Implications of Environmental Pollution on Cetacean Morbillivirus

Susceptibility

Kayla Boyes

OutlineSummary of the Current OutbreakMorbillivirus OverviewPollution ImplicationsPast StudyFuture action and possible solutions

Current OutbreakNOAA declared a

Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for bottlenose dolphins (Turnsiops truncatus) in the Northeast United States in July 2013

An epizootic

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

Morbillivirus spp. Genus Morbillivirus is a group of single-

stranded RNA virusesHighly contagious, even between speciesSymptoms

Skin lesions PnuemoniaBrain InfectionsSecondary infections

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)Chemicals used in agriculture for pest

control, disease control, and increased crop production Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT)

Cause variety of adverse effectsAccumulate and persist in environmentReadily travel long distances

POP Biomagnification"Biomagnification is the sequence of processes in an ecosystem by which higher concentrations of a particular chemical are reached in organisms higher up the food chain, generally through a series of prey-predator relationships.“ - Oxford Dictionary, 2008

http://toxics.usgs.gov/

POPs as ImmunosuppressantsAguilar and Borrel (1994)Studied

Morbillivirus epizootic in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) the Mediterranean Sea from 1990-1992

Discovered that concentrations of PCBs were significantly higher during a Morbillivirus outbreak

http://www.yourchildlearns.com/online-atlas/mediterranean-map.htm

Methods:Dolphins were classified as ‘infected’

or ‘healthy’ Tissue samples taken PCB concentrations measuredCompared infected dolphins to healthy

dolphins

POPs as ImmunosuppressantsAguilar and Borrel (1994)

Variation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations in Dorsal Blubber in Mediterranean Striped Dolphins

Aguilar and Borrel 1994

Results:

Aguilar and Borrel 1994

ConclusionsVirus susceptibility is complex

Cetaceans be negatively impacted by high levels of ocean pollutants

More studies need to be done researching the implications of POPs as immunosuppressants in marine mammals

Future GoalsEstablish more conclusive causes of

susceptibilityContinue to lower POP emissionsUse current outbreak to uncover more

data Eradicate disease

References

AcknowledgmentsDr. PaladinoIPFW Helmke Library StaffIPFW Biology Department Staff

Questions?

Photo Credit: Dr. Frank Paladino