Emerging infectious diseases in cetaceans worldwide and the possible role of environmental stressors

Bressem, Marie‐Françoise Van; Raga, Juan Antonio; Guardo, Giovanni Di; Jepson, Paul D.; Duignan, Pádraig J.; Siebert, Ursula; Barrett, Tom; Santos, M. A. L.; Moreno, Ignacio B.; Siciliano, Salvatore; Aguilar, Àlex; Waerebeek, Koen Van

doi:10.3354/dao02101

Cited by 280 publications

(312 citation statements)

References 126 publications

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“…As the frequency and severity of stressors increase globally, the relationship between stress and disease in wildlife populations demands greater attention (Lafferty and Kuris 1999;Aguirre and Tabor 2008;Van Bressem et al 2009;Blaustein et al 2012). Infection can influence animal populations via sublethal effects reducing fitness as well as dramatic population-level effects (Scott 1988;Aguirre and Tabor 2008).…”

Section: The Importance Of Increased Attention To Stress and Wildlifementioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between physiological stress and wildlife disease: consequences for health and conservation

et al. 2016

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Wildlife populations are under increasing pressure from a variety of threatening processes, ranging from climate change to habitat loss, that can incite a physiological stress response. The stress response influences immune function, with potential consequences for patterns of infection and transmission of disease among and within wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. This is concerning because stress may exacerbate the impact of disease on species vulnerable to extinction, with consequences for biodiversity conservation globally. Furthermore, stress may shape the role of wildlife in the spread of emerging infectious diseases (EID) such as Hendra virus (HeV) and Ebola virus. However, we still have a limited understanding of the influence of physiological stress on infectious disease in wildlife.We highlight key reasons why an improved understanding of the relationship between stress and wildlife disease could benefit conservation, and animal and public health, and discuss approaches for future investigation. In particular, we recommend that increased attention be given to the influence of anthropogenic stressors including climate change, habitat loss and management interventions on disease dynamics in wildlife populations.Additional keyword: physiology.

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Section: The Importance Of Increased Attention To Stress and Wildlifementioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between physiological stress and wildlife disease: consequences for health and conservation

et al. 2016

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“…And thus, understanding the intestinal microbiota will aid in managing and maintaining the health of the YFP [9,53]. It has been reported that intestinal flora crucially influenced the nutrient processing, development of the immune system, colonization resistance, and stimulation of the host [32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fecal Bacterial Composition of the Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoises Living Under Captive and Semi-natural Conditions

et al. 2015

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Intestinal microbiota is essential to the health and physiology of host animals. We undertook the first microbiological study of the fecal bacterial composition from critically endangered (CR) Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis; YFPs) living under captive and semi-natural conditions using both high-throughput sequencing method and 16S rRNA gene clone library method. As determined by high-throughput sequencing of V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene, seminatural samples harbored 30 and 36 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which was more than the 22 and 27 OTUs detected from YFPs living in captivity. In captive YFPs Firmicutes was the predominant phylum, whereas this was Proteobacteria for YFPs living in semi-nature conditions. This suggests habitat-specific fecal bacterial composition of YFPs. Plesiomonas spp. and Aeromonas spp., which are potentially pathogenic, were identified in all the feces. Bacterial diversity from one porpoise living in captivity was also determined by constructing a 16S rRNA gene clone library and only 1 phylum was identified. Highthroughput sequencing was more effective at determining the bacterial diversity compared to the 16S rRNA gene clone library. This study provides important information for the management and conservation of the CR YFPs.

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“…Previous studies on T. gondii in marine mammals showed that this parasite is able to reach and infect marine mammals (Cabezón et al, 2011;Rengifo-Herrera et al, 2012). Infection with T. gondii in marine mammals may result in clinical disease (Carlson-Bremer et al, 2015;Mikaelian et al, 2000;Van Bressem et al, 2009). This has been clearly demonstrated in California sea otters (Euhydra lutris nereis) ), Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) (Roe et al, 2013) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) (Herder et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii in stranded marine mammals from the North Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Findings and diagnostic difficulties

Velde

Devleesschauwer

Leopold³

et al. 2016

Veterinary Parasitology

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a b s t r a c tThe occurrence of the zoonotic protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii in marine mammals remains a poorly understood phenomenon. In this study, samples from 589 marine mammal species and 34 European otters (Lutra lutra), stranded on the coasts of Scotland, Belgium, France, The Netherlands and Germany, were tested for the presence of T. gondii. Brain samples were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of parasite DNA. Blood and muscle fluid samples were tested for specific antibodies using a modified agglutination test (MAT), a commercial multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Out of 193 animals tested by PCR, only two harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) cerebrum samples, obtained from animals stranded on the Dutch coast, tested positive. The serological results showed a wide variation depending on the test used. Using a cut-off value of 1/40 dilution in MAT, 141 out of 292 animals (41%) were positive. Using IFA, 30 out of 244 tested samples (12%) were positive at a 1/50 dilution. The commercial ELISA yielded 7% positives with a cut-off of the sample-to-positive (S/P) ratio ≥ 50; and 12% when the cut-off was set at S/P ratio ≥ 20. The high number of positives in MAT may be an overestimation due to the high degree of haemolysis of the samples and/or the presence of lipids. The ELISA results could be an underestimation due to the use of a multispecies conjugate. Our results confirm the presence of T. gondii in marine mammals in The Netherlands and show exposure to the parasite in both the North Sea and the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. We also highlight the limitations of the tests used to diagnose T. gondii in stranded marine mammals.

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Emerging infectious diseases in cetaceans worldwide and the possible role of environmental stressors

Cited by 280 publications

References 126 publications

The relationship between physiological stress and wildlife disease: consequences for health and conservation

The relationship between physiological stress and wildlife disease: consequences for health and conservation

Fecal Bacterial Composition of the Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoises Living Under Captive and Semi-natural Conditions

Toxoplasma gondii in stranded marine mammals from the North Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Findings and diagnostic difficulties

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