Trace element concentrations in skin of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the southeast Atlantic coast

Stavros, Hui-Chen W.; Bossart, Gregory D.; Hulsey, Thomas C.; Fair, Patricia A.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.07.030

Cited by 75 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…In past studies, environmental and anthropogenic factors were considered to play a role in the prevalence and severity of cutaneous diseases in cetaceans (Wilson et al 1999, Bossart 2007, Van Bressem et al 2007b. Similar factors may have played a role in the pathogenesis, diversity, and prevalence of mucocutaneous lesions in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…CHS dolphins accumulate a suite of persistent organic chemicals at or above the level where adverse health effects have been reported in wildlife, humans, and laboratory animals (Fair et al 2010). In IRL dolphins, concentrations of mercury in the blood and skin are reported to be among the highest observed in marine mammals and more than 4 times higher than those found in dolphins sampled in CHS (Stavros et al 2007(Stavros et al , 2008. Elevated mercury concentrations in IRL dolphins are associated with disturbances of multiple hepatic, renal, endocrine, and hematological parameters suggesting deleterious health effects (Schaefer et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar factors may have played a role in the pathogenesis, diversity, and prevalence of mucocutaneous lesions in the present study. For example, dolphins from both the IRL and CHS accumulate a wide array of anthropogenic contaminants including mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), chlordane, polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) (Houde et al 2005, Stavros et al 2007, Fair et al 2010, 2012, 2013, Schaefer et al 2011. CHS dolphins accumulate a suite of persistent organic chemicals at or above the level where adverse health effects have been reported in wildlife, humans, and laboratory animals (Fair et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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“…IRL dolphins sampled between 2003 and 2005 had high concentrations of THg in blood and skin (Table 3). These concentrations significantly exceeded those in dolphins from CHS (Stavros et al 2007(Stavros et al , 2008 and are among the highest recorded worldwide . Similarly, the concentrations of THg in the liver of stranded IRL dolphins were approximately 10 times higher than those in dolphins stranded near CHS and were significantly correlated with skin concentrations (Stavros et al 2011).…”

Section: Mercurymentioning

confidence: 73%

“…**Significant difference between the 2 sites (p < 0.01). Adapted from Stavros et al (2007Stavros et al ( , 2008; used by permission marinum and reduced lymphocyte proliferation ). In summary, the evidence suggests that high concentrations of THg in the tissues of bottlenose dolphins produce detrimental effects on the endocrine, hepatic, immune, and hematopoietic systems.…”

Section: Mercurymentioning

confidence: 99%