between the odontocete and mysticete species have been pointed out. The canonical discriminant analysis on principal component analysis factors, performed to reveal clustering variables, shows that odontocete are characterised by the highest levels of lipophilic contaminants compared to the mysticete, with the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes and PBDEs detected in killer whale and the lowest levels in Bryde's whale. The biomarker data show interspecific differences amongst the seven species, revealing highest CYP1A and CYP2B protein levels in the mysticete fish-eating species (Bryde's whale). In conclusion, three main factors seem to regulate the biomarker responses in these species: (a) the inductive ability of persistent organic pollutants and PAHs; (b) the different evolutionary process of the two CYPs related to the different feeding habits of the species; (c) the migratory/resident behaviour of the mysticete species in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Fossi
- Department of Environmental, Physical and Earth Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy,
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Fossi MC, Casini S, Maltese S, Panti C, Spinsanti G, Marsili L. An "ex vivo" model to evaluate toxicological responses to mixtures of contaminants in cetaceans: integumentum biopsy slices. Environ Toxicol 2014; 29:1107-1121. [PMID: 23339137 DOI: 10.1002/tox.21841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The need for powerful new tools to detect the effects of chemical pollution, in particular of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Mediterranean cetaceans led us to develop and apply a suite of sensitive biomarkers for integument biopsies of stranded and free-ranging animals. This multi-response ex vivo method has the aim to detect toxicological effects of contaminant mixtures. In the present study, we applied an ex vivo assay using skin biopsy and liver slices, combining molecular biomarkers [Western blot of Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and Cytochrome P450 2B (CYP2B)] and gene expression biomarkers (Quantitative real-time PCR of CYP1A1, heat shock protein 70, estrogen receptor alpha and E2F transcription factor) in response to chemical exposure [organochlorines compounds (OCs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and PAHs] for stranded Mediterranean Stenella coeruleoalba. The main goal of this experiment was to identify the biomarker and/or a suite of biomarkers that could best detect the presence of a specific class of pollutants (OCs, PBDEs, and PAHs) or a mixture of them. This multi-response biomarker methodology revealed an high sensitivity and selectivity of responses (such as CYP1A and ER α mRNA variations after OCs and PAHs exposure) and could represent a valid future approach for the study of inter- and intra-species sensitivities to various classes of environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Earth, Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Guerranti C, Baini M, Casini S, Focardi SE, Giannetti M, Mancusi C, Marsili L, Perra G, Fossi MC. Pilot study on levels of chemical contaminants and porphyrins in Caretta caretta from the Mediterranean Sea. Mar Environ Res 2014; 100:33-37. [PMID: 24553348 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Revised: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), synthetic musks compounds (SMCs), bisphenol A (BPA), para-nonylphenol (p-NP) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are known for their toxicity and ability to interfere with the endocrine system. The aim of this study was to determine levels and distribution of the above mentioned compounds in liver samples of Caretta caretta and levels of porphyrins that have been proposed as sensitive biomarkers of exposure to contaminants. This paper reports the results for 9 specimens yet analysed. Musk ketone was never detected, PFOA was found in one sample, while PFOS was the prevalent contaminant. For PFCs the levels are lower than the results of studies of comparison. The porphyrins profile showed a predominance of protoporphyrins on coproporphyrins and uroporphyrins, with a positive statistical correlation between levels of PFOS and uroporphyrins. These data represent, for several parameters, the first evidence of contaminant levels and biomarker responses in loggerhead turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Guerranti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Silvano Ettore Focardi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Giannetti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Mancusi
- ARPAT, Environmental Protection Agency of Tuscany Region, Livorno, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Guido Perra
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Frenzilli G, Bernardeschi M, Guidi P, Scarcelli V, Lucchesi P, Marsili L, Fossi MC, Brunelli A, Pojana G, Marcomini A, Nigro M. Effects of in vitro exposure to titanium dioxide on DNA integrity of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) fibroblasts and leukocytes. Mar Environ Res 2014; 100:68-73. [PMID: 24484603 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, the genotoxic potential of nanosized TiO2 anatase and micro-sized rutile on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) fibroblasts and leukocytes was investigated. Human and mouse cells were also studied in order to compare susceptibility to TiO2 in different mammalian species. Cell lines were exposed for 4, 24, and 48 h to different concentrations of TiO2 (20, 50, 100, 150 μg/ml) and DNA damage was investigated by single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay). Both anatase and rutile induced increased DNA damage, even though statistically significant effects were scattered according to species and cell lines. Bottlenose dolphin leukocytes and murine fibroblasts exhibited increased DNA damage after rutile exposure at some doses/times, while human fibroblasts showed a significant dose-response effect after a 4 h exposure to anatase. Human leukocytes were tolerant to both anatase and rutile. Ultrastructural investigation showed that TiO2 particles entered the cell and were compartmentalized within membrane-bound vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Frenzilli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Margherita Bernardeschi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Guidi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Vittoria Scarcelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Lucchesi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Via Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Via Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Brunelli
- DAIS-Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatiche e Statistiche, Università Ca' Foscari, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy
| | - Giulio Pojana
- Dipartimento di Filosofia e Beni Culturali, Università Ca' Foscari, Dorsoduro 3484/D, 30123 Venice, Italy
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- DAIS-Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatiche e Statistiche, Università Ca' Foscari, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy
| | - Marco Nigro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, sezione di Biologia applicata e genetica, Via A. Volta, 4-56126 Pisa, Italy.
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de Lucia GA, Caliani I, Marra S, Camedda A, Coppa S, Alcaro L, Campani T, Giannetti M, Coppola D, Cicero AM, Panti C, Baini M, Guerranti C, Marsili L, Massaro G, Fossi MC, Matiddi M. Amount and distribution of neustonic micro-plastic off the western Sardinian coast (Central-Western Mediterranean Sea). Mar Environ Res 2014; 100:10-6. [PMID: 24776304 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of different sampling methodologies has been used to document the presence of micro-plastic fragments in sea water. European Marine Strategy suggests to improve standard techniques to make future data comparable. We use Manta Trawl sampling technique to quantify abundance and distribution of micro-plastic fragments in Sardinian Sea (Western Mediterranean), and their relation with phthalates and organoclorine in the neustonic habitat. Our results highlight a quite high average plastic abundance value (0.15 items/m(3)), comparable to the levels detected in other areas of the Mediterranean. "Site" is the only factor that significantly explains the differences observed in micro-plastic densities. Contaminant levels show high spatial and temporal variation. In every station, HCB is the contaminant with the lowest concentration while PCBs shows the highest levels. This work, in line with Marine Strategy directives, represents a preliminary study for the analysis of plastic impact on marine environment of Sardinia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Marra
- National Research Council - IAMC-CNR Oristano Section, Italy
| | - Andrea Camedda
- National Research Council - IAMC-CNR Oristano Section, Italy; Tuscia University of Viterbo, Via S.M. in Gradi 4, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Stefania Coppa
- National Research Council - IAMC-CNR Oristano Section, Italy
| | - Luigi Alcaro
- ISPRA, National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Giannetti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniele Coppola
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Cicero
- ISPRA, National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cristiana Guerranti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giorgio Massaro
- Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre MPA, Cabras, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Matiddi
- ISPRA, National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Rome, Italy
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Azzellino A, Fossi MC, Gaspari S, Lanfredi C, Lauriano G, Marsili L, Panigada S, Podestà M. An index based on the biodiversity of cetacean species to assess the environmental status of marine ecosystems. Mar Environ Res 2014; 100:94-111. [PMID: 25016937 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires the assessment of the environmental status in relation to human pressures. In this study the biodiversity of the cetacean community is proposed as MSFD descriptor of the environmental status and its link with anthropogenic pressures is investigated. Functional groups are generally favoured over indicator species since they are thought to better reflect to anthropogenic stressors. Cetaceans are in many situations the most well known component of pelagic ecosystems. Their habitat requirements are known and can be used to evaluate the theoretical biodiversity that should be expected in a certain area. The deviations between the theoretical biodiversity and the actual biodiversity may be used to detect the impacts of human activities. Based on this analysis fishery resulted to be by far the most significant of the existing pressures. Among all the species, bottlenose dolphin was found the most correlated with the fishery sector dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Azzellino
- Politecnico di Milano, DICA, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milano, Italy; Tethys Research Institute, viale Gadio, 2, 20121 Milano, Italy.
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Dpt. of Physical, Earth and Environ. Sciences, University of Siena, Via PA Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Gaspari
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 0019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Caterina Lanfredi
- Politecnico di Milano, DICA, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milano, Italy; Tethys Research Institute, viale Gadio, 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Lauriano
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Brancati, 60, 00144 Roma, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Dpt. of Physical, Earth and Environ. Sciences, University of Siena, Via PA Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Panigada
- Tethys Research Institute, viale Gadio, 2, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Podestà
- Museum of Natural History of Milan, C.so Venezia 55, 20121 Milano, Italy
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