Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at high concentrations in neonatal Australian pinnipeds

Taylor, Shannon; Terkildsen, Michael; Stevenson, Gavin; Araujo, Jesuina de; Chen, Yu; Yates, Alan; McIntosh, Rebecca R.; Gray, Rachael

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147446

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…For example, it was recently reported that 16 PFASs were measured in the livers of neonatal Australian pinnipeds ( Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus ) at concentrations ranging from 0.5–2119 ng g −1 wet weight (wet w.t.) ( Taylor et al. 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Translocation, bioaccumulation, and distribution of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in plants

Qiu

et al. 2022

iScience

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Translocation, bioaccumulation, and distribution of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in plants

Qiu

et al. 2022

iScience

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“…This does not appear to be the case across all colonies but considering that Australian fur seals have shown much slower recovery than other fur seal species (Gibbens et al, 2010), it is possible that low recruitment from an unknown factor may be contributing to the slow recovery of this species (Pemberton and Gales, 2004). Initial research has identified multiple possible causes for low recruitment, including environmental toxicants such as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (Taylor et al, 2021). However, the influence of infectious and toxicological agents, nutritional deficiencies, climate change and other factors has yet to be fully investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Old Pathogen in a New Environment–Implications of Coxiella burnetii in Australian Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus)

et al. 2022

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The Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) has experienced a slower than expected population recovery since the end of the commercial sealing era, with a high third trimester abortion rate. There is currently no known proximate cause. Coxiella burnetii (Cb) is a well-known cause of abortion in domestic and wildlife species and an important zoonotic pathogen. It has been recorded from a small number of northern hemisphere marine mammals and may be a potential contributory factor to decreasing populations of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and Steller sealions (Eumetopias jubatus). It has not been recorded from marine mammals in the southern hemisphere but is well documented in ruminants and wildlife in Australia as a cause of reproductive failure. Third trimester aborted fetuses (n = 46) and full-term placentas (n = 66) from Australian fur seals, were collected on Kanowna Island and Seal Rocks in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia. Utilizing routine hematoxylin and eosin histopathology, Cb immunohistochemistry and two different qPCR targets–htpAB and com1, Cb was identified. Routine histopathology and immunohistochemistry were insensitive for the detection of Cb. The detected Cb prevalence ranged from 10.6% for com1 up to 40.9% with htpAB. Coxiella burnetti was readily detected in full-term placentas but in aborted fetal material only in a single placenta associated with a still birth. The exact significance is currently unclear, but this highlights that Cb is present in Australian fur seals, breeding in Bass Strait. Bass Strait is in one of the world’s fastest warming oceanic regions and marine mammals breeding in the area are likely to be key indicators of marine ecosystem stressors. This first description of Cb in a marine mammal from the southern hemisphere, highlights the need to further investigate the potential risks this pathogen poses to Australian fur seals and sympatric marine mammals. Additionally, it is important to determine the zoonotic risk of this pathogen to persons working with, and in proximity of, Australian fur seal breeding colonies.

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“…The Australian sea lion's estimated population of 10,000 animals continues to decline, with the species having been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2008 ( Goldsworthy and Gales, 2008 ) and up-listed from threatened to endangered status under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2020 ( Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2020 ). Contributors to this decline are multifactorial, with suggested anthropogenic factors that include fisheries interaction (by-catch, resource competition) ( Hamer et al, 2013 ), marine debris entanglement ( Byard and Machado, 2019 ; Page et al, 2004 ), and pollution (such as human-source microbiota and chemical pollutants) ( Fulham et al, 2018 ; Taylor et al, 2021 ), being additional to habitat degradation, climate alteration ( Kovacs et al, 2012 ; Schumann et al, 2013 ) and disease ( Lindsay and Gray, 2021 ; Marcus et al, 2014 ). Despite ongoing research, the role of known pathogens and their resultant disease in modulating population recovery remains an important knowledge gap for this species ( DSEWPC, 2013 ; Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topical ivermectin is a highly effective seal ‘spot-on’: A randomised trial of hookworm and lice treatment in the endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea)

Lindsay

Caraguel

Gray

2021

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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The Australian sea lion ( Neophoca cinerea ) is an endangered and declining otariid species, with a high rate of pup mortality associated with endemic hookworm ( Uncinaria sanguinis ) infection a suspected contributor to this decline. Injected ivermectin is an effective treatment for Uncinaria sp. in otariids, with optimal outcomes achieved by the early treatment of pups prior to disease development. This randomised controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of the novel use of a topical ivermectin formulation against hookworm infection and lice ( Antarctophthirus microchir) infestation, in comparison with injected ivermectin. During the 2017 breeding season at Dangerous Reef, South Australia, pups ≤ 70 cm in standard length (≤ 2 weeks of age; n = 85) were randomised to single dose topical (500 μg/kg spot-on; n = 27) or injected (200 μg/kg subcutaneous; n = 29) ivermectin treatment groups, or to an untreated control group (n = 29). Topical ivermectin was highly effective for U. sanguinis elimination, and not significantly different to the injected formulation (estimated effectiveness 96.4% and 96.8%, respectively; P > 0.05). Its application resulted in an 81.6% reduction and 62.7% additional clearance for A. microchir infestation by 15–24 days post-treatment, compared with untreated control pups (also not significantly different to injected ivermectin; 83.1% and 59.4%, respectively; P > 0.05). Treatment with either ivermectin formulation significantly ameliorated increases in inflammatory markers detected in the blood of untreated control pups – peripheral blood eosinophil counts (persisting to 36–41 days post-recruitment P < 0.05) and increased plasma protein concentrations (15–24 days post-recruitment; P < 0.05). Further, an initial short-term decrease in body condition in the control group was not observed in either of the treatment groups. This study demonstrates that topical ivermectin is an effective antiparasitic treatment in N. cinerea. It offers an alternative administration method for ivermectin delivery to a young pup cohort in this species, and an alternative, minimally invasive management tool for species conservation.

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Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at high concentrations in neonatal Australian pinnipeds

Cited by 32 publications

References 100 publications

Translocation, bioaccumulation, and distribution of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in plants

Translocation, bioaccumulation, and distribution of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in plants

An Old Pathogen in a New Environment–Implications of Coxiella burnetii in Australian Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus)

Topical ivermectin is a highly effective seal ‘spot-on’: A randomised trial of hookworm and lice treatment in the endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea)

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