Epidemiological pattern of tattoo skin disease: a potential general health indicator for cetaceans

Bressem, Marie‐Françoise Van; Waerebeek, Koen Van; Aznar, Francisco Javier; Raga, Juan Antonio; Jepson, Paul D.; Duignan, Pádraig J.; Deaville, Rob; Flach, Leonardo; Viddi, Francisco A.; Baker, John; Beneditto, Ana Paula Madeira Di; Echegaray, Mónica; Genov, Tilen; Reyes, Julio C.; Félix, Fernando; Gaspar, Raquel; Ramos, Renato Moran; Peddemors, Victor M.; Sanino, Gian Paolo; Siebert, Ursula

doi:10.3354/dao02080

Cited by 62 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The high prevalence of genital papillomas in P. spinipinnis may point to immune depression in this population. This would be consistent with results of a recent epidemiological study covering 17 cetacean species where the highest prevalence of poxvirusassociated tattoo skin disease (TSD) was also encountered in Peruvian P. spinipinnis (Van Bressem et al 2009a). The significantly higher prevalence of genital warts in male P. spinipinnis may reflect the accumulation of immunosuppressive lipophilic contaminants through life in adult males and the depuration of females through transfer of their contaminant loads to their calves (Jepson et al 2005, Wells et al 2005.…”

Section: Genital Papillomavirusessupporting

confidence: 80%

“…A recent study in 17 cetacean species (1392 individuals) from 3 oceans and contiguous seas showed a common pattern for endemic TSD: a significant increase in prevalence in juveniles compared to calves, presumably due to juveniles that had lost maternal humoral immunity, as well as a significantly higher prevalence in juveniles than in adults, possibly because a high percentage of adults had acquired active immunity following infection. This epidemiological pattern was found inverted in samples of poor health odontocetes, possibly the result of a depressed immune system (Van Bressem et al 2009a). When endemic, TSD does not appear to induce a high mortality rate , Van Bressem et al 2003.…”

Section: Cetacean Poxviruses and Tsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Individual tattoo lesions may persist for months or years and recurrence is possible , Van Bressem et al 2003. TSD has been reported in 17 free-ranging species, including Delphinidae (n = 13), Phocoenidae (n = 2), Ziphiidae (n = 1) and Balaenidae (n = 1), as well as in captive Tursiops truncatus and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus (Van Bressem et al 1999, 2007b, 2009a, Bracht et al 2006. It is caused by poxviruses that may belong to a new genus of the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae (family Chordopoxviridae), but have a common, most immediate ancestor with terrestrial poxviruses of the genus Orthopoxvirus (Bracht .…”

Section: Cetacean Poxviruses and Tsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

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

Bressem¹,

Raga²,

Guardo³

et al. 2009

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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264

255

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We reviewed prominent emerging infectious diseases of cetaceans, examined their potential to impact populations, re-assessed zoonotic risk and evaluated the role of environmental stressors. Cetacean morbilliviruses and papillomaviruses as well as Brucella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are thought to interfere with population abundance by inducing high mortalities, lowering reproductive success or by synergistically increasing the virulence of other diseases. Severe cases of lobomycosis and lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) may contribute to the death of some dolphins. The zoonotic hazard of marine mammal brucellosis and toxoplasmosis may have been underestimated, attributable to frequent misdiagnoses and underreporting, particularly in developing countries and remote areas where carcass handling without protective gear and human consumption of fresh cetacean products are commonplace. Environmental factors seem to play a role in the emergence and pathogenicity of morbillivirus epidemics, lobomycosis/LLD, toxoplasmosis, poxvirus-associated tattoo skin disease and, in harbour porpoises, infectious diseases of multifactorial aetiology. Inshore and estuarine cetaceans incur higher risks than pelagic cetaceans due to habitats often severely altered by anthropogenic factors such as chemical and biological contamination, direct and indirect fisheries interactions, traumatic injuries from vessel collisions and climate change.

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Section: Genital Papillomavirusessupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Cetacean Poxviruses and Tsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cetacean Poxviruses and Tsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Bressem¹,

Raga²,

Guardo³

et al. 2009

Dis. Aquat. Org.

Self Cite

264

255

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…It affects Delphinidae and Phocoenidae from Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Brazil. Prevalence levels varied between 3.5% (short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis, Ecuador) and 62.3% (Burmeister's porpoise Phocoena spinipinnis, Peru) in 1992(Van Bressem et al, 20072009b). Generally, juveniles had a higher probability of suffering TSD than adults, presumably because adults had acquired active immunity following infection (Van Bressem et al, 2009b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological characteristics of skin disorders in cetaceans from South American waters

Bressem

Flach²,

Reyes³

et al. 2015

Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Mamm.

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Abstract. We document the macroscopic phenotypic characteristics (relative size, location, pattern, colour, extension), prevalence and evolution of five types of skin disorders of unknown aetiology, including 'green-brown plaques' (GBP), 'orange patches' (OPA), 'cutaneous nodules' (NOD), 'pale dermatitis' (PAD) and 'expansive annular lesions' (EAL) in five odontocete species (n = 559 individuals) from the Southeast Pacific (n = 230) and Southwest Atlantic (n = 329) Oceans. GBP affected two likely-adult Sotalia guianensis traveling side-by-side in a freshwater area of the Cananéia Estuary in August 2009. Low salinity is suggested as predisposing factor. OPA were distinguished in three of 209 (1.4%) free-ranging S. guianensis in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil, during winter months of [2005][2006][2007][2008]. Epibiont diatoms are suspected aetiological agents. NOD were chronically present in one male adult Orcinus orca observed off the coast of southern Brazil in 2007-2010. PAD was seen in free-ranging individuals and carcasses of Tursiops truncatus, S. guianensis and Pseudorca crassidens from both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in 1992 and in [2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009]. Prevalence was 1% in 103 S. guianensis from Paranaguá Estuary (Brazil), 2.3% in 222 S. guianensis from Sepetiba Bay and 6.9% in 87 inshore T. truncatus from Paracas Bay, Peru. Although in some cases the lesions covered up to 35-40% of the visible body surface and ulcers may occur there was no evidence of mortality and, in time-series of six individuals, PAD eventually healed. In six T. truncatus and five S. guianensis acutely affected, PAD was associated with minor cutaneous injuries and scars, including tooth rakes, suggesting infection routes for opportunistic pathogens. EAL were noted in a Cephalorhynchus eutropia calf from Palena province, Chile, in 2003 and in a P. crassidens calf washed ashore dead in southern Brazil in 2009. The C. eutropia calf disappeared, and probably died, two weeks after first observation. Prevalence of EAL was 6.7% in 15 C. eutropia in 2002-2004. These data suggest that EAL are potentially lethal in calves. PAD and EAL were primarily seen in cetaceans inhabiting biologically or chemically contaminated nearshore waters. In view of their emergence and occasional severity these disorders should be the subject of systematic monitoring.

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“…TSD was previously reported in stranded IRL dolphins and speculated to be related to prolonged physiologic or pathologic stressors (Bossart et al 2003). Additionally, it was previously suggested that TSD may be a general indicator of cetacean population health and that the high prevalence of TSD in some adult odontocete populations reflects a depressed immune system (Van Bressem et al 2009b). As noted above, previous HERA studies have documented immunologic perturbations in IRL dolphins with various infectious diseases which may further predispose this population to TSD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Bossart¹,

Schaefer²,

McCulloch³

et al. 2015

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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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.

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Epidemiological pattern of tattoo skin disease: a potential general health indicator for cetaceans

Cited by 62 publications

References 29 publications

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

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

Epidemiological characteristics of skin disorders in cetaceans from South American waters

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

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