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Dr. Eva Sierra
Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

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0 Animal Physiology
0 Dolphin
0 Marine Mammals
0 Veterinary Medicine
0 Veterinary Microbiology

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Journal article
Published: 28 June 2021 in Animals
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Herpesviruses (HVs) (Alpha- and Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies) have been detected in several species of cetaceans with different pathological implications. However, available information on their presence in beaked whales (BWs) is still scarce. In this study, a total of 55 BWs (35 Ziphius cavirostris and 20 animals belonging to the Mesoplodon genus) were analyzed. Samples (n = 294) were obtained from BWs stranded along the coasts of the Canary Islands (1990–2017). Molecular detection of HV was performed by means of a conventional nested PCR based on the DNA polymerase gene. Herpesvirus was detected in 14.45% (8/55) of the analyzed BWs, including 2 positive animals from a previous survey. A percentage positivity of 8.57% was found within the Cuvier’s BW group, while the percentage of positivity rose to 25% within the Mesoplodon genus group (three M. densirostris, one M. europaeus, and one M. bidens). All the obtained sequences from this study belonged to the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily, from which three are considered novel sequences, all of them within the Mesoplodon genus group. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first description of HV infection in Gervais’ and Sowerby’s BWs. Three out of eight HV-positive BWs displayed histopathological lesions indicative of active viral replication.

ACS Style

Idaira Felipe-Jiménez; Antonio Fernández; Marisa Andrada; Manuel Arbelo; Simone Segura-Göthlin; Ana Colom-Rivero; Eva Sierra. Contribution to Herpesvirus Surveillance in Beaked Whales Stranded in the Canary Islands. Animals 2021, 11, 1923 .

AMA Style

Idaira Felipe-Jiménez, Antonio Fernández, Marisa Andrada, Manuel Arbelo, Simone Segura-Göthlin, Ana Colom-Rivero, Eva Sierra. Contribution to Herpesvirus Surveillance in Beaked Whales Stranded in the Canary Islands. Animals. 2021; 11 (7):1923.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Idaira Felipe-Jiménez; Antonio Fernández; Marisa Andrada; Manuel Arbelo; Simone Segura-Göthlin; Ana Colom-Rivero; Eva Sierra. 2021. "Contribution to Herpesvirus Surveillance in Beaked Whales Stranded in the Canary Islands." Animals 11, no. 7: 1923.

Journal article
Published: 22 April 2021 in Animals
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Two striped dolphins (SD1, SD2), stranded along the Ligurian coast of Italy, were diagnosed with a nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis associated with previously undescribed protozoan tissue cysts. As tissue cysts were morphologically different from those of Toxoplasma gondii, additional histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and biomolecular investigations were performed, aiming to fully characterize the organism. Histopathology revealed the presence of large Sarcocystis-like tissue cysts, associated with limited inflammatory lesions in all CNS areas studied. IHC was inconclusive, as positive staining with polyclonal antisera did not preclude cross-reaction with other Sarcocystidae coccidia. Applied to each animal, 11 different PCR protocols precluded a neural infection by Sarcocystis neurona, Sarcocystis falcatula, Hammondia hammondi, and Neospora caninum. T. gondii coinfection was confirmed only in dolphin SD2. Sarcocystis sp. sequences, showing the highest homology to species infecting the Bovidae family, were amplified from SD1 myocardium and SD2 skeletal muscle. The present study represents the first report of Sarcocystis-like tissue cysts in the brain of stranded cetaceans along with the first description of Sarcocystis sp. infection in muscle tissue of dolphins from the Mediterranean basin.

ACS Style

Federica Giorda; Umberto Romani-Cremaschi; Antoinette Marsh; Carla Grattarola; Barbara Iulini; Alessandra Pautasso; Katia Varello; Enrica Berio; Paola Gazzuola; Letizia Marsili; Cristina Di Francesco; Maria Goria; Federica Verna; Tania Audino; Simone Peletto; Maria Caramelli; Mercedes Fernández-Escobar; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernández; Rafael Calero-Bernal; Cristina Casalone. Evidence for Unknown Sarcocystis-Like Infection in Stranded Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Ligurian Sea, Italy. Animals 2021, 11, 1201 .

AMA Style

Federica Giorda, Umberto Romani-Cremaschi, Antoinette Marsh, Carla Grattarola, Barbara Iulini, Alessandra Pautasso, Katia Varello, Enrica Berio, Paola Gazzuola, Letizia Marsili, Cristina Di Francesco, Maria Goria, Federica Verna, Tania Audino, Simone Peletto, Maria Caramelli, Mercedes Fernández-Escobar, Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernández, Rafael Calero-Bernal, Cristina Casalone. Evidence for Unknown Sarcocystis-Like Infection in Stranded Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Ligurian Sea, Italy. Animals. 2021; 11 (5):1201.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Federica Giorda; Umberto Romani-Cremaschi; Antoinette Marsh; Carla Grattarola; Barbara Iulini; Alessandra Pautasso; Katia Varello; Enrica Berio; Paola Gazzuola; Letizia Marsili; Cristina Di Francesco; Maria Goria; Federica Verna; Tania Audino; Simone Peletto; Maria Caramelli; Mercedes Fernández-Escobar; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernández; Rafael Calero-Bernal; Cristina Casalone. 2021. "Evidence for Unknown Sarcocystis-Like Infection in Stranded Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Ligurian Sea, Italy." Animals 11, no. 5: 1201.

Journal article
Published: 09 February 2021 in Animals
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Compared with terrestrial mammals, marine mammals possess increased muscle myoglobin concentrations (Mb concentration, g Mb · 100g−1 muscle), enhancing their onboard oxygen (O2) stores and their aerobic dive limit. Although myoglobin is not homogeneously distributed, cetacean muscle O2 stores have been often determined by measuring Mb concentration from a single muscle sample (longissimus dorsi) and multiplying that value by the animal’s locomotor muscle or total muscle mass. This study serves to determine the accuracy of previous cetacean muscle O2 stores calculations. For that, body muscles from three delphinid species: Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, and Stenella frontalis, were dissected and weighed. Mb concentration was calculated from six muscles/muscle groups (epaxial, hypaxial and rectus abdominis; mastohumeralis; sternohyoideus; and dorsal scalenus), each representative of different functional groups (locomotion powering swimming, pectoral fin movement, feeding and respiration, respectively). Results demonstrated that the Mb concentration was heterogeneously distributed, being significantly higher in locomotor muscles. Locomotor muscles were the major contributors to total muscle O2 stores (mean 92.8%) due to their high Mb concentration and large muscle masses. Compared to this method, previous studies assuming homogenous Mb concentration distribution likely underestimated total muscle O2 stores by 10% when only considering locomotor muscles and overestimated them by 13% when total muscle mass was considered.

ACS Style

Marina Arregui; Emily Singleton; Pedro Saavedra; D. Pabst; Michael Moore; Eva Sierra; Miguel Rivero; Nakita Câmara; Misty Niemeyer; Andreas Fahlman; William McLellan; Yara Bernaldo de Quirós. Myoglobin Concentration and Oxygen Stores in Different Functional Muscle Groups from Three Small Cetacean Species. Animals 2021, 11, 451 .

AMA Style

Marina Arregui, Emily Singleton, Pedro Saavedra, D. Pabst, Michael Moore, Eva Sierra, Miguel Rivero, Nakita Câmara, Misty Niemeyer, Andreas Fahlman, William McLellan, Yara Bernaldo de Quirós. Myoglobin Concentration and Oxygen Stores in Different Functional Muscle Groups from Three Small Cetacean Species. Animals. 2021; 11 (2):451.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marina Arregui; Emily Singleton; Pedro Saavedra; D. Pabst; Michael Moore; Eva Sierra; Miguel Rivero; Nakita Câmara; Misty Niemeyer; Andreas Fahlman; William McLellan; Yara Bernaldo de Quirós. 2021. "Myoglobin Concentration and Oxygen Stores in Different Functional Muscle Groups from Three Small Cetacean Species." Animals 11, no. 2: 451.

Journal article
Published: 31 January 2020 in Scientific Reports
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Capture myopathy (CM), is a syndrome that occurs as the result of the stress during and after capture, handling, restraint, and transport of wild animals. Although CM has been described for many species of cetaceans, characterization of the acute cardiac injury - an important component of this syndrome - are still scarce. In this study, we firstly estimated a normal range for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) on cetaceans. Here, through biochemical analysis (especially of cTnI) and histopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical correlations with decreased troponin immunolabelling, we studied the cardiac injury in live-stranded cetaceans. Nine cetaceans which stranded alive on the Canary Islands (January 2016 - June 2019) were included in this study. Sampled individuals presented elevated values of plasma cTnI, which were correlated to histopathological lesions comprised of vascular changes and acute degenerative lesions. Immunohistochemically, injured cardiomyocytes showed a decreased intrafibrillar troponin immunoreaction. This is the first attempt to establish a normal baseline range for cTnI in cetaceans, and the first study comparing plasma biomarkers values with histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. This approach allowed us to demonstrate the degree of cardiac damage as a result of injury, consistent with ischemia–reperfusion lesions. The knowledge gained here could improve decision-making procedures during stressful situations, mainly in live-strandings, handling, and rehabilitation, thereby reducing the mortality of cetaceans.

ACS Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; Manuel Arbelo; Marisa Andrada; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Pedro Herráez. Increased Plasma Cardiac Troponin I in Live-Stranded Cetaceans: Correlation with Pathological Findings of Acute Cardiac Injury. Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 1555 -11.

AMA Style

Nakita Câmara, Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernandez, Manuel Arbelo, Marisa Andrada, Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros, Pedro Herráez. Increased Plasma Cardiac Troponin I in Live-Stranded Cetaceans: Correlation with Pathological Findings of Acute Cardiac Injury. Scientific Reports. 2020; 10 (1):1555-11.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; Manuel Arbelo; Marisa Andrada; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Pedro Herráez. 2020. "Increased Plasma Cardiac Troponin I in Live-Stranded Cetaceans: Correlation with Pathological Findings of Acute Cardiac Injury." Scientific Reports 10, no. 1: 1555-11.

Case report
Published: 29 January 2020 in Animals
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Free-living cetaceans are threatened, daily, by a wide variety of stressful situations. An example is provided by live-stranding, in which a cetacean is alive on the beach or in shallow water, and unable to free itself and resume its normal activity. This is the first case of capture myopathy and stress cardiomyopathy in a live-stranded juvenile male Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) with subsequent rehabilitation attempted. Valuable use of blood samples, and finally necropsy assessments, advances our understanding about the pathology common in live-stranded cetaceans. Capture myopathy (CM) is described in wild animals as a metabolic syndrome resulting from the extreme stress suffered during and after capture, handling, restraint, and transport. Although CM has been characterized in many species of cetaceans, descriptions of cardiac injury—an important component of this syndrome, and, according to previous authors, comparable to the existing human pathology so-called stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP)—are still rare. Therefore, the main aim of this report is to illustrate, for the first time, the biochemical analysis, and gross, histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical features of CM, and more specifically of the SCMP involved in this syndrome, caused by the live-stranding and consequent rehabilitation attempt, for a certain period of time, in a juvenile male Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus). The animal presented elevated values of creatine kinase, cardiac troponin I and blood urea nitrogen, with some variations during the rehabilitation period. Histologically, we detected vascular changes and acute degenerative lesions analogous to the ones observed in humans with SCMP. We consider this study to be an important contribution to the study of cetaceans since it could help in decision-making and treatment procedures during live-strandings and improve conservation efforts by reducing the mortality of these animals.

ACS Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernández; Manuel Arbelo; Yara Bernaldo De Quirós; Marina Arregui; Francesco Consoli; Pedro Herráez. Capture Myopathy and Stress Cardiomyopathy in a Live-Stranded Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) in Rehabilitation. Animals 2020, 10, 220 .

AMA Style

Nakita Câmara, Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernández, Manuel Arbelo, Yara Bernaldo De Quirós, Marina Arregui, Francesco Consoli, Pedro Herráez. Capture Myopathy and Stress Cardiomyopathy in a Live-Stranded Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) in Rehabilitation. Animals. 2020; 10 (2):220.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernández; Manuel Arbelo; Yara Bernaldo De Quirós; Marina Arregui; Francesco Consoli; Pedro Herráez. 2020. "Capture Myopathy and Stress Cardiomyopathy in a Live-Stranded Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) in Rehabilitation." Animals 10, no. 2: 220.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2020 in Biology Open
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Hypoxia could be a possible risk factor for neurodegenerative alterations in cetaceans’ brain. Among toothed whales, the beaked whales are particularly cryptic and routinely dive deeper than 1,000 m for about one hour in order to hunt squids and fishes. Samples of frontal cerebral and cerebellar cortex were collected from nine animals, representing six different species of the suborder Odontoceti. Immunohistochemical analysis employed anti-β-amyloid (Aβ) and anti-neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) antibodies. Six of nine (67%) animals showed positive immunolabeling for Aβ and/or NFT. The most striking findings were intranuclear Aβ immunopositivity in cerebral cortical neurons and NFT immunopositivity in cerebellar Purkinje neurons with granulovacuolar degeneration. Aβ plaques were also observed in one elderly animal. Herein, we present immunohistopathological findings classic of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Our findings could be linked to hypoxic phenomena, as they were more extensive in beaked whales. Despite their adaptations, cetaceans could be vulnerable to sustained and repetitive brain hypoxia.

ACS Style

Simona Sacchini; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Yania Paz; Yara Bernaldo de Quirós; Eva Sierra; Manuel Arbelo; Pedro Herráez; Antonio Fernández. Amyloid-beta peptide and phosphorylated tau in the frontopolar cerebral cortex and in the cerebellum of toothed whales: aging vs hypoxia. Biology Open 2020, 9, 1 .

AMA Style

Simona Sacchini, Josué Díaz-Delgado, Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros, Yania Paz, Yara Bernaldo de Quirós, Eva Sierra, Manuel Arbelo, Pedro Herráez, Antonio Fernández. Amyloid-beta peptide and phosphorylated tau in the frontopolar cerebral cortex and in the cerebellum of toothed whales: aging vs hypoxia. Biology Open. 2020; 9 (11):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Simona Sacchini; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Yania Paz; Yara Bernaldo de Quirós; Eva Sierra; Manuel Arbelo; Pedro Herráez; Antonio Fernández. 2020. "Amyloid-beta peptide and phosphorylated tau in the frontopolar cerebral cortex and in the cerebellum of toothed whales: aging vs hypoxia." Biology Open 9, no. 11: 1.

Case report
Published: 20 December 2019 in Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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The main objective of wildlife forensic investigation is to recognize pathologic changes and cause of death. Even though it may not always be possible to determine the specific illness and/or etiology, the description and subsequent interpretation of the injuries provide an invaluable understanding of pathology in cetacean post-mortem investigations. Although pathological studies have been previously reported in various cetacean species, such descriptions of the infraorder Mysticeti remain rare. A live-stranded neonatal Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) which subsequently died soon after the stranding, was assessed by physical exam, blood examination, gross necropsy evaluation, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. It presented with elevated serum levels of creatine kinase, cardiac troponin I, urea, and creatinine. Microscopically, we observed keratin spicules (squamous epithelial cells) and areas of atelectasis in the lungs. Acute degeneration in the myocytes and cardiomyocytes were comparable to the findings previously described in cases of capture myopathy in live-stranded cetaceans. Immunohistochemistry biomarkers such as myoglobin, fibrinogen, and troponin were analyzed. Skeletal and myocardial damage has been documented in several cetacean species. However, this is the first reported case of skeletal and cardiac rhabdomyolysis associated with live-stranding in a newborn Bryde's whale that suffered from fetal distress.

ACS Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; Cristian Manuel Suárez-Santana; Raquel Puig-Lozano; Manuel Arbelo; Pedro Herráez. Skeletal and Cardiac Rhabdomyolysis in a Live-Stranded Neonatal Bryde's Whale With Fetal Distress. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2019, 6, 1 .

AMA Style

Nakita Câmara, Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernandez, Cristian Manuel Suárez-Santana, Raquel Puig-Lozano, Manuel Arbelo, Pedro Herráez. Skeletal and Cardiac Rhabdomyolysis in a Live-Stranded Neonatal Bryde's Whale With Fetal Distress. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2019; 6 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; Cristian Manuel Suárez-Santana; Raquel Puig-Lozano; Manuel Arbelo; Pedro Herráez. 2019. "Skeletal and Cardiac Rhabdomyolysis in a Live-Stranded Neonatal Bryde's Whale With Fetal Distress." Frontiers in Veterinary Science 6, no. : 1.

Paper
Published: 07 December 2019 in Veterinary Record
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Background Free-living cetaceans are exposed to a wide variety of stressful situations, including live stranding and interaction with human beings (capture myopathy), vessel strikes, and fishing activities (bycatch), which affect their wellbeing and potentially lead to stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP). Methods Here, the authors aimed to characterise SCMP of stranded cetaceans as an injury resulting from extreme stress responses, based on pathological analyses (histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical). Specifically, the authors examined heart samples from 67 cetaceans found ashore (48 live strandings, seven dead from ship collision and 12 dead from bycatch) on the coast of Spain, more specifically in the Canary Islands from 2000 to 2016 and Andalusia from 2011 to 2014. Results The microscopic findings were characterised by vascular changes, acute or subacute cardiac degenerative necrotic lesions, interstitial myoglobin globules, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemically, cardiac troponin I, cardiac troponin C and myoglobin were depleted, along with fibrinogen being expressed in the degenerated/necrotic cardiomyocytes. A perivascular pattern was also identified and described in the damaged cardiomyocytes. Conclusions This study advances current knowledge about the pathologies of cetaceans and their implications on conserving this group of animals by reducing mortality and enhancing their treatment and subsequent rehabilitation to the marine environment.

ACS Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Carolina Fernández-Maldonado; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Manuel Arbelo; Antonio Fernandez; Pedro Herráez. Stress cardiomyopathy in stranded cetaceans: a histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study. Veterinary Record 2019, 185, 694 -694.

AMA Style

Nakita Câmara, Eva Sierra, Carolina Fernández-Maldonado, Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros, Manuel Arbelo, Antonio Fernandez, Pedro Herráez. Stress cardiomyopathy in stranded cetaceans: a histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study. Veterinary Record. 2019; 185 (22):694-694.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Carolina Fernández-Maldonado; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Manuel Arbelo; Antonio Fernandez; Pedro Herráez. 2019. "Stress cardiomyopathy in stranded cetaceans: a histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study." Veterinary Record 185, no. 22: 694-694.

Case report
Published: 21 October 2019 in BMC Veterinary Research
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Background Brucella spp. isolation is increasingly reported in cetaceans, although associated pathologies, including lesions of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, are less frequently described. Concerning the nervous system, Brucella sp. infection causing meningitis, meningoencephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis have been extensively reported in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), and less frequently in other cetacean species. Case presentation A juvenile female common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found stranded alive in Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) in 2005, but died shortly after. On physical examination, the dolphin showed a moderate body condition and was classified as code 2 (fresh dead) at the time of necropsy. The main gross findings were severe multiorgan parasitism, thickened and congested leptomeninges, and (sero)fibrino-suppurative and proliferative arthritis of the shoulder joint. Histopathological examination revealed the distinct features of a sub-acute systemic disease associated with Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) infection. However, brain lesions diverged from those reported in systemic CeMV infection. This led to suspect that there was a coinfecting pathogen, based on the characteristics of the inflammatory response and the lesion distribution pattern in the central nervous system. Brucella sp. was detected in the brain tissue by PCR and Brucella antigen was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in the brain and shoulder joint lesions. Conclusions The zoonotic potential of marine mammal strains of Brucella has been demonstrated both in natural and laboratory conditions. In this study, PCR detected Brucella sp. in the brain of a common bottlenose dolphin stranded in the Canary Islands; the dolphin was also co-infected with CeMV. This is the first detection of Brucella sp. infection in a stranded cetacean in this archipelago. Therefore, we stress the importance of taking adequate measures during the handling of these species to prevent the transmissions of the infection to humans.

ACS Style

Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernández; Idaira Felipe-Jiménez; Daniele Zucca; Gabriella Di Francesco; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Simona Sacchini; Miguel A. Rivero; Manuel Arbelo. Neurobrucellosis in a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Canary Islands. BMC Veterinary Research 2019, 15, 353 -8.

AMA Style

Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernández, Idaira Felipe-Jiménez, Daniele Zucca, Gabriella Di Francesco, Josué Díaz-Delgado, Simona Sacchini, Miguel A. Rivero, Manuel Arbelo. Neurobrucellosis in a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Canary Islands. BMC Veterinary Research. 2019; 15 (1):353-8.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernández; Idaira Felipe-Jiménez; Daniele Zucca; Gabriella Di Francesco; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Simona Sacchini; Miguel A. Rivero; Manuel Arbelo. 2019. "Neurobrucellosis in a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Canary Islands." BMC Veterinary Research 15, no. 1: 353-8.

Article
Published: 06 October 2019 in The Anatomical Record
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The prostate is the only male accessory gland in cetaceans. However, little is known about this organ in these species. Anatomical and histological characteristics of the prostate have been described in only a few cetacean species, further, one study reported a high incidence of prostatic pathologies in cetaceans that may impair reproduction. The objective of this work was to describe and compare the morphological, histological, and cytological characteristics of the prostate in different odontocete cetaceans. To this end, the prostate glands of 47 animals from nine different species of cetaceans were macroscopically and microscopically studied. Members of the families Delphinidae, Ziphiidae, and Physeteridae were included. In general, the prostate appeared as a musculo‐glandular organ with two distinct parts—the Corpus prostatae and the Pars disseminata prostatae. In the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and the Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), the prostate was a discrete gland with a small Corpus prostatae. Microscopically, the prostates of different delphinids species shared similarities; however, the prostate of the pygmy sperm whale revealed significant histological differences compared to those of the delphinids. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using low‐ and high‐molecular‐weight cytokeratin, vimentin, and prostatic specific antigen commercial antibodies. Electron microscopy analysis was performed on the prostate of a bottlenose dolphin and the cytomorphological differences among the major epithelial components of the prostatic epithelium were described. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy

ACS Style

Cristian M. Suárez‐Santana; Antonio Fernández; Eva Sierra; Manuel Arbelo; Yara Bernaldo De Quirós; Marisa Andrada; Blanca Mompeo; Lilian Pérez; Alfonso Blanco; Aniceto Méndez; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Miguel A. Rivero. Comparative morphology, histology, and cytology of odontocete cetaceans prostates. The Anatomical Record 2019, 303, 2036 -2053.

AMA Style

Cristian M. Suárez‐Santana, Antonio Fernández, Eva Sierra, Manuel Arbelo, Yara Bernaldo De Quirós, Marisa Andrada, Blanca Mompeo, Lilian Pérez, Alfonso Blanco, Aniceto Méndez, Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros, Miguel A. Rivero. Comparative morphology, histology, and cytology of odontocete cetaceans prostates. The Anatomical Record. 2019; 303 (7):2036-2053.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cristian M. Suárez‐Santana; Antonio Fernández; Eva Sierra; Manuel Arbelo; Yara Bernaldo De Quirós; Marisa Andrada; Blanca Mompeo; Lilian Pérez; Alfonso Blanco; Aniceto Méndez; Antonio Espinosa De Los Monteros; Miguel A. Rivero. 2019. "Comparative morphology, histology, and cytology of odontocete cetaceans prostates." The Anatomical Record 303, no. 7: 2036-2053.

Immunology
Published: 01 October 2019 in Frontiers in Immunology
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Editorial: Comparative Immunology of Marine Mammals

ACS Style

Giovanni Di Guardo; Michael Frederick Criscitiello; Eva Sierra; Sandro Mazzariol. Editorial: Comparative Immunology of Marine Mammals. Frontiers in Immunology 2019, 10, 1 .

AMA Style

Giovanni Di Guardo, Michael Frederick Criscitiello, Eva Sierra, Sandro Mazzariol. Editorial: Comparative Immunology of Marine Mammals. Frontiers in Immunology. 2019; 10 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giovanni Di Guardo; Michael Frederick Criscitiello; Eva Sierra; Sandro Mazzariol. 2019. "Editorial: Comparative Immunology of Marine Mammals." Frontiers in Immunology 10, no. : 1.

Original research article
Published: 03 July 2019 in Frontiers in Marine Science
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Strikes between vessels and cetaceans have significantly increased worldwide in the last decades. The Canary Islands archipelago is a geographical area with an important overlap of high cetacean diversity and maritime traffic, including high-speed ferries. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), currently listed as a vulnerable species, are severely impacted by ship strikes. Nearly 60% of sperm whales’ deaths are due to ship strikes in the Canary Islands. In such cases, subcutaneous, muscular and visceral extensive hemorrhages and hematomas, indicate unequivocal antemortem trauma. However, when carcasses are highly autolyzed, it is challenging to distinguish whether the trauma occurred ante- or post-mortem. The presence of fat emboli within the lung microvasculature is used to determine a severe “in vivo” trauma in other species. We hypothesized fat emboli detection could be a feasible, reliable and accurate forensic tool to determine ante-mortem ship strikes in stranded sperm whales, even in decomposed carcasses. In this study, we evaluated the presence of fat emboli by using an osmium tetroxide (OsO4)-based histochemical technique in lung tissue of 24 sperm whales, 16 of them with evidence of ship strike, stranded and necropsied in the Canaries between 2000 and 2017. About 70% of them presented an advanced autolysis. Histological examination revealed the presence of OsO4-positive fat emboli in 13 out of the 16 sperm whales with signs of ship strike, and two out of eight of the “control” group, with varying degrees of abundance and distribution. A classification and regression tree was developed to assess the cut off of fat emboli area determining the high or low probability for diagnosing ship-strikes, with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 100%. The results demonstrated: (1) the usefulness of fat detection as a diagnostic tool for “in vivo” trauma, even in decomposed tissues kept in formaldehyde for long periods of time; and (2) that, during this 18-year period, at least, 81% of the sperm whales with signs of ship strike were alive at the moment of the strike and died subsequently. This information is highly valuable in order to implement proper mitigation measures in this area.

ACS Style

Marina Arregui; Yara Bernaldo De Quirós; Pedro Saavedra; Eva Sierra; Cristian M. Suárez-Santana; Manuel Arbelo; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Raquel Puig-Lozano; Marisa Andrada; Antonio Fernandez. Fat Embolism and Sperm Whale Ship Strikes. Frontiers in Marine Science 2019, 6, 1 .

AMA Style

Marina Arregui, Yara Bernaldo De Quirós, Pedro Saavedra, Eva Sierra, Cristian M. Suárez-Santana, Manuel Arbelo, Josué Díaz-Delgado, Raquel Puig-Lozano, Marisa Andrada, Antonio Fernandez. Fat Embolism and Sperm Whale Ship Strikes. Frontiers in Marine Science. 2019; 6 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marina Arregui; Yara Bernaldo De Quirós; Pedro Saavedra; Eva Sierra; Cristian M. Suárez-Santana; Manuel Arbelo; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Raquel Puig-Lozano; Marisa Andrada; Antonio Fernandez. 2019. "Fat Embolism and Sperm Whale Ship Strikes." Frontiers in Marine Science 6, no. : 1.

Original research article
Published: 24 April 2019 in Frontiers in Immunology
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Immunology of marine mammals is a relatively understudied field and its monitoring plays an important role in the individual and group management of these animals, along with an increasing value as an environmental health indicator. This study was aimed at implementing the knowledge on the immune response in cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline to provide a baseline useful for assessing the immune status of bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins. In particular, since the Mediterranean Sea is considered a heavily polluted basin, a comparison with animals living in open waters such as the Atlantic Ocean was made. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded spleen, thymus, and lymph node tissues from 16 animals stranded along Italian and 11 cetaceans from the Canary Island shores were sampled within 48 h from death. Information regarding stranding sites, gender, and age as well as virologic, microbiological, and parasitological investigations, and the cause and/or the death mechanism were also collected in order to carry out statistical analyses. Selected tissues were routinely stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and with immunohistochemical techniques (IHC). For IHC analysis, anti-human CD5 monoclonal mouse antibody to identify T lymphocytes, CD20 monoclonal mouse antibody for the identification of mature B lymphocytes and HLA-DR antigen (alpha-chain) monoclonal mouse antibody for the identification of the major histocompatibility complex type II were previously validated for both species by Western-blotting technique. T-test method applied to quantitative evaluation of IHC positive cells showed a significant relationship between the number of (expression) of CD20 stained lymphocytes and normal and hypoplastic lymph nodes, respectively. No other significant correlations were noticed. Analyses for organochlorines (OC) compounds were performed in animals (n°5) having frozen blubber tissue available. A simple linear regression was calculated to predict if the amount of OCs could influence the number of inflammatory cell subpopulations and a moderate negative correlation was found between the presence of high quantity of contaminants and the number of T lymphocytes. Future analysis should be aimed to understand the effect of the major immunomodulatory pathogens on sub-populations of B and T cells.

ACS Style

Cinzia Centelleghe; Laura Da Dalt; Letizia Marsili; Rossella Zanetti; Antonio Fernandez; Manuel Arbelo; Eva Sierra; Massimo Castagnaro; Giovanni Di Guardo; Sandro Mazzariol. Insights Into Dolphins' Immunology: Immuno-Phenotypic Study on Mediterranean and Atlantic Stranded Cetaceans. Frontiers in Immunology 2019, 10, 1 .

AMA Style

Cinzia Centelleghe, Laura Da Dalt, Letizia Marsili, Rossella Zanetti, Antonio Fernandez, Manuel Arbelo, Eva Sierra, Massimo Castagnaro, Giovanni Di Guardo, Sandro Mazzariol. Insights Into Dolphins' Immunology: Immuno-Phenotypic Study on Mediterranean and Atlantic Stranded Cetaceans. Frontiers in Immunology. 2019; 10 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cinzia Centelleghe; Laura Da Dalt; Letizia Marsili; Rossella Zanetti; Antonio Fernandez; Manuel Arbelo; Eva Sierra; Massimo Castagnaro; Giovanni Di Guardo; Sandro Mazzariol. 2019. "Insights Into Dolphins' Immunology: Immuno-Phenotypic Study on Mediterranean and Atlantic Stranded Cetaceans." Frontiers in Immunology 10, no. : 1.

Original article
Published: 13 April 2019 in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
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Brucella‐exposure and infection is increasingly recognized in marine mammals worldwide. To better understand the epidemiology and health impacts of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of Brazil, molecular (conventional PCR and/or real‐time PCR), serological (Rose Bengal Test [RBT], Competitive [c]ELISA, Serum Agglutination Test [SAT]), pathological, immunohistochemical (IHC) and/or microbiological investigations were conducted in samples of 129 stranded or by‐caught marine mammals (orders Cetartiodactyla [n = 124], Carnivora [n = 4] and Sirenia [n = 1]). Previous serological tests performed on available sera of 27 of the 129 animals (26 cetaceans and one manatee), indicated 10 seropositive cetaceans. Conventional PCR and/or real‐time PCR performed in cases with available organs (n = 119) and/or blood or swabs (n = 10) revealed 4/129 (3.1%) Brucella‐infected cetaceans (one of them with positive serology; the remaining three with no available sera). Pathological, IHC and/or microbiological analyses conducted in PCR/real‐time PCR and/or seropositive cases (n = 13) revealed Brucella‐type lesions, including meningitis/meningoencephalitis, pneumonia, necrotizing hepatitis, pericarditis and osteoarthritis in some of those animals, and positive IHC was found in all of them (excepting two live‐stranded animals without available organs). Brucella spp. culture attempts were unsuccessful. Our results demonstrated exposure, asymptomatic, acute and chronic Brucella sp. infection in several cetacean species in the Brazilian coast, highlighting the role of this pathogen in stranding and/or death, particularly in Clymene dolphin (Stenella clymene) and short‐finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off Ceará State. Novel hosts susceptible to Brucella included the franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei), the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) and the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). Additionally, three coinfection cases involving Brucella spp. and cetacean morbillivirus, Edwarsiella tarda and Proteus mirabilis were detected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first long‐term and large‐scale survey of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of South America, widening the spectrum of susceptible hosts and geographical distribution range of this agent with zoonotic potential.

ACS Style

Angélica M. Sánchez‐Sarmiento; Vitor L. Carvalho; Josué Díaz‐Delgado; Rodrigo A. Ressio; Natália C. C. A. Fernandes; Juliana M. Guerra; Carlos Sacristán; Kátia R. Groch; Natalia Silvestre‐Perez; Eduardo Ferreira‐Machado; Samira Costa‐Silva; Pedro Navas-Suárez; Ana C. O. Meirelles; Cintia Favero; Juliana Marigo; Carolina P. Bertozzi; Adriana C. Colosio; Milton C. C. Marcondes; Marta J. Cremer; Nairléia Dos Santos Silva; Jose Soares Ferreira Neto; Lara B. Keid; Rodrigo Soares; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; José L. Catão‐Dias. Molecular, serological, pathological, immunohistochemical and microbiological investigation of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of Brazil reveals new cetacean hosts. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2019, 66, 1674 -1692.

AMA Style

Angélica M. Sánchez‐Sarmiento, Vitor L. Carvalho, Josué Díaz‐Delgado, Rodrigo A. Ressio, Natália C. C. A. Fernandes, Juliana M. Guerra, Carlos Sacristán, Kátia R. Groch, Natalia Silvestre‐Perez, Eduardo Ferreira‐Machado, Samira Costa‐Silva, Pedro Navas-Suárez, Ana C. O. Meirelles, Cintia Favero, Juliana Marigo, Carolina P. Bertozzi, Adriana C. Colosio, Milton C. C. Marcondes, Marta J. Cremer, Nairléia Dos Santos Silva, Jose Soares Ferreira Neto, Lara B. Keid, Rodrigo Soares, Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernandez, José L. Catão‐Dias. Molecular, serological, pathological, immunohistochemical and microbiological investigation of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of Brazil reveals new cetacean hosts. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2019; 66 (4):1674-1692.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Angélica M. Sánchez‐Sarmiento; Vitor L. Carvalho; Josué Díaz‐Delgado; Rodrigo A. Ressio; Natália C. C. A. Fernandes; Juliana M. Guerra; Carlos Sacristán; Kátia R. Groch; Natalia Silvestre‐Perez; Eduardo Ferreira‐Machado; Samira Costa‐Silva; Pedro Navas-Suárez; Ana C. O. Meirelles; Cintia Favero; Juliana Marigo; Carolina P. Bertozzi; Adriana C. Colosio; Milton C. C. Marcondes; Marta J. Cremer; Nairléia Dos Santos Silva; Jose Soares Ferreira Neto; Lara B. Keid; Rodrigo Soares; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; José L. Catão‐Dias. 2019. "Molecular, serological, pathological, immunohistochemical and microbiological investigation of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of Brazil reveals new cetacean hosts." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 66, no. 4: 1674-1692.

Comparative study
Published: 20 March 2019 in PLoS ONE
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Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a major natural cause of morbidity and mortality in cetaceans worldwide and results in epidemic and endemic fatalities. The pathogenesis of CeMV has not been fully elucidated, and questions remain regarding tissue tropism and the mechanisms of immunosuppression. We compared the histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical features in molecularly confirmed CeMV-infected Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from the Southwestern Atlantic (Brazil) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Northeast-Central Atlantic (Canary Islands, Spain) and the Western Mediterranean Sea (Italy). Major emphasis was placed on the central nervous system (CNS), including neuroanatomical distribution of lesions, and the lymphoid system and lung were also examined. Eleven Guiana dolphins, 13 striped dolphins, and 3 bottlenose dolphins were selected by defined criteria. CeMV infections showed a remarkable neurotropism in striped dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, while this was a rare feature in CeMV-infected Guiana dolphins. Neuroanatomical distribution of lesions in dolphins stranded in the Canary Islands revealed a consistent involvement of the cerebrum, thalamus, and cerebellum, followed by caudal brainstem and spinal cord. In most cases, Guiana dolphins had more severe lung lesions. The lymphoid system was involved in all three species, with consistent lymphoid depletion. Multinucleate giant cells/syncytia and characteristic viral inclusion bodies were variably observed in these organs. Overall, there was widespread lymphohistiocytic, epithelial, and neuronal/neuroglial viral antigen immunolabeling with some individual, host species, and CeMV strain differences. Preexisting and opportunistic infections were common, particularly endoparasitism, followed by bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. These results contribute to understanding CeMV infections in susceptible cetacean hosts in relation to factors such as CeMV strains and geographic locations, thereby establishing the basis for future neuro- and immunopathological comparative investigations.

ACS Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado; Kátia R. Groch; Eva Sierra; Simona Sacchini; Daniele Zucca; Óscar Quesada-Canales; Manuel Arbelo; Antonio Fernandez; Elitieri Santos; Joana Ikeda; Rafael Carvalho; Alexandre F. Azevedo; Jose Lailson-Brito Jr; Leonardo Flach; Rodrigo Ressio; Cristina T. Kanamura; Marcelo Sansone; Cíntia Favero; Brian F. Porter; Cinzia Centelleghe; Sandro Mazzariol; Ludovica Di Renzo; Gabriella Di Francesco; Giovanni Di Guardo; José Luiz Catão-Dias. Comparative histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical studies on CeMV infection among Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic cetaceans. PLoS ONE 2019, 14, e0213363 .

AMA Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado, Kátia R. Groch, Eva Sierra, Simona Sacchini, Daniele Zucca, Óscar Quesada-Canales, Manuel Arbelo, Antonio Fernandez, Elitieri Santos, Joana Ikeda, Rafael Carvalho, Alexandre F. Azevedo, Jose Lailson-Brito Jr, Leonardo Flach, Rodrigo Ressio, Cristina T. Kanamura, Marcelo Sansone, Cíntia Favero, Brian F. Porter, Cinzia Centelleghe, Sandro Mazzariol, Ludovica Di Renzo, Gabriella Di Francesco, Giovanni Di Guardo, José Luiz Catão-Dias. Comparative histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical studies on CeMV infection among Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic cetaceans. PLoS ONE. 2019; 14 (3):e0213363.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado; Kátia R. Groch; Eva Sierra; Simona Sacchini; Daniele Zucca; Óscar Quesada-Canales; Manuel Arbelo; Antonio Fernandez; Elitieri Santos; Joana Ikeda; Rafael Carvalho; Alexandre F. Azevedo; Jose Lailson-Brito Jr; Leonardo Flach; Rodrigo Ressio; Cristina T. Kanamura; Marcelo Sansone; Cíntia Favero; Brian F. Porter; Cinzia Centelleghe; Sandro Mazzariol; Ludovica Di Renzo; Gabriella Di Francesco; Giovanni Di Guardo; José Luiz Catão-Dias. 2019. "Comparative histopathologic and viral immunohistochemical studies on CeMV infection among Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic cetaceans." PLoS ONE 14, no. 3: e0213363.

Original research article
Published: 18 March 2019 in Frontiers in Immunology
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Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV; Paramyxoviridae) causes epizootic and interepizootic fatalities in odontocetes and mysticetes worldwide. Studies suggest there is different species-specific susceptibility to CeMV infection, with striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) ranking among the most susceptible cetacean hosts. The pathogenesis of CeMV infection is not fully resolved. Since no previous studies have evaluated the organ-specific immunopathogenetic features of CeMV infection in tissues from infected dolphins, this study was aimed at characterizing and comparing immunophenotypic profiles of local immune responses in lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen), lung and CNS in CeMV-molecularly (RT-PCR)-positive cetaceans from Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses targeted molecules of immunologic interest: caspase 3, CD3, CD20, CD57, CD68, FoxP3, MHCII, Iba1, IFNγ, IgG, IL4, IL10, lysozyme, TGFβ, and PAX5. We detected consistent CeMV-associated inflammatory response patterns. Within CNS, inflammation was dominated by CD3+ (T cells), and CD20+ and PAX5+ (B cells) lymphocytes, accompanied by fewer Iba1+, CD68+, and lysozyme+ histiocytes, mainly in striped dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Multicentric lymphoid depletion was characterized by reduced numbers of T cells and B cells, more pronounced in Guiana dolphins. Striped dolphins and bottlenose dolphins often had hyperplastic (regenerative) phenomena involving the aforementioned cell populations, particularly chronically infected animals. In the lung, there was mild to moderate increase in T cells, B cells, and histiocytes. Additionally, there was a generalized increased expression of caspase 3 in lymphoid, lung, and CNS tissues. Apoptosis, therefore, is believed to play a major role in generalized lymphoid depletion and likely overt immunosuppression during CeMV infection. No differences were detected regarding cytokine immunoreactivity in lymph nodes, spleen, and lung from infected and non-infected dolphins by semiquantitative analysis; however, there was striking immunoreactivity for IFNγ in the CNS of infected dolphins. These novel results set the basis for tissue-specific immunophenotypic responses during CeMV infection in three highly susceptible delphinid species. They also suggest a complex interplay between viral and host's immune factors, thereby contributing to gain valuable insights into similarities, and differences of CeMV infection's immunopathogenesis in relation to body tissues, CeMV strains, and cetacean hosts.

ACS Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado; Kátia R. Groch; Rodrigo Ressio; Isis P. J. Riskallah; Eva Sierra; Simona Sacchini; Óscar Quesada-Canales; Manuel Arbelo; Antonio Fernandez; Elitieri Santos-Neto; Joana Ikeda; Rafael Ramos De Carvalho; Alexandre De Freitas Azevedo; Jose Brito; Leonardo Flach; Cristina T. Kanamura; Natália C. C. A. Fernandes; Bruno Cogliati; Cinzia Centelleghe; Sandro Mazzariol; Ludovica Di Renzo; Gabriella Di Francesco; Giovanni Di Guardo; José Luiz Catão-Dias. Comparative Immunopathology of Cetacean morbillivirus Infection in Free-Ranging Dolphins From Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic. Frontiers in Immunology 2019, 10, 485 .

AMA Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado, Kátia R. Groch, Rodrigo Ressio, Isis P. J. Riskallah, Eva Sierra, Simona Sacchini, Óscar Quesada-Canales, Manuel Arbelo, Antonio Fernandez, Elitieri Santos-Neto, Joana Ikeda, Rafael Ramos De Carvalho, Alexandre De Freitas Azevedo, Jose Brito, Leonardo Flach, Cristina T. Kanamura, Natália C. C. A. Fernandes, Bruno Cogliati, Cinzia Centelleghe, Sandro Mazzariol, Ludovica Di Renzo, Gabriella Di Francesco, Giovanni Di Guardo, José Luiz Catão-Dias. Comparative Immunopathology of Cetacean morbillivirus Infection in Free-Ranging Dolphins From Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic. Frontiers in Immunology. 2019; 10 ():485.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado; Kátia R. Groch; Rodrigo Ressio; Isis P. J. Riskallah; Eva Sierra; Simona Sacchini; Óscar Quesada-Canales; Manuel Arbelo; Antonio Fernandez; Elitieri Santos-Neto; Joana Ikeda; Rafael Ramos De Carvalho; Alexandre De Freitas Azevedo; Jose Brito; Leonardo Flach; Cristina T. Kanamura; Natália C. C. A. Fernandes; Bruno Cogliati; Cinzia Centelleghe; Sandro Mazzariol; Ludovica Di Renzo; Gabriella Di Francesco; Giovanni Di Guardo; José Luiz Catão-Dias. 2019. "Comparative Immunopathology of Cetacean morbillivirus Infection in Free-Ranging Dolphins From Western Mediterranean, Northeast-Central, and Southwestern Atlantic." Frontiers in Immunology 10, no. : 485.

Review article
Published: 30 January 2019 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
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Mass stranding events (MSEs) of beaked whales (BWs) were extremely rare prior to the 1960s but increased markedly after the development of naval mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). The temporal and spatial associations between atypical BW MSEs and naval exercises were first observed in the Canary Islands, Spain, in the mid-1980s. Further research on BWs stranded in association with naval exercises demonstrated pathological findings consistent with decompression sickness (DCS). A 2004 ban on MFASs around the Canary Islands successfully prevented additional BW MSEs in the region, but atypical MSEs have continued in other places of the world, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, with examined individuals showing DCS. A workshop held in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, in September 2017 reviewed current knowledge on BW atypical MSEs associated with MFAS. Our review suggests that the effects of MFAS on BWs vary among individuals or populations, and predisposing factors may contribute to individual outcomes. Spatial management specific to BW habitat, such as the MFAS ban in the Canary Islands, has proven to be an effective mitigation tool and mitigation measures should be established in other areas taking into consideration known population-level information.

ACS Style

Y. Bernaldo De Quirós; A. Fernandez; Robin Baird; R. L. Brownell; N. Aguilar De Soto; D. Allen; M. Arbelo; M. Arregui; A. Costidis; Andreas Fahlman; A. Frantzis; F. M. D. Gulland; M. Iñíguez; M. Johnson; A. Komnenou; H. Koopman; D. A. Pabst; W. D. Roe; Eva Sierra; M. Tejedor; G. Schorr. Advances in research on the impacts of anti-submarine sonar on beaked whales. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2019, 286, 20182533 .

AMA Style

Y. Bernaldo De Quirós, A. Fernandez, Robin Baird, R. L. Brownell, N. Aguilar De Soto, D. Allen, M. Arbelo, M. Arregui, A. Costidis, Andreas Fahlman, A. Frantzis, F. M. D. Gulland, M. Iñíguez, M. Johnson, A. Komnenou, H. Koopman, D. A. Pabst, W. D. Roe, Eva Sierra, M. Tejedor, G. Schorr. Advances in research on the impacts of anti-submarine sonar on beaked whales. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2019; 286 (1895):20182533.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Y. Bernaldo De Quirós; A. Fernandez; Robin Baird; R. L. Brownell; N. Aguilar De Soto; D. Allen; M. Arbelo; M. Arregui; A. Costidis; Andreas Fahlman; A. Frantzis; F. M. D. Gulland; M. Iñíguez; M. Johnson; A. Komnenou; H. Koopman; D. A. Pabst; W. D. Roe; Eva Sierra; M. Tejedor; G. Schorr. 2019. "Advances in research on the impacts of anti-submarine sonar on beaked whales." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 286, no. 1895: 20182533.

Cover image
Published: 22 January 2019 in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
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ACS Style

Kátia R. Groch; Karina R. Groch; Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas; Pedro V. De Castilho; Luciana M. P. Moreira; Cecil R. M. B. Barros; Camila R. Morais; Eduardo P. Renault-Braga; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; José L. Catão-Dias; Josué Díaz-Delgado. Cover Image. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2019, 66, 1 .

AMA Style

Kátia R. Groch, Karina R. Groch, Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas, Pedro V. De Castilho, Luciana M. P. Moreira, Cecil R. M. B. Barros, Camila R. Morais, Eduardo P. Renault-Braga, Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernandez, José L. Catão-Dias, Josué Díaz-Delgado. Cover Image. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2019; 66 (1):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kátia R. Groch; Karina R. Groch; Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas; Pedro V. De Castilho; Luciana M. P. Moreira; Cecil R. M. B. Barros; Camila R. Morais; Eduardo P. Renault-Braga; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; José L. Catão-Dias; Josué Díaz-Delgado. 2019. "Cover Image." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 66, no. 1: 1.

Short communication
Published: 26 October 2018 in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
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Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) has caused repeated epizootics and interepizootic fatalities in a variety of cetacean species worldwide. Recently, a novel CeMV strain (GD‐CeMV) was linked to a mass die‐off of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Brazil. Southern right whales (SRWs; Eubalaena australis) migrate to the southern Brazilian coast during austral winter and spring (June through November) for breeding and calving. Because unexplained high calf mortality rates have recurrently been documented in SRWs, we hypothesized they could be infected with CeMV. We developed a novel real time RT‐PCR method based on SYBR® GREEN for detection of CeMV and identified the virus in 3 out of 5 stranded SRWs from Santa Catarina state, Brazil. The partial sequences of the morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene suggest that the virus is similar to the GD‐CeMV strain. Our results indicate CeMV can infect SRWs and should be considered in the differential etiologic diagnosis of infectious diseases in this species. It also raises concern for potential conservation implications for this species in its main coastal breeding area off Southern Brazil. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

ACS Style

Kátia R. Groch; Karina R. Groch; Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas; Pedro V. De Castilho; Luciana M. P. Moreira; Cecil R. M. B. Barros; Camila R. Morais; Eduardo Renault-Braga; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; José L. Catão‐Dias; Josué Díaz‐Delgado. Cetacean morbillivirus in Southern Right Whales, Brazil. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2018, 66, 606 -610.

AMA Style

Kátia R. Groch, Karina R. Groch, Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas, Pedro V. De Castilho, Luciana M. P. Moreira, Cecil R. M. B. Barros, Camila R. Morais, Eduardo Renault-Braga, Eva Sierra, Antonio Fernandez, José L. Catão‐Dias, Josué Díaz‐Delgado. Cetacean morbillivirus in Southern Right Whales, Brazil. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2018; 66 (1):606-610.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kátia R. Groch; Karina R. Groch; Cristiane K. M. Kolesnikovas; Pedro V. De Castilho; Luciana M. P. Moreira; Cecil R. M. B. Barros; Camila R. Morais; Eduardo Renault-Braga; Eva Sierra; Antonio Fernandez; José L. Catão‐Dias; Josué Díaz‐Delgado. 2018. "Cetacean morbillivirus in Southern Right Whales, Brazil." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 66, no. 1: 606-610.

Research article
Published: 05 October 2018 in PLoS ONE
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This study describes the pathologic findings and most probable causes of death (CD) of 224 cetaceans stranded along the coastline of the Canary Islands (Spain) over a 7-year period, 2006–2012. Most probable CD, grouped as pathologic categories (PCs), was identified in 208/224 (92.8%) examined animals. Within natural PCs, those associated with good nutritional status represented 70/208 (33.6%), whereas, those associated with significant loss of nutritional status represented 49/208 (23.5%). Fatal intra- and interspecific traumatic interactions were 37/208 (17.8%). Vessel collisions included 24/208 (11.5%). Neonatal/perinatal pathology involved 13/208 (6.2%). Fatal interaction with fishing activities comprised 10/208 (4.8%). Within anthropogenic PCs, foreign body-associated pathology represented 5/208 (2.4%). A CD could not be determined in 16/208 (7.7%) cases. Natural PCs were dominated by infectious and parasitic disease processes. Herein, our results suggest that between 2006 and 2012, in the Canary Islands, direct human activity appeared responsible for 19% of cetaceans deaths, while natural pathologies accounted for 81%. These results, integrating novel findings and published reports, aid in delineating baseline knowledge on cetacean pathology and may be of value to rehabilitators, caregivers, diagnosticians and future conservation policies.

ACS Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado; Antonio Fernández; Eva Sierra; Simona Sacchini; Marisa Andrada; Ana Isabel Vela; Óscar Quesada-Canales; Yania Paz; Daniele Zucca; Kátia Groch; Manuel Arbelo. Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012). PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0204444 .

AMA Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado, Antonio Fernández, Eva Sierra, Simona Sacchini, Marisa Andrada, Ana Isabel Vela, Óscar Quesada-Canales, Yania Paz, Daniele Zucca, Kátia Groch, Manuel Arbelo. Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012). PLoS ONE. 2018; 13 (10):e0204444.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Josué Díaz-Delgado; Antonio Fernández; Eva Sierra; Simona Sacchini; Marisa Andrada; Ana Isabel Vela; Óscar Quesada-Canales; Yania Paz; Daniele Zucca; Kátia Groch; Manuel Arbelo. 2018. "Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012)." PLoS ONE 13, no. 10: e0204444.