Mucocutaneous lesions in free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from the southeastern USA

Abstract

Mucocutaneous lesions were biopsied from free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus inhabiting the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, and estuarine waters of Charleston (CHS), South Carolina, USA, between 2003 and 2013. A total of 78 incisional biopsies from 58 dolphins (n = 43 IRL, n = 15 CHS) were examined. Thirteen dolphins had 2 lesions biopsied at the same examination, and 6 dolphins were re-examined and re-biopsied at time intervals varying from 1 to 8 yr. Biopsy sites included the skin (n = 47), tongue (n = 2), and genital mucosa (n = 29). Pathologic diagnoses were: orogenital sessile papilloma (39.7%), cutaneous lobomycosis (16.7%), tattoo skin disease (TSD; 15.4%), nonspecific chronic to chronic-active dermatitis (15.4%), and epidermal hyperplasia (12.8%). Pathologic diagnoses from dolphins with 2 lesions were predominately orogenital sessile papillomas (n = 9) with nonspecific chronic to chronic-active dermatitis (n = 4), TSD (n = 3), lobomycosis (n = 1), and epidermal hyperplasia (n = 1). Persistent pathologic diagnoses from the same dolphins re-examined and re-biopsied at different times included genital sessile papillomas (n = 3), lobomycosis (n = 2), and nonspecific dermatitis (n = 2). This is the first study documenting the various types, combined prevalence, and progression of mucocutaneous lesions in dolphins from the southeastern USA. The data support other published findings describing the health patterns in dolphins from these geographic regions. Potential health impacts related to the observed suite of lesions are important for the IRL and CHS dolphin populations, since previous studies have indicated that both populations are affected by complex infectious diseases often associated with immunologic disturbances and anthropogenic contaminants.

The environment as a driver of immune and endocrine responses in dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

“…Higher mercury levels have been documented among IRL dolphins compared to CHS dolphins [16, 17]. Both IRL and CHS dolphin populations have been reported to have orogenital neoplasia that impact immune function and that are associated with novel papillomavirus and herpesvirus infections [18–22]. Additionally, IRL dolphins have reported subclinical or clinical infections of cetacean morbillivirus, lacaziosis and chlamydiosis that result in various, often severe, immunologic perturbations [23–25].…”

Health and Environmental Risk Assessment Project for bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from the southeastern USA. I. Infectious diseases

“…In a related study, we recently described mucocutaneous lesions identified in biopsies of HERA dolphins taken between 2003 and 2013 (Bossart et al 2015). Pathologic diagnoses were OP (40%), PC (17%), tattoo skin disease (TSD) (15%), nonspecific chronic to chronic-active dermatitis (15%), and epidermal hyperplasia (13%).…”

“…This was the first longterm study documenting the various types, combined prevalence, and progression of mucocutaneous lesions in dolphins from the southeastern USA. Environmental and anthropogenic factors were considered to play a role in the pathogenesis, diversity, and prevalence of many of these mucocutaneous lesions (Bossart et al 2015).…”

Emerging viruses in marine mammals.

“…Two delphinid gammaherpesviruses (DeHV-4 and −5) have also been found with PV co-infections [36,37]. Orogenital sessile papillomas (OP) associated with novel PV and herpesvirus (HV) infections were first noted in wild bottlenose dolphins from southeast Atlantic coastal waters in 2005 as part of a capture/release health assessment study from 2003 to 2015 [6,[38][39][40]. Lingual and genital mucosal lesions were all grossly and microscopically similar sessile papillomas [40].…”

“…Orogenital sessile papillomas (OP) associated with novel PV and herpesvirus (HV) infections were first noted in wild bottlenose dolphins from southeast Atlantic coastal waters in 2005 as part of a capture/release health assessment study from 2003 to 2015 [6,[38][39][40]. Lingual and genital mucosal lesions were all grossly and microscopically similar sessile papillomas [40]. A novel PV was isolated from a genital papilloma which was designated as TtPV-2 [16].…”