The dive response is well documented for marine mammals, and includes a significant reduction in heart rate (f
) during submersion as compared while breathing at the surface. In the current study we ...assessed the influence of the Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) while estimating the resting f
while breathing. Using transthoracic echocardiography we measured f
, and stroke volume (SV) during voluntary surface apneas at rest up to 255 s, and during recovery from apnea in 11 adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, 9 males and 2 females, body mass range: 140-235 kg). The dolphins exhibited a significant post-respiratory tachycardia and increased SV. Therefore, only data after this RSA had stabilized were used for analysis and comparison. The average (±s.d.) f
, SV, and cardiac output (CO) after spontaneous breaths while resting at the surface were 44 ± 6 beats min
, 179 ± 31 ml, and 7909 ± 1814 l min
, respectively. During the apnea the f
, SV, and CO decreased proportionally with the breath-hold duration, and after 255 s they, respectively, had decreased by an average of 18%, 1-21%, and 12-37%. During recovery, the f
, SV, and CO rapidly increased by as much as 117%, 34%, and 190%, respectively. Next, f
, SV and CO rapidly decreased to resting values between 90-110 s following the surface apnea. These data highlight the necessity to define how the resting f
is estimated at the surface, and separating it from the RSA associated with each breath to evaluate the significance of cardiorespiratory matching during diving.
Aggressive behavior of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) towards conspecifics is widely described, but they have also often been reported attacking and killing harbour porpoises (Phocoena ...phocoena) around the world. However, very few reports exist of aggressive interactions between bottlenose dolphins and other cetacean species. Here, we provide the first evidence that bottlenose dolphins in the western Mediterranean exhibit aggressive behavior towards both striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). Necropsies and visual examination of stranded striped (14) and Risso's (2) dolphins showed numerous lesions (external rake marks and different bone fractures or internal organ damage by blunt trauma). Indicatively, these lessons matched the inter-tooth distance and features of bottlenose dolphins. In all instances, these traumatic interactions were presumed to be the leading cause of the death. We discuss how habitat changes, dietary shifts, and/or human colonization of marine areas may be promoting these interactions.
Sea turtles are frequently proposed as indicator species for assessing ocean health. To faciliate the use of these species as bioindicators requires the development of tools for rapidly and ...effectively assessing individual health. Here, we collected 104 blood samples from 69 loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, undergoing rehabilitation to determine the connection between health status, the activity of B-esterases, and other biochemical parameters. To determine the optimal assay protocol for B-esterases, we measured the activity and kinetics of cholinesterases-(ChEs) and carboxylesterases (CEs) using 3 and 5 commercial substrates, respectively, at different assay conditions. IC50 values for the activity of B-esterases were calculated within a concentration range for model pesticide inhibitors. Turtles’ health status was determined via routine veterinary procedures. During rehabilitation (which was associated with improving health status), we observed a decrease in the activity of most enzymes (especially in acetylcholinesterase) alongside an increase in CE when using p-nitrophenyl acetate as a substrate. As such, it is possible that the activity rates of plasmatic B-esterases could serve as an indicator of health status. There is also high potential that B-esterases could be specifically sensitive to marine pollutants although to further validate this would require future studies to specifically correlate B-esterarse activities to pollutant concentrations in blood or excreta.
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•Loggerhead turtles undergoing rehabilitation exhibited a decrease in plasmatic AChE activity.•Increases in pNPA-CE activity in loggerhead turtles may be linked to immune-system modulation.•Higher hydrolysis rates on plasmatic B-esterase measurements in marine turtles were seen at pH = 8.•Gas embolism significantly affected αNB-CE measurements in marine turtles.
•This is the first large-scale surveillance on different zoonotic emerging flaviviruses conducted in zoo mammals in Europe.•Our results provide evidence of zoonotic flavivirus exposure, particularly ...WNV, USUV and TBEV, in zoo mammals in Spain.•Anti-WNV and USUV antibodies were found in regions where circulation of these viruses has not been previously detected.•Our results describe WNV circulation in zoo mammals at least one year before the first outbreaks were reported in Spain.•Zoo mammals could be useful sentinel species to monitor the activity of zoonotic flaviviruses in urban areas.
A serosurvey was carried out to assess emerging flavivirus exposure in zoo mammals in Spain and to determine the dynamics of seropositivity in species that were longitudinally sampled during the study period. Sera from 570 zoo animals belonging to 120 mammal species were collected at ten zoos (A–J) in Spain between 2002 and 2019. Twenty-one of these animals, belonging to ten different species, were sampled longitudinally at four of the zoos during the study period. Antigenically-related flavivirus antibodies were detected in 19 (3.3 %; 95 %CI: 2.0–5.2) of the 570 animals analyzed using bELISA. Seropositivity was observed in ten (8.3 %) of the 120 species tested. Five (23.8 %) of the 21 animals sampled more than once presented seropositivity in all samplings whereas seroconversion was only observed in one white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Flavivirus antibodies were found at six of the ten sampled zoos and in consecutive years between 2008 and 2018. Virus neutralization tests confirmed West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in ten (1.8 %; 95 %CI: 0.7–2.8), five (0.9 %; 95 %CI: 0.1–1.6) and one (0.2 %; 95 %CI: 0.0−0.5) animal, respectively. Antibodies against Meaban virus (0 %; 95 %CI: 0.0−0.7 %) were not found in the tested sera. The results demonstrate WNV, USUV and TBEV exposure in zoo mammals, which may be of public health and conservation concern. Seropositivity to WNV and USUV was detected in regions where these viruses have not been reported previously. Anti-WNV antibodies found in zoo animals sampled in 2009 point to WNV circulation at least one year before the first outbreaks were reported in horses and humans in Spain. Our results indicate that zoo mammals could be useful sentinel species for monitoring emerging flavivirus activity in urban areas.
Decompression sickness ('the bends') in sea turtles García-Párraga, D; Crespo-Picazo, J L; de Quirós, Y Bernaldo ...
Diseases of aquatic organisms,
2014-Oct-16, 2014-10-16, 20141016, Letnik:
111, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Decompression sickness (DCS), as clinically diagnosed by reversal of symptoms with recompression, has never been reported in aquatic breath-hold diving vertebrates despite the occurrence of tissue ...gas tensions sufficient for bubble formation and injury in terrestrial animals. Similarly to diving mammals, sea turtles manage gas exchange and decompression through anatomical, physiological, and behavioral adaptations. In the former group, DCS-like lesions have been observed on necropsies following behavioral disturbance such as high-powered acoustic sources (e.g. active sonar) and in bycaught animals. In sea turtles, in spite of abundant literature on diving physiology and bycatch interference, this is the first report of DCS-like symptoms and lesions. We diagnosed a clinico-pathological condition consistent with DCS in 29 gas-embolized loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta from a sample of 67. Fifty-nine were recovered alive and 8 had recently died following bycatch in trawls and gillnets of local fisheries from the east coast of Spain. Gas embolization and distribution in vital organs were evaluated through conventional radiography, computed tomography, and ultrasound. Additionally, positive response following repressurization was clinically observed in 2 live affected turtles. Gas embolism was also observed postmortem in carcasses and tissues as described in cetaceans and human divers. Compositional gas analysis of intravascular bubbles was consistent with DCS. Definitive diagnosis of DCS in sea turtles opens a new era for research in sea turtle diving physiology, conservation, and bycatch impact mitigation, as well as for comparative studies in other air-breathing marine vertebrates and human divers.
Malaria in penguins - current perceptions Grilo, M. L.; Vanstreels, R. E. T.; Wallace, R. ...
Avian Pathology,
07/2016, Letnik:
45, Številka:
4
Journal Article, Book Review
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by protozoans of the genus Plasmodium, and it is considered one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in captive penguins, both in ...zoological gardens and rehabilitation centres. Penguins are known to be highly susceptible to this disease, and outbreaks have been associated with mortality as high as 50-80% of affected captive populations within a few weeks. The disease has also been reported in wild penguin populations, however, its impacts on the health and fitness of penguins in the wild is not clear. This review provides an overview of the aetiology, life cycle and epidemiology of avian malaria, and provides details on the strategies that can be employed for the diagnostic, treatment and prevention of this disease in captive penguins, discussing possible directions for future research.
The presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in 221 fecal samples from different species of Antarctic pinnipeds was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy and PCR. Cryptosporidium, a skunk-like ...genotype, was detected only in a southern elephant seal. Giardia was not detected. This is the first report of a Cryptosporidium sp. in Antarctic marine mammals.
The use of cryopreserved dolphin spermatozoa facilitates the exchange of genetic material between aquatic parks and makes spermatozoa accessible to laboratories for studies to further our ...understanding of marine mammal reproduction.
Sperm cryopreservation in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) has been developed for the exchange of gametes within the ex situ population. The aim of this study was to develop an effective method for refrigeration of bottlenose dolphin spermatozoa diluted in a commercial extender (BTS). In Experiment 1, the effect of temperature (5 compared with 15 °C) on sperm quality was evaluated during 7 days of storage at 100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml. In Experiment 2, the effect of the storage concentration (100 × 106 compared with 20 × 106 spermatozoa/ml) on sperm quality was assessed during 7 days of storage at 5 °C. In Experiment 1, total motility (including % of rapid sperm) was greater at 5 than 15 °C. When the effect of storage concentration was evaluated (Experiment 2), total motility and ALH were greater at the higher storage concentration (100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml). For both experiments, values for viability, acrosome integrity, and normal morphology variables were consistent throughout the 7 days of refrigeration. In Experiment 3, a microbiological study was performed to evaluate the effect of the refrigeration temperature and days of storage on bacterial growth. The results of microbiological analysis indicated there was Staphylococcus aureus in some samples, however, there was no effect of temperature or days of refrigeration. In conclusion, bottlenose dolphin semen can be refrigerated for a short to medium period of storage and there is maintenance of functionality of sperm when stored at 100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml at 5 °C.
Acidification of the oceans influences the physiology of aquatic organisms and, in general, the ecology of marine ecosystems. Here we report on the first stage of the REMO project, focused on the ...study of marine species especially a
ff
ected by acidification of waters, using radiotracers and nuclear instrumentation techniques.
The presence of Campylobacter spp. was investigated in 41 Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) and 9 Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) at Deception Island, Antarctica. Infections were ...encountered in six Antarctic fur seals. The isolates, the first reported from marine mammals in the Antarctic region, were identified as Campylobacter insulaenigrae and Campylobacter lari.
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