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Singh V, Negi R, Jacob M, Gayathri A, Rokade A, Sarma H, Kalita J, Tasfia ST, Bharti R, Wakid A, Suthar S, Kolipakam V, Qureshi Q. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic ecosystem exposed to the 2020 Baghjan oil spill in upper Assam, India: Short-term toxicity and ecological risk assessment. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293601. [PMID: 38019821 PMCID: PMC10686499 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293601] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This study focuses on the short-term contamination and associated risks arising from the release of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to the 2020 Baghjan oil blowout in upper Assam, India. Shortly after the Baghjan oil blowout, samples were collected from water, sediment, and fish species and examined for PAHs contents. The results of the analysis revealed ΣPAHs concentrations ranged between 0.21-691.31 μg L-1 (water); 37.6-395.8 μg Kg-1 (sediment); 104.3-7829.6 μg Kg-1 (fish). The prevalence of 3-4 ring low molecular weight PAHs compounds in water (87.17%), sediment (100%), and fish samples (93.17%) validate the petrogenic source of origin (oil spill). The geographic vicinity of the oil blowout is rich in wildlife; thus, leading to a significant mass mortality of several eco-sensitive species like fish, plants, microbes, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals including the Gangetic River dolphin. The initial ecological risk assessment suggested moderate to high-risk values (RQ >1) of majority PAHs concerning fish, daphnia, and algae species. This study highlights the need for recognizing the potential for short-term exposure to local species. To safeguard local ecosystems from potential future environmental disasters, it is imperative for the government to adopt a precautionary strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineet Singh
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ranjana Negi
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Merin Jacob
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Aaranya Gayathri
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Anurag Rokade
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Hiyashri Sarma
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jitul Kalita
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | | | - Abdul Wakid
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
- Aaranyak, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Surindra Suthar
- School of Environment & Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | - Qamar Qureshi
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
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Edes AN, Zimmerman D, Jourdan B, Brown JL, Edwards KL. Value Ranges and Clinical Comparisons of Serum DHEA-S, IL-6, and TNF-α in Western Lowland Gorillas. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192705. [PMID: 36230446 PMCID: PMC9559573 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192705] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Biomarkers are molecules found in the body that can indicate current physiological functioning and are frequently used to monitor health and diagnose disease. These biomarkers, such as hormones and immune markers, can provide valuable information on the health and welfare of animals. Knowledge on the normal levels of these biomarkers in various species is a crucial step for monitoring health and understanding disease. In this paper, we report assays and value ranges of biomarkers rarely measured in western lowland gorillas in human care. We also compare concentrations of each biomarker between clinical and non-clinical samples. The levels of the two immune biomarkers were higher in clinical samples, but the levels of the neuroendocrine biomarker were not significantly different between clinical and non-clinical samples. These data contribute toward eventually establishing reference ranges for these biomarkers and help improve our understanding of health and welfare in zoo-housed animals. Abstract Physiological data can provide valuable information about the health and welfare of animals. Unfortunately, few validated assays and a lack of information on species-typical levels of circulating biomarkers for wildlife make the measurement, interpretation, and practical application of such data difficult. We validated commercially available kits and calculated reference intervals (herein called “value ranges”) for dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in a sample of zoo-housed western lowland gorillas due to the roles these biomarkers play in stress and immune responses. For each biomarker, we present species-specific value ranges for a sample of gorillas in human care (n = 57). DHEA-S did not vary significantly by sex or age, while IL-6 was higher in males and older gorillas and TNF-α was higher in females but not associated with age. We also compared non-clinical with clinical samples (n = 21) to explore whether these biomarkers reflect changes in health status. There was no significant difference between clinical and non-clinical samples for DHEA-S, but both IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher in gorillas showing clinical symptoms or prior to death. Additional work is needed to improve our understanding of normal versus clinical variation in these biomarkers, and we encourage continued efforts to identify and validate additional biomarkers that can be used to inform assessments of health and welfare in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N. Edes
- Department of Reproductive and Behavioral Sciences, Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Dawn Zimmerman
- Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
- Smithsonian Global Health Program, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Balbine Jourdan
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Janine L. Brown
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Katie L. Edwards
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton-by-Chester CH2 1LH, UK
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Morey JS, Balmer BC, Zolman ES, Takeshita R, De Guise S, Rowles TK, Smith CR, Wells RS, Schwacke LH. Transcriptome profiling of blood from common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico to enhance health assessment capabilities. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272345. [PMID: 36001538 PMCID: PMC9401185 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272345] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and subsequent unusual mortality event, adverse health impacts have been reported in bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, LA including impaired stress response and reproductive, pulmonary, cardiac, and immune function. These conditions were primarily diagnosed through hands-on veterinary examinations and analysis of standard diagnostic panels. In human and veterinary medicine, gene expression profiling has been used to identify molecular mechanisms underlying toxic responses and disease states. Identification of molecular markers of exposure or disease may enable earlier detection of health effects or allow for health evaluation when the use of specialized methodologies is not feasible. To date this powerful tool has not been applied to augment the veterinary data collected concurrently during dolphin health assessments. This study examined transcriptomic profiles of blood from 76 dolphins sampled in health assessments during 2013–2018 in the waters near Barataria Bay, LA and Sarasota Bay, FL. Gene expression was analyzed in conjunction with the substantial suite of health data collected using principal component analysis, differential expression testing, over-representation analysis, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Broadly, transcript profiles of Barataria Bay dolphins indicated a shift in immune response, cytoskeletal alterations, and mitochondrial dysfunction, most pronounced in dolphins likely exposed to Deepwater Horizon oiling. While gene expression profiles in Barataria Bay dolphins were altered compared to Sarasota Bay for all years, profiles from 2013 exhibited the greatest alteration in gene expression. Differentially expressed transcripts included genes involved in immunity, inflammation, reproductive failure, and lung or cardiac dysfunction, all of which have been documented in dolphins from Barataria Bay following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The genes and pathways identified in this study may, with additional research and validation, prove useful as molecular markers of exposure or disease to assist wildlife veterinarians in evaluating the health of dolphins and other cetaceans.
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Takeshita R, Bursian SJ, Colegrove KM, Collier TK, Deak K, Dean KM, De Guise S, DiPinto LM, Elferink CJ, Esbaugh AJ, Griffitt RJ, Grosell M, Harr KE, Incardona JP, Kwok RK, Lipton J, Mitchelmore CL, Morris JM, Peters ES, Roberts AP, Rowles TK, Rusiecki JA, Schwacke LH, Smith CR, Wetzel DL, Ziccardi MH, Hall AJ. A review of the toxicology of oil in vertebrates: what we have learned following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 2021; 24:355-394. [PMID: 34542016 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2021.1975182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, a number of government agencies, academic institutions, consultants, and nonprofit organizations conducted lab- and field-based research to understand the toxic effects of the oil. Lab testing was performed with a variety of fish, birds, turtles, and vertebrate cell lines (as well as invertebrates); field biologists conducted observations on fish, birds, turtles, and marine mammals; and epidemiologists carried out observational studies in humans. Eight years after the spill, scientists and resource managers held a workshop to summarize the similarities and differences in the effects of DWH oil on vertebrate taxa and to identify remaining gaps in our understanding of oil toxicity in wildlife and humans, building upon the cross-taxonomic synthesis initiated during the Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Across the studies, consistency was found in the types of toxic response observed in the different organisms. Impairment of stress responses and adrenal gland function, cardiotoxicity, immune system dysfunction, disruption of blood cells and their function, effects on locomotion, and oxidative damage were observed across taxa. This consistency suggests conservation in the mechanisms of action and disease pathogenesis. From a toxicological perspective, a logical progression of impacts was noted: from molecular and cellular effects that manifest as organ dysfunction, to systemic effects that compromise fitness, growth, reproductive potential, and survival. From a clinical perspective, adverse health effects from DWH oil spill exposure formed a suite of signs/symptomatic responses that at the highest doses/concentrations resulted in multi-organ system failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Takeshita
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Steven J Bursian
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
| | - Kathleen M Colegrove
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brookfield, Illinois, United States
| | - Tracy K Collier
- Zoological Pathology Program, Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States
| | - Kristina Deak
- College of Marine Sciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
| | | | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States
| | - Lisa M DiPinto
- Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Cornelis J Elferink
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Andrew J Esbaugh
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, United States
| | - Robert J Griffitt
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
| | - Martin Grosell
- RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
| | | | - John P Incardona
- NOAA Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Richard K Kwok
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, North Carolina, United States
| | | | - Carys L Mitchelmore
- University of Maryland Center of Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, Maryland, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Morris
- Health and Environment Division, Abt Associates, Boulder, Colorado, United States
| | - Edward S Peters
- Department of Epidemiology, LSU School of Public Health, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Aaron P Roberts
- Advanced Environmental Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, United States
| | - Teresa K Rowles
- NOAA Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Jennifer A Rusiecki
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Cynthia R Smith
- Conservation Medicine, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Dana L Wetzel
- Environmental Laboratory of Forensics, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States
| | - Michael H Ziccardi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, One Health Institute, University of California, Davis, California, United States
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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Unal E, Romano TA. Of Whales and Genes: Unraveling the Physiological Response to Stressors in Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) at the Molecular Level. JZBG 2021; 2:559-75. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg2040040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals, now more than ever, are exposed to environmental and anthropogenic stressors. A better understanding of stress physiology in marine mammals is warranted in order to assist in conservation efforts. This study screened gene expression profiles (cytokines, stress-response markers) in blood samples collected opportunistically under controlled conditions from aquarium belugas during transport and introduction to a novel environment (T/NEnv), participation in out-of-water examinations (OWE) and from wild belugas during live capture–release health assessments (WLCR). Quantitative-PCR was used to measure gene expression involved in physiological and immune responses at different time scales. Linear mixed models with repeated measures and pairwise comparisons were used for analysis. Overall, a generalized down-regulation of relative gene expression when compared to samples collected under behavioral control from aquarium whales or to pre-assessment samples of wild whales was observed, with genes IFNγ, IL2, TGFβ and Nr3c1 displaying the largest significant (p < 0.05) changes. Significant (p < 0.05) negative associations of inflammatory gene expression with norepinephrine suggest inhibitory effects of catecholamines on the inflammatory response. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the physiological response to stressors at the molecular level in belugas, and the genes suggested here can further be utilized as additional tools in beluga health assessments and monitoring.
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Takeshita R, Balmer BC, Messina F, Zolman ES, Thomas L, Wells RS, Smith CR, Rowles TK, Schwacke LH. High site-fidelity in common bottlenose dolphins despite low salinity exposure and associated indicators of compromised health. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258031. [PMID: 34591903 PMCID: PMC8483354 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 2,000 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabit the Barataria Bay Estuarine System in Louisiana, USA, a highly productive estuary with variable salinity driven by natural and man-made processes. It was unclear whether dolphins that are long-term residents to specific areas within the basin move in response to fluctuations in salinity, which at times can decline to 0 parts per thousand in portions of the basin. In June 2017, we conducted health assessments and deployed satellite telemetry tags on dolphins in the northern portions of the Barataria Bay Estuarine System Stock area (9 females; 4 males). We analyzed their fine-scale movements relative to modeled salinity trends compared to dolphins tagged near the barrier islands (higher salinity environments) from 2011 to 2017 (37 females; 21 males). Even though we observed different movement patterns among individual dolphins, we found no evidence that tagged dolphins moved coincident with changes in salinity. One tagged dolphin spent at least 35 consecutive days, and 75 days in total, in salinity under 5 parts per thousand. Health assessments took place early in a seasonal period of decreased salinity. Nonetheless, we found an increased prevalence of skin lesions, as well as abnormalities in serum biochemical markers and urine:serum osmolality ratios for dolphins sampled in lower salinity areas. This study provides essential information on the likely behavioral responses of dolphins to changes in salinity (e.g., severe storms or from the proposed Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project) and on physiological markers to inform the timing and severity of impacts from low salinity exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Takeshita
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Brian C. Balmer
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Francesca Messina
- Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Eric S. Zolman
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Randall S. Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Cynthia R. Smith
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Teresa K. Rowles
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lori H. Schwacke
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
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Ruberg EJ, Elliott JE, Williams TD. Review of petroleum toxicity and identifying common endpoints for future research on diluted bitumen toxicity in marine mammals. Ecotoxicology 2021; 30:537-551. [PMID: 33761025 PMCID: PMC8060214 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02373-x] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Large volumes of conventional crude oil continue to be shipped by sea from production to consumption areas across the globe. In addition, unconventional petroleum products also transverse pelagic habitats; for example, diluted bitumen from Canada's oilsands which is shipped along the Pacific coast to the United States and Asia. Therefore, there is a continuing need to assess the toxicological consequences of chronic and catastrophic petroleum spillage on marine wildlife. Peer-reviewed literature on the toxicity of unconventional petroleum such as diluted bitumen exists for teleost fish, but not for fauna such as marine mammals. In order to inform research needs for unconventional petroleum toxicity we conducted a comprehensive literature review of conventional petroleum toxicity on marine mammals. The common endpoints observed in conventional crude oil exposures and oil spills include hematological injury, modulation of immune function and organ weight, genotoxicity, eye irritation, neurotoxicity, lung disease, adrenal dysfunction, metabolic and clinical abnormalities related to oiling of the pelage, behavioural impacts, decreased reproductive success, mortality, and population-level declines. Based on our findings and the body of literature we accessed, our recommendations for future research include: 1) improved baseline data on PAH and metals exposure in marine mammals, 2) improved pre- and post-spill data on marine mammal populations, 3) the use of surrogate mammalian models for petroleum toxicity testing, and 4) the need for empirical data on the toxicity of unconventional petroleum to marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Ruberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - J E Elliott
- Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, BC, Canada.
| | - T D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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De Guise S, Levin M, Jasperse L, Herrman J, Wells RS, Rowles T, Schwacke L. Long-Term Immunological Alterations in Bottlenose Dolphin a Decade after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Potential for Multigenerational Effects. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021; 40:1308-1321. [PMID: 33598929 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Health assessments were conducted on bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA, during 2011 to 2018, to assess potential health effects following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, compared to the unoiled Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA, reference dolphin population. We previously reported significant increases in T-lymphocyte proliferation, as well as lower T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines, higher Th2 cytokine IL-4, and lower T regulatory (Treg) cytokine IL-10 in Barataria Bay in 2011 compared to Sarasota Bay, consistent with Deepwater Horizon oil exposure. Although values between 2013 and 2016 were more similar to those observed in Sarasota Bay, T-cell proliferation was again elevated and cytokine balance tilted toward Th2 in Barataria Bay during 2017-2018. In 2018, Barataria Bay dolphins had significantly more circulating Treg cells than Sarasota Bay dolphins. Mice experimentally exposed to oil also had significantly increased T-lymphocyte proliferation and circulating Treg cell number, including effects in their unexposed progeny. In vitro stimulation resulted in greater Th2 responsiveness in Barataria Bay compared to Sarasota Bay dolphins, and in vitro oil exposure of Sarasota Bay dolphin cells also resulted in enhanced Th2 responsiveness. Evidence points to Treg cells as a potential target for the immunomodulatory effects of oil exposure. The immunological trends observed in Barataria Bay appeared exaggerated in dolphins born after the spill, suggesting the possibility of continued oil exposure or multigenerational health consequences of exposure to oil, as observed in mice. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1308-1321. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Connecticut Sea Grant Program, Groton, Connecticut, USA
| | - Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lindsay Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jean Herrman
- Companion Animal Dental Services, Bolton, Connecticut, USA
| | - Randall S Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, USA
| | - Teresa Rowles
- Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Lori Schwacke
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, USA
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Sandifer P, Knapp L, Lichtveld M, Manley R, Abramson D, Caffey R, Cochran D, Collier T, Ebi K, Engel L, Farrington J, Finucane M, Hale C, Halpern D, Harville E, Hart L, Hswen Y, Kirkpatrick B, McEwen B, Morris G, Orbach R, Palinkas L, Partyka M, Porter D, Prather AA, Rowles T, Scott G, Seeman T, Solo-Gabriele H, Svendsen E, Tincher T, Trtanj J, Walker AH, Yehuda R, Yip F, Yoskowitz D, Singer B. Framework for a Community Health Observing System for the Gulf of Mexico Region: Preparing for Future Disasters. Front Public Health 2020; 8:578463. [PMID: 33178663 PMCID: PMC7593336 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.578463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region is prone to disasters, including recurrent oil spills, hurricanes, floods, industrial accidents, harmful algal blooms, and the current COVID-19 pandemic. The GoM and other regions of the U.S. lack sufficient baseline health information to identify, attribute, mitigate, and facilitate prevention of major health effects of disasters. Developing capacity to assess adverse human health consequences of future disasters requires establishment of a comprehensive, sustained community health observing system, similar to the extensive and well-established environmental observing systems. We propose a system that combines six levels of health data domains, beginning with three existing, national surveys and studies plus three new nested, longitudinal cohort studies. The latter are the unique and most important parts of the system and are focused on the coastal regions of the five GoM States. A statistically representative sample of participants is proposed for the new cohort studies, stratified to ensure proportional inclusion of urban and rural populations and with additional recruitment as necessary to enroll participants from particularly vulnerable or under-represented groups. Secondary data sources such as syndromic surveillance systems, electronic health records, national community surveys, environmental exposure databases, social media, and remote sensing will inform and augment the collection of primary data. Primary data sources will include participant-provided information via questionnaires, clinical measures of mental and physical health, acquisition of biological specimens, and wearable health monitoring devices. A suite of biomarkers may be derived from biological specimens for use in health assessments, including calculation of allostatic load, a measure of cumulative stress. The framework also addresses data management and sharing, participant retention, and system governance. The observing system is designed to continue indefinitely to ensure that essential pre-, during-, and post-disaster health data are collected and maintained. It could also provide a model/vehicle for effective health observation related to infectious disease pandemics such as COVID-19. To our knowledge, there is no comprehensive, disaster-focused health observing system such as the one proposed here currently in existence or planned elsewhere. Significant strengths of the GoM Community Health Observing System (CHOS) are its longitudinal cohorts and ability to adapt rapidly as needs arise and new technologies develop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Sandifer
- Center for Coastal Environmental and Human Health, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Landon Knapp
- Center for Coastal Environmental and Human Health, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Maureen Lichtveld
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Ruth Manley
- Master's Program in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - David Abramson
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rex Caffey
- Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - David Cochran
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Tracy Collier
- Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Kristie Ebi
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Lawrence Engel
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - John Farrington
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | | | - Christine Hale
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States
| | - David Halpern
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Emily Harville
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Leslie Hart
- Department of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Yulin Hswen
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Barbara Kirkpatrick
- Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, Texas A&M University, College Station TX, United States
| | - Bruce McEwen
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Glenn Morris
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Raymond Orbach
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Lawrence Palinkas
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Melissa Partyka
- Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Mobile, AL, United States
| | - Dwayne Porter
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Aric A. Prather
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Teresa Rowles
- National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Geoffrey Scott
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Teresa Seeman
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Helena Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Erik Svendsen
- Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Terry Tincher
- Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Juli Trtanj
- Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | | | - Rachel Yehuda
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Fuyuen Yip
- Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David Yoskowitz
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States
| | - Burton Singer
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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10
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Edwards KL, Miller MA, Siegal-Willott J, Brown JL. Serum Health Biomarkers in African and Asian Elephants: Value Ranges and Clinical Values Indicative of the Immune Response. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1756. [PMID: 32992555 DOI: 10.3390/ani10101756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Biomarkers are biological molecules found in the blood or other fluids or tissues that can indicate normal or abnormal processes or disease. Developing tools to measure biomarkers that indicate immune function and establishing concentrations observed within a species is an important first step in their use for managing health and understanding disease processes. Here we report assays, observed value ranges, and concentrations during illness or injury for seven immune biomarkers measured in the serum of African and Asian elephants under human care. Concentrations were variable in both clinical and non-clinical samples, but all seven biomarkers were elevated in at least one case and most increased in response to routine vaccination in a single Asian elephant. These tools provide an exciting avenue for monitoring health status and helping diagnose and treat health problems in wildlife species, like elephants. Abstract Serum biomarkers indicative of inflammation and disease can provide useful information regarding host immune processes, responses to treatment and prognosis. The aims of this study were to assess the use of commercially available anti-equine reagents for the quantification of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukins (IL) 2, 6, and 10) in African (Loxodonta africana, n = 125) and Asian (Elephas maximus, n = 104) elephants, and alongside previously validated anti-human reagents for acute-phase proteins (serum amyloid A and haptoglobin), calculate species-specific biomarker value ranges. In addition, we used opportunistically collected samples to investigate the concentrations of each biomarker during identified clinical cases of illness or injury, as a first step to understanding what biomarkers may be useful to managing elephant health. Immune biomarkers were each elevated above the calculated species-specific value ranges in at least one clinical case, but due to variability in both clinical and non-clinical samples, only serum amyloid A was significantly higher in clinical compared to non-clinical paired samples, with tendencies for higher TNF-α and IL-10. We also detected increased secretion of serum amyloid A and all five cytokines following routine vaccination of a single Asian elephant, indicating that these biomarkers can be beneficial for studying normal immune processes as well as pathology. This study indicates that assays developed with commercial reagents can be used to quantify health biomarkers in wildlife species and identifies several that warrant further investigation to elucidate immune responses to various pathologies.
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11
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Hofstetter AR, Van Bonn W, Sacco RE. IMMUNOMEDIATOR GENE TRANSCRIPTION PROFILING IN BELUGA WHALE ( DELPHINAPTERUS LEUCAS) CLINICAL CASES. J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 51:334-49. [PMID: 32549563 DOI: 10.1638/2018-0225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an unmet need for specific diagnostics of immune perturbations and inflammation in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) clinical care. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been used to measure immunomediator gene transcription in beluga whales. The study hypothesis was that a qPCR-based immunomediator assay would supplement routine clinical data with specific and sensitive information on immune status. Two beluga whale clinical cases provided an opportunity to test this hypothesis: a whale with a skin laceration and a whale with gastrointestinal inflammation. Mitogen-stimulated immunomediator gene transcription (MSIGT) was compared between the cases and healthy contact whales. In both case studies, mitogens increased transcription of IL1B, PTGS2 (Cox-2), TNF, HIF1A, and IL2 but decreased IL10 transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the abnormal whale over the control. Correlations were identified between most immunomediators tested and one or more standard blood clinical values. Considering all 15 immunomediators tested, the whale with gastrointestinal inflammation had a more unique MSIGT signature than the whale with a laceration. These results support further elucidation of beluga whale PBMC cytokine profiles for use as immune biomarkers.
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12
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Shen S, Wu W, Grimes DJ, Saillant EA, Griffitt RJ. Community composition and antibiotic resistance of bacteria in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus - Potential impact of 2010 BP Oil Spill. Sci Total Environ 2020; 732:139125. [PMID: 32438143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139125] [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: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic contamination, oil spills in particular, could lead to the accumulation of antibiotic resistance by promoting selection for and/or transfer of resistance genes. However, there have been few studies on antibiotic resistance in marine mammals in relation to environmental disturbances, specifically oil contaminations. Here we initiated a study on antibiotic resistance bacteria in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in relation to oil contamination following the 2010 BP Oil Spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance prevalence one year after the 2010 BP Oil Spill were compared between Barataria Bay (BB) and Sarasota Bay (SB) by applying the rarefaction curve method, and (generalized) linear mixed models. The results showed that the most common bacteria included Vibrio, Shewanella, Bacillus and Pseudomonas. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance was high in the bacterial isolates at both bays. Though bacterial diversity did not differ significantly among water or dolphin samples, and antibiotic resistance did not differ significantly among water samples between the two bays, antibiotic resistance and multi-drug resistance in dolphin samples was significantly higher in the BB than in the SB, mainly attributed to the resistance to E, CF, FEP and SXT. We also found sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia the first time in the natural aquatic environment. The higher antibiotic resistance in the dolphins in BB is likely attributed to 2010 BP Oil Spill as we expected SB, a more urbanized bay area, would have had higher antibiotic resistance based on the previous studies. The antibiotic resistance data gathered in this research will fill in the important data gaps and contributes to the broader spatial-scale emerging studies on antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Shen
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, United States of America.
| | - Wei Wu
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, United States of America.
| | - D Jay Grimes
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, United States of America.
| | - Eric A Saillant
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, United States of America.
| | - Robert J Griffitt
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, United States of America.
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13
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Becker DJ, Albery GF, Kessler MK, Lunn TJ, Falvo CA, Czirják GÁ, Martin LB, Plowright RK. Macroimmunology: The drivers and consequences of spatial patterns in wildlife immune defence. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:972-995. [PMID: 31856309 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [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: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and intensity of parasites in wild hosts varies across space and is a key determinant of infection risk in humans, domestic animals and threatened wildlife. Because the immune system serves as the primary barrier to infection, replication and transmission following exposure, we here consider the environmental drivers of immunity. Spatial variation in parasite pressure, abiotic and biotic conditions, and anthropogenic factors can all shape immunity across spatial scales. Identifying the most important spatial drivers of immunity could help pre-empt infectious disease risks, especially in the context of how large-scale factors such as urbanization affect defence by changing environmental conditions. We provide a synthesis of how to apply macroecological approaches to the study of ecoimmunology (i.e. macroimmunology). We first review spatial factors that could generate spatial variation in defence, highlighting the need for large-scale studies that can differentiate competing environmental predictors of immunity and detailing contexts where this approach might be favoured over small-scale experimental studies. We next conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the frequency of spatial studies and to classify them according to taxa, immune measures, spatial replication and extent, and statistical methods. We review 210 ecoimmunology studies sampling multiple host populations. We show that whereas spatial approaches are relatively common, spatial replication is generally low and unlikely to provide sufficient environmental variation or power to differentiate competing spatial hypotheses. We also highlight statistical biases in macroimmunology, in that few studies characterize and account for spatial dependence statistically, potentially affecting inferences for the relationships between environmental conditions and immune defence. We use these findings to describe tools from geostatistics and spatial modelling that can improve inference about the associations between environmental and immunological variation. In particular, we emphasize exploratory tools that can guide spatial sampling and highlight the need for greater use of mixed-effects models that account for spatial variability while also allowing researchers to account for both individual- and habitat-level covariates. We finally discuss future research priorities for macroimmunology, including focusing on latitudinal gradients, range expansions and urbanization as being especially amenable to large-scale spatial approaches. Methodologically, we highlight critical opportunities posed by assessing spatial variation in host tolerance, using metagenomics to quantify spatial variation in parasite pressure, coupling large-scale field studies with small-scale field experiments and longitudinal approaches, and applying statistical tools from macroecology and meta-analysis to identify generalizable spatial patterns. Such work will facilitate scaling ecoimmunology from individual- to habitat-level insights about the drivers of immune defence and help predict where environmental change may most alter infectious disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Gregory F Albery
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Tamika J Lunn
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Caylee A Falvo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Department of Global and Planetary Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Raina K Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
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14
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Barratclough A, Wells RS, Schwacke LH, Rowles TK, Gomez FM, Fauquier DA, Sweeney JC, Townsend FI, Hansen LJ, Zolman ES, Balmer BC, Smith CR. Health Assessments of Common Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus): Past, Present, and Potential Conservation Applications. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:444. [PMID: 31921905 PMCID: PMC6923228 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00444] [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: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a global marine mammal species for which some populations, due to their coastal accessibility, have been monitored diligently by scientists for decades. Health assessment examinations have developed a comprehensive knowledge base of dolphin biology, population structure, and environmental or anthropogenic stressors affecting their dynamics. Bottlenose dolphin health assessments initially started as stock assessments prior to acquisition. Over the last four decades, health assessments have evolved into essential conservation management tools of free-ranging dolphin populations. Baseline data enable comparison of stressors between geographic locations and associated changes in individual and population health status. In addition, long-term monitoring provides opportunities for insights into population shifts over time, with retrospective application of novel diagnostic tests on archived samples. Expanding scientific knowledge enables effective long-term conservation management strategies by facilitating informed decision making and improving social understanding of the anthropogenic effects. The ability to use bottlenose dolphins as a model for studying marine mammal health has been pivotal in our understanding of anthropogenic effects on multiple marine mammal species. Future studies aim to build on current knowledge to influence management decisions and species conservation. This paper reviews the historical approaches to dolphin health assessments, present day achievements, and development of future conservation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Randall S Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, United States
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Teresa K Rowles
- NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Forrest M Gomez
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Deborah A Fauquier
- NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | | | | | - Larry J Hansen
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Eric S Zolman
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Brian C Balmer
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia R Smith
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, CA, United States
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15
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De Guise S, Levin M, Jasperse L, Risatti G, Wells RS. T Helper Cell Subsets and Their Functions in Common Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus). Front Immunol 2019; 10:1578. [PMID: 31481952 PMCID: PMC6710549 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable efforts have been made to better understand the immune system of bottlenose dolphins in view of the common environmental challenges they encounter, such as exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, oil spills, or harmful algal bloom biotoxins. However, little is known about the identity and functionality of the Th1, Th2, and Treg T helper cell subsets in bottlenose dolphins. The present study aimed at validating assays and reagents to identify T helper cell subsets and their functions in a subset of dolphins from Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA, which have been long studied and often used as a reference population. A population of CD4+ FOXP3+ lymphocytes was identified representing an average <1% of blood lymphocyte population, which is in the range observed in for Treg cells in other species. The use of porcine reagents to measure TGFß, one of the key Treg cytokines, was further validated using the relatively high-throughput and highly standardized Luminex technology. The proportion of circulating Treg cells was not correlated with the serum concentrations of the Treg effector cytokines TGFß and IL-10, nor could it significantly contribute to predicting the variability of T lymphocyte proliferation, suggesting that not all dolphin circulating Treg cells are functional and active. However, stimulation of dolphin lymphocytes with TGFß and IL-2 increased the expression of the gene for TGFß and IL-10, and stimulation with IL-12 and IFNγ induced a robust increase in the expression of the gene for IFNγ, suggesting the potential for polarization and differentiation of dolphin T helper cells toward a Treg and Th1 response, respectively. The lack of an increase in the expression of the genes for the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 upon stimulation with IL-4 may be due to the requirement for IL-2 for a Th2 polarization as described in mice. However, regression analysis and PCA suggested the potential ability of both the Th1 and Th2 response to be triggered upon acute inflammatory signals. These results may be useful in better understanding the mechanisms by which the dolphin immune system is affected upon exposure to environmental challenges and how it responds to pathogen challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States.,Connecticut Sea Grant College Program, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, United States
| | - Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Lindsay Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Guillermo Risatti
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Randall S Wells
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Chicago Zoological Society and Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, United States
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16
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Lundin JI, Ylitalo GM, Giles DA, Seely EA, Anulacion BF, Boyd DT, Hempelmann JA, Parsons KM, Booth RK, Wasser SK. Pre-oil spill baseline profiling for contaminants in Southern Resident killer whale fecal samples indicates possible exposure to vessel exhaust. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 136:448-453. [PMID: 30509828 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Southern Resident killer whale population (Orcinus orca) was listed as endangered in 2005 and shows little sign of recovery. Exposure to contaminants and risk of an oil spill are identified threats. Previous studies on contaminants have largely focused on legacy pollutants. Here we measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in whale fecal (scat) samples. PAHs are a diverse group of hazardous compounds (e.g., carcinogenic, mutagenic), and are a component of crude and refined oil as well as motor exhaust. The central finding from this study indicates low concentrations of the measured PAHs (<10 ppb, wet weight), as expected; however, PAHs were as high as 104 ppb prior to implementation of guidelines mandating increased distance between vessels and whales. While causality is unclear, the potential PAH exposure from vessels warrants continued monitoring. Historical precedent similarly emphasizes the importance of having pre-oil spill exposure data available as baseline to guide remediation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica I Lundin
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States of America.
| | - Gina M Ylitalo
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
| | - Deborah A Giles
- University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A Seely
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States of America
| | - Bernadita F Anulacion
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
| | - Daryle T Boyd
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
| | - Jennifer A Hempelmann
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
| | - Kim M Parsons
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Building 4, Seattle, WA 98115, United States of America; Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
| | - Rebecca K Booth
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States of America
| | - Samuel K Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States of America
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17
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Levin M, Jasperse L, Gebhard E, Rousselet E, Walsh C. Lack of cross-reactivity of human and porcine reagents to quantify manatee (Trichechus manatus) cytokines. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2018; 203:57-59. [PMID: 30243374 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.07.012] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Veterinary medical examinations, including both physical examination and diagnostic tests, are important to monitor the health of both managed-care and wild marine mammals. However, limited species-specific reagents and assays are available that may contribute to a broader medical examination. This project evaluated if commercially available human and porcine antibodies and reagents would cross-react with manatee (Trichechus manatus) cytokines as the first step to validate a new diagnostic tool for manatees. Overall, as a result of limited cross-reactivity, human and porcine commercial reagents did not allow for the quantification of manatee cytokines. At this point, caution must be exercised when using human or porcine immunoassay reagents to quantify manatee cytokines if the reagents have not been fully validated. Future efforts will continue to explore and test the cross-reactivity of reagents to measure manatee cytokines as new species-specific and commercial reagents become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3089, Storrs, CT, 06269, United States.
| | - Lindsay Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3089, Storrs, CT, 06269, United States
| | - Erika Gebhard
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3089, Storrs, CT, 06269, United States
| | - Estelle Rousselet
- Aquatic Animal Health Program, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
| | - Catherine Walsh
- Marine Immunology Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
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18
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Mullin KD, McDonald T, Wells RS, Balmer BC, Speakman T, Sinclair C, Zolman ES, Hornsby F, McBride SM, Wilkinson KA, Schwacke LH. Density, abundance, survival, and ranging patterns of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Mississippi Sound following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186265. [PMID: 29053728 PMCID: PMC5650146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
After the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill began in April 2010, studies were initiated on northern Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Mississippi Sound (MSS) to determine density, abundance, and survival, during and after the oil spill, and to compare these results to previous research in this region. Seasonal boat-based photo-identification surveys (2010–2012) were conducted in a section of MSS to estimate dolphin density and survival, and satellite-linked telemetry (2013) was used to determine ranging patterns. Telemetry suggested two different ranging patterns in MSS: (1) inshore waters with seasonal movements into mid-MSS, and (2) around the barrier islands exclusively. Based upon these data, dolphin density was estimated in two strata (Inshore and Island) using a spatially-explicit robust-design capture-recapture model. Inshore and Island density varied between 0.77–1.61 dolphins km−2 ( x¯ = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.28–1.53) and 3.32–5.74 dolphins km−2 ( x¯ = 4.43, 95% CI: 2.70–5.63), respectively. The estimated annual survival rate for dolphins with distinctive fins was very low in the year following the spill, 0.73 (95% CI: 0.67–0.78), and consistent with the occurrence of a large scale cetacean unusual mortality event that was in part attributed to the DWH oil spill. Fluctuations in density were not as large or seasonally consistent as previously reported. Total abundance for MSS extrapolated from density results ranged from 4,610 in July 2011 to 3,046 in January 2012 ( x¯ = 3,469, 95% CI: 3,113–3,725).
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith D. Mullin
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Trent McDonald
- Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Randall S. Wells
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Chicago Zoological Society, % Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Brian C. Balmer
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Todd Speakman
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Carrie Sinclair
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Eric S. Zolman
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Fawn Hornsby
- Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Shauna M. McBride
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Chicago Zoological Society, % Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Krystan A. Wilkinson
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Chicago Zoological Society, % Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Lori H. Schwacke
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
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19
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Kellar NM, Speakman TR, Smith CR, Lane SM, Balmer BC, Trego ML, Catelani KN, Robbins MN, Allen CD, Wells RS, Zolman ES, Rowles TK, Schwacke LH. Low reproductive success rates of common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the northern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon disaster (2010-2015). ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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20
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Takeshita R, Sullivan L, Smith C, Collier T, Hall A, Brosnan T, Rowles T, Schwacke L. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill marine mammal injury assessment. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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