Comparative Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) With Viral, Bacterial, and Fungal Infections.

Free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (n = 360) from two southeastern U.S. estuarine sites were given comprehensive health examinations between 2003 and 2015 as part of a multi-disciplinary research project focused on individual and population health. The study sites (and sample sizes) included the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, USA (n = 246) and Charleston harbor and associated rivers (CHS), South Carolina, USA (n = 114). Results of a suite of clinicoimmunopathologic tests revealed that both populations have a high prevalence of infectious and neoplastic disease and a variety of abnormalities of their innate and adaptive immune systems. Subclinical infections with cetacean morbillivirus and Chlamydiaceae were detected serologically. Clinical evidence of orogenital papillomatosis was supported by the detection of a new strain of dolphin papillomavirus and herpesvirus by molecular pathology. Dolphins with cutaneous lobomycosis/lacaziasis were subsequently shown to be infected with a novel, uncultivated strain of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, now established as the etiologic agent of this enigmatic disease in dolphins. In this review, innate and adaptive immunologic responses are compared between healthy dolphins and those with clinical and/or immunopathologic evidence of infection with these specific viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. A wide range of immunologic host responses was associated with each pathogen, reflecting the dynamic and complex interplay between the innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immune systems in the dolphin. Collectively, these studies document the comparative innate and adaptive immune responses to various types of infectious diseases in free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Evaluation of the type, pattern, and degree of immunologic response to these pathogens provides novel insight on disease immunopathogenesis in this species and as a comparative model. Importantly, the data suggest that in some cases infection may be associated with subclinical immunopathologic perturbations that could impact overall individual and population health.

New record of Akashiwo sanguinea (Dinophyta) in the tropical estuarine waters of Northeastern Brazil (Western Atlantic).

This study reports the occurrence and the effect of the environmental factors on the spatial and temporal distribution of the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea (Hirasaka) Hansen & Moestrup in estuarine waters of northeastern Brazil. Samples were collected at seven stations from March 2007 to February 2008 during high tide and low tide, using Van Dorn bottles. The samples were immediately fixed with Lugol and analyzed with the Utermöhl method. Water samples were also collected for the identification of the hydrological characteristics of the area. Akashiwo sanguinea occurred throughout the annual cycle and at all sampling sites with densities ranging between 5 and 410 x 103 cells.L-1. The highest densities were recorded at low tide, especially during the months of the rainy season (July: 210 x 103 cells.L-1; August: 410 x 103 cells.L-1). Density values were within the normal range and blooms were not detected. Despite being common in the area, the species showed preference for sites with high concentrations of orthophosphate and total dissolved phosphorus and with salinity in the mesohaline regime.

New record of Akashiwo sanguinea (Dinophyta) in the tropical estuarine waters of Northeastern Brazil (Western Atlantic) / Novo registro de Akashiwo sanguinea (Dinophyta) em águas estuarinas tropicais do nordeste do Brasil (Atlântico Ocidental)

This study reports the occurrence and the effect of the environmental factors on the spatial and temporal distribution of the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea (Hirasaka) Hansen & Moestrup in estuarine waters of northeastern Brazil. Samples were collected at seven stations from March 2007 to February 2008 during high tide and low tide, using Van Dorn bottles. The samples were immediately fixed with Lugol and analyzed with the Utermöhl method. Water samples were also collected for the identification of the hydrological characteristics of the area. Akashiwo sanguinea occurred throughout the annual cycle and at all sampling sites with densities ranging between 5 and 410 x 103 cells.L–1. The highest densities were recorded at low tide, especially during the months of the rainy season (July: 210 x 103 cells.L–1; August: 410 x 103 cells.L–1). Density values were within the normal range and blooms were not detected. Despite being common in the area, the species showed preference for sites with high concentrations of orthophosphate and total dissolved phosphorus and with salinity in the mesohaline regime.

Este estudo relata a ocorrência e o efeito dos fatores ambientais na distribuição espacial e temporal do dinoflagelado Akashiwo sanguinea (Hirasaka) Hansen et Moestrup em águas estuarinas do Nordeste do Brasil. As amostras foram coletadas em sete estações, durante o período de março 2007 a fevereiro 2008 durante os regimes de preamar e baixa-mar, com o auxílio de garrafas tipo Van Dorn. As amostras foram imediatamente fixadas com lugol e analisadas pelo método de Utermöhl. Amostras de água foram também coletadas para a identificação das características hidrológicas da área. Akashiwo sanguinea ocorreu em todo o ciclo anual e em todos os locais de coleta com densidade variando de 5 a 410 cells.L–1 x 103, sendo as maiores densidades registradas na baixa-mar, principalmente, durante os meses do período chuvoso (julho 210 cells.L–1 x 103, agosto 410 cells.L–1 x 103). Os valores quantitativos estiveram dentro dos padrões normais, não tendo sido detectados florescimentos com conotações de blooms. Apesar de ser frequente na área, a espécie mostrou preferência pelos locais com maiores concentrações de ortofosfato dissolvido e fósforo total dissolvido e salinidade compreendida no regime mesoalino.