{"title":"Incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in pinnipeds in Uruguay.","authors":"Diana Szteren, Valentina Franco-Trecu","doi":"10.3354/dao03827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Between September and December 2023, Uruguay experienced unusually high pinniped mortality due to an HPAI-H5N1 virus outbreak. We examined and compared the temporal distribution of strandings and swab results. Data on pinniped strandings was compiled from the Stranding Network project and governmental institutions, and the number of positive and total swabs conducted was obtained through government public information requests. A total of 2713 stranded pinnipeds were recorded; 92.4% were dead, including 80 aborted fetuses. Live stranded animals showed clinical signs such as tremors, convulsions, and extreme weakness. Strandings peaked from mid-September to early November. Species was identified in 1121 cases: 56.1% were South American sea lions (SASL), and 42.6% were South American fur seals (SAFS). Out of 159 swabs, 22.6% tested positive for HPAI-H5N1. Most positive cases were unidentified pinnipeds, 33% in SASL and 22% in SAFS. The estimated mortality reached 1465 SASL, about 15% of the population, significantly affecting the declining population and its reproductive stock. The outbreak response revealed weaknesses in disease surveillance, poor institutional coordination, and delayed swabbing efforts. Improved management strategies are necessary to protect vulnerable species from emerging diseases and catastrophic events.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"65-74"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142738760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Disease assessment in 'coral gardening' nurseries in the Maldives and implications for coral restoration success.","authors":"I Dehnert, P Galli, F Siena, S Montano","doi":"10.3354/dao03820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03820","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coral diseases are an increasing threat to continuously degrading reefs as disease abundance and virulence are expected to increase in the future. Active conservation measures, specifically coral restoration projects, are increasingly being implemented worldwide. Yet little is known about the implications of disease occurrence in a restoration context. This study describes white syndrome pathogenesis in 2 coral genera, farmed in 2 mid-water rope nurseries located in a reef and a lagoon habitat in the Maldives. Over a 112 d monitoring period, disease metrics were obtained from 336 Pocillopora and 96 Acropora fragments to assess the impacts of unmitigated disease progression in coral nurseries. Disease had low prevalence (2.2%) and incidence (0.007) in reef-farmed Pocillopora, but survival (91%) was significantly reduced in comparison with the unaffected lagoon-farmed Pocillopora (99%). In contrast, lagoon-farmed Acropora showed high disease prevalence (78.5%) and incidence (0.064), and a lower survival (79%) than disease-unaffected reef-farmed Acropora (98%). These findings had distinct implications for coral gardening success. While Pocillopora was considered suitable for outplanting, especially since subsequent mitigation interventions were successful, the diseased, lagoon-reared Acropora posed a potential risk to the restoration site and was unsuitable for outplanting following 1 yr of farming effort. Our findings demonstrate that unmitigated diseases can cause major setbacks to restoration success. Coral gardening projects are likely to be particularly susceptible; therefore, disease monitoring and risk management are imperative. Since there is currently a lack of available diagnostic and mitigative tools, this study aims to provide case study data for restoration practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"13-18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142616615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christa E Barrett, Susan Fogelson, Ariel Carlson, Aimee Berliner, Jamie Torres, Lauren Michaels, Whitney Daniel, Samantha M Hughes, Jessica Comolli, Justin M Stilwell
{"title":"Polycystic ovarian disease in aquarium-managed cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus.","authors":"Christa E Barrett, Susan Fogelson, Ariel Carlson, Aimee Berliner, Jamie Torres, Lauren Michaels, Whitney Daniel, Samantha M Hughes, Jessica Comolli, Justin M Stilwell","doi":"10.3354/dao03823","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03823","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Significant knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of the reproductive physiology and diseases of elasmobranchs. The objective of this work is to describe the clinical, imaging, and pathologic findings associated with polycystic ovaries in cownose rays housed in public aquariums. Ten adult female cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus housed in 4 public aquariums presented with variable nonspecific (lethargy, anorexia, cutaneous discoloration) or no clinical signs. Clinical antemortem examination revealed a large, heterogeneously hyperechoic mass with many variably sized and shaped anechoic cavitations within the coelom on ultrasound in 2 animals. Necropsies of 10 animals revealed polycystic, fluid-filled ovarian masses filling approximately 65-75% of the coelomic cavity in severe cases along with substantial liver atrophy. Microscopically, the masses were composed of delicate connective tissue supporting a combination of cysts lined by attenuated squamous to foamy columnar epithelium, hemorrhage, embedded anovulatory follicles, and oocytes along the periphery. Polycystic ovarian disease is understudied in elasmobranchs and presumptively resulted from failure of follicular ovulation in these cases. Along with southern stingrays, cownose rays appear to be at heightened risk for developing polycystic ovaries under human care. Further study into disease prevalence, epidemiologic factors, etiopathogenesis, and treatment modalities are needed in order to prevent and medically manage this condition in cownose rays under human care.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"47-56"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142616597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatial variations in ectoparasite Pseudione galacanthae prevalence in the squat lobster Grimothea gregaria in Argentine Patagonia.","authors":"M Varisco, C Derisio, T López Rosón, L Ovando","doi":"10.3354/dao03822","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03822","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The bopyrid Pseudione galacanthae is an ectoparasite of the squat lobster Grimothea gregaria (Munida gregaria). This study aimed to analyze the spatial variations in the prevalence of P. galacanthae in Argentine Patagonia and the potential drivers shaping this variability. To analyze this crustacean/crustacean parasitic relationship, bottom trawl net hauls, a CTD cast, and zooplankton samplings were performed in 10 locations between 43.6° and 47.7°S. Squat lobsters were assigned to 1 of 2 morphotypes (gregaria or subrugosa), sexed, and measured, and the branchial chambers were examined in search of bopyrids. Correlation analyses were performed to identify whether environmental variables (sea bottom salinity, SBS), sea bottom temperature, depth, and calanoid copepods abundance) or population traits (median of size distribution and density of squat lobsters) were related to P. galacanthae prevalence. The gregaria morphotype was dominant in the south of San Jorge Gulf (SJG), whereas the subrugosa morphotype was more abundant in the other locations. No significant differences were observed in P. galacanthae prevalence between sexes or morphotypes. Spatial variations in prevalence were observed, reaching 15.2% in the south of SJG. P. galacanthae prevalence was correlated only with SBS. We hypothesized that the highest prevalence of P. galacanthae could be related to the presence of a tidal frontal system in the south of SJG, which could favor parasite larval retention. The prevalence reported here is the highest for bopyrid parasites in squat lobster species and reveals that this interaction could have a detrimental impact on G. gregaria populations at local scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"25-33"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142616605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J Praveenraj, A Uma, K Saravanan, B Ahilan, A Gopalakannan, D Manikandavelu, R Kiruba-Sankar, G Kumar
{"title":"Characterization of Piscinoodinium sp. associated with epizootics and mortality in non-native and endemic freshwater fish of the Andaman Islands, India.","authors":"J Praveenraj, A Uma, K Saravanan, B Ahilan, A Gopalakannan, D Manikandavelu, R Kiruba-Sankar, G Kumar","doi":"10.3354/dao03821","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Piscinoodinium is a well-known parasitic dinoflagellate genus that causes epizootics in tropical freshwater fish. This study investigated the first outbreak of Piscinoodinium sp. in freshwater fish of the Andaman Islands, India. The infection was noticed in the non-native fish Betta splendens and Poecilia reticulata, and in the endemic killifish Aplocheilus andamanicus. The infection caused mass mortality in larval, sub-adult, and adult fish. The parasite was identified based on microscopy and molecular characterization. The prevalence, parasite density, and mortality percentage were recorded. Infected fish had numerous trophonts attached on the body surface, gills, fins, and eyes. Infected skin and gills showed degeneration of the epithelial cells and clubbed gills. Small subunit rDNA (955 bp) was amplified from the Piscinoodinium sp. infecting B. splendens, revealing genetic differences between it and Piscinoodinium spp. from the USA and from India.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"19-24"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142616614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Olga M Korn, Darya D Golubinskaya, Nikolai I Selin, Alexander V Kalachev
{"title":"Population biology of crab Hapalogaster dentata parasitized by rhizocephalan Briarosaccus hoegi in the northwestern Sea of Japan.","authors":"Olga M Korn, Darya D Golubinskaya, Nikolai I Selin, Alexander V Kalachev","doi":"10.3354/dao03825","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03825","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We studied the population and reproductive characteristics of the stone crab Hapalogaster dentata (De Haan, 1849) (Anomura: Lithodidae) parasitized by Briarosaccus hoegi (Rhizocephala: Peltogastridae) from Peter the Great Bay (northwestern Sea of Japan) in 2023. The sex structure of the H. dentata population was female-biased and represented by 39.1% males and 60.9% females. The size-frequency distribution differed between males and females. The prevalence of parasitization of H. dentata by B. hoegi reached 6.7%. No relationship between crab sex and parasitization prevalence was found. Most of the parasitized specimens (94.8%) had only a single parasitic externa. The non-parasitized and parasitized crabs did not differ in main carapace length. The pleopods in most of the externa-bearing females were shortened or completely atrophied. H. dentata produced 1 clutch per year with ovigerous females occurring from October to May. An obvious delay in embryonic development was observed in winter. None of the parasitized H. dentata females were ovigerous. Externae with embryos of B. hoegi were found from May to July.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"35-46"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142616601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Igor Bakhmet, Kirill E Nikolaev, Alexei O Smurov, Ivan Levakin, Dmitry Ekimov
{"title":"Effect of trematode infection on cardiac activity of marine gastropod Littorina littorea in situ and under laboratory conditions.","authors":"Igor Bakhmet, Kirill E Nikolaev, Alexei O Smurov, Ivan Levakin, Dmitry Ekimov","doi":"10.3354/dao03819","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03819","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Physiological mechanisms underlying relationships between the trematode parthenitae and their molluscan hosts are poorly understood. In this study, we estimated the cardiac function of gastropods Littorina littorea L. infected with Himasthla elongata and Cryptocotyle lingua under laboratory conditions and in situ. The heart rate (HR) of the infected periwinkles was significantly lower than in the uninfected ones. HR of uninfected periwinkles in the natural environment followed a clear tidal pattern, with high values at high tide and low values at low tide. However, HR in most of the infected molluscs did not follow this rhythm. The decrease in HR was more pronounced in the periwinkles infected with C. lingua than with H. elongata. Thus, infection with C. lingua had a greater effect on the physiology and metabolic rate of periwinkles than infection with H. elongata.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142460388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sylvia Cheung, Slade A Loutet, Sarah Zaytsoff, Filip Van Petegem, Loc H Tran, Hamlet Abnousi
{"title":"PirA- or PirB-binding nanobodies can protect whiteleg shrimp from the acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease toxin.","authors":"Sylvia Cheung, Slade A Loutet, Sarah Zaytsoff, Filip Van Petegem, Loc H Tran, Hamlet Abnousi","doi":"10.3354/dao03817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03817","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is a devastating shrimp disease caused by a binary toxin, PirAB, produced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other closely related bacteria. To address AHPND, over 300 unique single-domain antibodies (also known as nanobodies) derived from the VHH domains of Lama glama heavy-chain-only antibodies were raised against either PirA or PirB and characterized. Nanobodies were shortlisted based on their affinities for either PirA or PirB, their relative stability in intestinal fluids, and their ability to reduce PirAB-induced death in brine shrimp Artemia salina. From these data, a subset of nanobodies was tested for their ability to reduce AHPND in whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei, and nanobodies targeting either PirA or PirB provided significant disease protection to whiteleg shrimp. These results show that nanobodies can be a new option for shrimp farmers to reduce or eliminate the impact of AHPND on their operations.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"160 ","pages":"7-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142460389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rui Sousa, Vincent Laizé, Cátia Lourenço-Marques, Marisa Barata, Pedro Pousão-Ferreira, Florbela Soares
{"title":"Inactivation in vitro of the marine parasite Amyloodinium ocellatum.","authors":"Rui Sousa, Vincent Laizé, Cátia Lourenço-Marques, Marisa Barata, Pedro Pousão-Ferreira, Florbela Soares","doi":"10.3354/dao03814","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03814","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ectoparasite Amyloodinium ocellatum is a dinoflagellate that causes severe morbidity and mortality in both brackish and marine warmwater aquaculture fishes worldwide. A. ocellatum has a triphasic life cycle based on a free-living flagellate (the dinospore), a parasitic stage (the trophont) and a resting and reproductive cyst (the tomont). Current chemical treatments have shown some efficacy in eliminating dinospores but fail to inactivate the tomonts. Here we evaluated the efficacy of alternative treatments in vitro through sporulation tests and the quantification of dinospore production and motility. Hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid efficiently decreased dinospore production at low concentrations, but total inactivation of tomonts was only achieved with higher dosages. Tomont inactivation was also observed with disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite and Virkon S. This work provides insights into effective and environmentally friendly alternatives for the elimination of resistant forms of the marine parasite A. ocellatum.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"159 ","pages":"183-197"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142343492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amber M Lum, Tatiana C Weisbrod, Sarah I Jacob, Ramiro Isaza, Caroline E C Goertz, Allison D Tuttle, Treasa C Deegan, Ruth Francis-Floyd, Nicole I Stacy
{"title":"Retrospective comparison of thyroid hormones in Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus under professional care with and without thyroid disease.","authors":"Amber M Lum, Tatiana C Weisbrod, Sarah I Jacob, Ramiro Isaza, Caroline E C Goertz, Allison D Tuttle, Treasa C Deegan, Ruth Francis-Floyd, Nicole I Stacy","doi":"10.3354/dao03816","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03816","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An evaluation of morbidity and mortality in Steller sea lions (SSLs) Eumetopias jubatus under professional care identified a high prevalence of thyroid disease in aged animals. While studies have investigated the effects of age, season, nutrition, stressors, and pollutants on thyroid hormones in pinnipeds, data from individuals with known thyroid disease are lacking. Histopathological reports of adult SSLs in North American aquariums from 1979 to 2022 with banked serum (n = 14) were reviewed. Radioimmunoassays, which have been validated in this species, were used to determine triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and free thyroxine (fT4). A solid-phase chemiluminescent immunometric assay for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) quantification was validated by testing inter- and intra-assay repeatability, recovery, and parallelism. Lesions included follicular cysts (n = 5), adenoma with thyroglossal duct or follicular cysts (n = 2), medullary or follicular C-cell carcinoma with follicular cysts and nodular hyperplasia (n = 1), neuroendocrine carcinoma with follicular cysts (n = 1), and sarcomatoid carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid (n = 1). Significantly lower concentrations of TT3, TT4, and fT4 in SSLs with thyroid disease (n = 10) versus those without (n = 4) were attributed to space-occupying lesions, advanced age, and/or season. TSH was not significantly different between groups. Fifty percent of diseased SSL profiles were within reference ranges, and all individuals with lesions were clinically euthyroid. These data expand the current understanding of thyroid disease in SSLs and underscore the need for additional diagnostics (e.g. cervical ultrasound) concurrently with hormone assays to effectively screen for underlying abnormalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":11252,"journal":{"name":"Diseases of aquatic organisms","volume":"159 ","pages":"199-208"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142343493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}