Bringing Virtual Microscopy to Marine Bringing Virtual Microscopy to Marine Conservation: An Ocean of PossibilitiesConservation: An Ocean of Possibilities

Presenter: Margaret Rotstein, MSPresenter: Margaret Rotstein, MSSenior Research AnalystSenior Research Analyst

NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR)NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR)

Synthesis Professional Services, Inc.

IntroductionIntroduction• The world’s oceans are increasingly threatened by impacts The world’s oceans are increasingly threatened by impacts

from pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, diseases, and from pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, diseases, and global climate changeglobal climate change

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been given the responsibility of protecting marine (NOAA) has been given the responsibility of protecting marine animals through science-based conservation and animals through science-based conservation and managementmanagement

• Two of these programs, Coral Health and Disease Two of these programs, Coral Health and Disease Consortium (CHDC) and the Marine Mammal Health and Consortium (CHDC) and the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) have cooperated Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) have cooperated to to improve the technology of sharing informationimprove the technology of sharing information on the on the histology and pathology of marine animals; particularly histology and pathology of marine animals; particularly corals corals and marine mammalsand marine mammals

Funding provided by:Funding provided by:

Marine Mammal Health and Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response ProgramStranding Response Program

andand

Coral Health and Coral Health and Disease ConsortiumDisease Consortium

Goals of Coral Health and Disease Goals of Coral Health and Disease Consortium (CHDC) Consortium (CHDC)

• Detect and assess trends in coral Detect and assess trends in coral diseases at the necessary scales for diseases at the necessary scales for scientific investigation and policy scientific investigation and policy development. development.

• Determine the causes and Determine the causes and consequences of increasing disease consequences of increasing disease frequency and distribution. frequency and distribution.

• Evaluate possible management Evaluate possible management responses designed to mitigate the responses designed to mitigate the spread and affects of disease on spread and affects of disease on coral reef ecosystems and their coral reef ecosystems and their users.users.

Goals of Marine Mammal Health and Goals of Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP)

• Facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference data Facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference data on health and health trends on health and health trends

• Correlate the health and health trends with physical, Correlate the health and health trends with physical, chemical and biological environmental parameterschemical and biological environmental parameters

• Coordinate effective responses to Coordinate effective responses to Unusual Mortality Events Unusual Mortality Events ((a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response))

The Challenge

• A global community of researchers require an efficient, A global community of researchers require an efficient,

low-cost solution to:low-cost solution to: consult with each other on unique casesconsult with each other on unique cases educate students and other scientistseducate students and other scientistsrapidly respond to unusual disease rapidly respond to unusual disease

outbreaks or mortality eventsoutbreaks or mortality events

• Establish a framework to systematically Establish a framework to systematically study pathologiesstudy pathologiesStandardize disease pathological Standardize disease pathological

descriptions descriptions Standardize normal morphological Standardize normal morphological

structurestructure

The ChallengeThe ChallengeCoral Histology and Histopathology Coral Histology and Histopathology

• Basic biology of normal corals is poorly understood• Understanding of coral pathology is limited to Understanding of coral pathology is limited to

descriptions of gross lesionsdescriptions of gross lesions• Names reflect observations (e.g. black band, white Names reflect observations (e.g. black band, white

band, dark spot)band, dark spot)• Our lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms

of coral pathologies inhibits our ability to manage the growing coral health problems

RodentHumanEquine

AvianExotic

DogCat

Free-rangingterrestrial

wildlife

Coral

Courtesy: Dr. T. Work, USGS

Middle Ages 21st Century

Status of Understanding Status of Understanding Coral Health and DiseaseCoral Health and Disease

Requirements• High resolution digital imaging of

glass microscope slides

• Software that provides Internet conferencing and annotation of digital slides

• Web-based Internet application that integrates databases with virtual slides to provide educational modules, training and case-based records

Morbillivirus infection in brain of Grey Seal

Working Towards a Solution

• October 2006 – through a partnership with MMHRSP and CDHC, purchase of Aperio Technologies, Inc Software and Scanning Services

• Plan to purchase ScanScope scanner in future• Development of web-based application and back-end

database to: Record histopathology data on Marine Mammal Strandings Link to data to associated slides on Aperio Server Provide library of reference coral slides showing normal and

abnormal histology Implement virtual rounds Provide education modules

Web-based Application:Functionality

PeriostealPeriosteal proliferation of proliferation of entangled humerus in Right entangled humerus in Right WhaleWhale

M. Moore, WHOI

ConsultationConsultation

Standardization / TerminologyStandardization / Terminology Consensus on nomenclature of coral anatomyConsensus on nomenclature of coral anatomy Consensus on all pathologies of marine mammals Consensus on all pathologies of marine mammals

(conditions, diseases and injuries) (conditions, diseases and injuries)

Mass Stranding Events / Disease Mass Stranding Events / Disease OutbreaksOutbreaks

Crisis events – digital images made available to Crisis events – digital images made available to experts world-wide for rapid responseexperts world-wide for rapid response

Review of findings from disease outbreaksReview of findings from disease outbreaks

Special Cases Special Cases Unique cases that require consultation / letigationUnique cases that require consultation / letigation

Audience: expertsAudience: experts

Web-based Application:Functionality

Training and CommunicationTraining and Communication

Virtual RoundsVirtual Rounds Web-based submissions, scheduling and case write-upsWeb-based submissions, scheduling and case write-ups Utilize Aperio’s Digital Slide Conferencing feature in ScanScope Utilize Aperio’s Digital Slide Conferencing feature in ScanScope

Individual CasesIndividual Cases Digital library of coral and marine mammal histology slidesDigital library of coral and marine mammal histology slides Education modules to demonstrate normal and Education modules to demonstrate normal and

abnormal histologyabnormal histology

Standard NomenclatureStandard Nomenclature Training scientists on the terminology used in coral Training scientists on the terminology used in coral

and marine mammal pathologyand marine mammal pathology

Audience: students, Audience: students, pathologists, marine pathologists, marine biologistsbiologists

Web-based Application:Functionality

Education Education web-enabled distance learning

Normal HistologyNormal HistologyPathology of common conditionsPathology of common conditionsStandardization / TerminologyStandardization / Terminology

Audience: publicAudience: public

Gas-filled cavities in the liver of a stranded common dolphin

Anatomy of Coral

Solutions

Oracle DB ServerOracle DB Server

NOAA Hardware Configuration

Virtual Microscope ServerVirtual Microscope Server

• Database – Oracle 10g• Web server - Apache• Virtual Microscope Server – Aperio Technologies• Application Server – ColdFusion MX

Internet Application

Internet Application

Internet Application

Internet Application

Internet Application

Internet Application

WWWNOAA

PORTALMain Entry

Contaminates(NWFSC, NIST)MS Access DB

Contaminates(NWFSC, NIST)MS Access DB

BiotoxinsBiotoxins

Diagnostic Pathology(NMFS)Oracle

Diagnostic Pathology(NMFS)Oracle

Clinical Pathology(NOS)

SQL Server

Clinical Pathology(NOS)

SQL Server

Virtual MicroscopeAperio Software

(NMFS/NOS)

Virtual MicroscopeAperio Software

(NMFS/NOS)

Cora l Health & Disease(NOS)

MMHRSP(NMFS)

Subsistence HuntBy-Catch and

others

Event-Based Software and Data

Core Biomedical Software and Data

Education Virtual Rounds Cases(NMFS/NOS)

Unusual Mortality Event

(NMFS)

Marine Mammal Health & Stranding Response ProgramMarine Mammal Health & Stranding Response Program• Teri Rowles, PhD, DVMTeri Rowles, PhD, DVM• David Rotstein, DVM, MPVM, DACVPDavid Rotstein, DVM, MPVM, DACVP• Kathy Burek, DVM, MS, DACVPKathy Burek, DVM, MS, DACVP• Angela Collins-Payne, Information SpecialistAngela Collins-Payne, Information Specialist

Coral Health and Disease ConsortiumCoral Health and Disease Consortium• Cheryl Woodley, PhDCheryl Woodley, PhD

Infected Sea Fan with Aspergillosis sydowii

Skin Lesion in Bottlenose dolphin

Acknowledgments