Search

Phenological mismatch—maladaptive changes in phenology resulting from altered timing of environmental cues—is an increasing concern in many ecological systems, yet its effects on disease are poorly characterized. American lobster (Homarus americanus) is declining at its southern geographic limit. Rising seawater temperatures are associated with seasonal outbreaks of epizootic shell disease (ESD), which peaks in prevalence in the fall. We used a 34-year mark-recapture data set to investigate relationships between temperature, molting phenology, and ESD in Long Island Sound, where temperatures are increasing at 0.4°C per decade. Our analyses support the hypothesis that phenological mismatch is linked to the epidemiology of ESD. Warming spring temperatures are correlated with earlier spring molting. Lobsters lose diseased cuticle by molting, and early molting increases the intermolt period in the summer, when disease prevalence is increasing to a fall peak. In juvenile and adult male lobsters, September ESD prevalence was correlated with early molting, while October ESD prevalence was correlated with summer seawater temperature. This suggests that temperature-induced molting phenology affects the timing of the onset of ESD, but later in the summer this signal is swamped by the stronger signal of summer temperatures, which we hypothesize are associated with an increased rate of new infections. October ESD prevalence was ∼80% in years with hot summers and ∼30% in years with cooler summers. Yearly survival of diseased lobsters is <50% that of healthy lobsters. Thus, population impacts of ESD are expected to increase with increasing seawater temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the study which examined the endometrial adenocarcinoma and carcinomatosis in an adult display beluga. Details on the method of the study, which involved treatment for the animal with prednisone, itraconazole, ciprofloxacin, and clindamycin based on an estimated weight of 750 kilograms, are offered.

To increase the currently limited knowledge addressing acanthocephalans parasitizing California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), 33 animals including pups, juvenile and adult males and females from the Marine Mammal Center (TMMC), Sausalito, California, USA were examined. Totally, 2,268 specimens of acanthocephalans representing five species from the genera Andracantha (A. phalacrocoracis and Andracantha sp.), Corynosoma (C. strumosum and C. obtuscens) and Profilicollis (P. altmani) were found. Profilicollis altmani and A. phalacrocoracis, predominantly parasitize fish-eating birds; they were registered in Z. californianus for the first time. Prevalence and intensity of California sea lion infection and transmission of acanthocephalans in these hosts of different age groups were analyzed and discussed. We provide brief morphological descriptions of the five species of acanthocephalan found in California sea lions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur nearly annually off the west coast of Florida and can impact both humans and wildlife, resulting in morbidity and increased mortality of marine animals including sea turtles. The key organism in Florida red tides is the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis that produces a suite of potent neurotoxins referred to as the brevetoxins (PbTx). Despite recent mortality events and rehabilitation efforts, still little is known about how the toxin directly impacts sea turtles, as they are not amenable to experimentation and what is known about toxin levels and distribution comes primarily from post-mortem data. In this study, we utilized the freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta and the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin as model organisms to determine the distribution, clearance, and routes of excretion of the most common form of the toxin, brevetoxin-3, in turtles. Turtles were administered toxin via esophageal tube to mimic ingestion (33.48 μg/kg PbTx-3, 3×/week for two weeks for a total of 7 doses) or by intratracheal instillation (10.53 μg/kg, 3×/week for four weeks for a total of 12 doses) to mimic inhalation. Both oral and intratracheal administration of the toxin produced a suite of behavioral responses symptomatic of brevetoxicosis. The toxin distributed to all organ systems within 1 h of administration but was rapidly cleared out over 24–48 h, corresponding to a decline in clinical symptoms. Excretion appears to be primarily through conjugation to bile salts. Histopathological study revealed that the frequency of lesions varied within experimental groups with some turtles having no significant lesions at all, while similar lesions were found in a low number of control turtles suggesting another common factor(s) could be responsible. The overall goal of this research is better understand the impacts of brevetoxin on turtles in order to develop better treatment protocols for sea turtles exposed to HABs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some regions, little is known about exposure to viruses in coastal marine mammals. The present study aimed to detect viral RNA or DNA in 23 free-ranging fur seals on the northern coastline of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect nucleic acids of circoviruses, adenoviruses, morbilliviruses, vesiviruses, and coronaviruses in the feces from twenty-one South American fur seals ( Arctocephalus australis) and two Subantarctic fur seals ( A. tropicalis). Adenovirus DNA fragments were detected in two South American fur seals; nucleotide sequences of these fragments revealed a high degree of similarity to human adenovirus type C. Circovirus DNA fragments were detected in six animals of the same species. Two were phylogenetically similar to the Circovirus genus, whereas the other four nucleotide fragments showed no similarity to any of the known genera within the family Circoviridae. RNA fragments indicating the presence of coronavirus, vesivirus, and morbillivirus were not detected. These findings suggest that adenoviruses and circoviruses are circulating in fur seal populations found along the coast of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture contributes more than one-third of the animal protein from marine sources worldwide. A significant proportion of aquaculture products are derived from marine protostomes that are commonly referred to as 'marine invertebrates'. Among them, penaeid shrimp (Ecdysozosoa, Arthropoda) and bivalve molluscs (Lophotrochozoa, Mollusca) are economically important. Mass rearing of arthropods and molluscs causes problems with pathogens in aquatic ecosystems that are exploited by humans. Remarkably, species of corals (Cnidaria) living in non-exploited ecosystems also suffer from devastating infectious diseases that display intriguing similarities with those affecting farmed animals. Infectious diseases affecting wild and farmed animals that are present in marine environments are predicted to increase in the future. This paper summarizes the role of the main pathogens and their interaction with host immunity, with a specific focus on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and pathogen resistance against AMPs. We provide a detailed review of penaeid shrimp AMPs and their role at the interface between the host and its resident/pathogenic microbiota. We also briefly describe the relevance of marine invertebrate AMPs in an applied context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas can prevent over-exploitation, but their effect on marine diseases is less clear. We examined how marine reserves can reduce diseases affecting reef-building corals following acute and chronic disturbances. One year after a severe tropical cyclone, corals inside reserves had sevenfold lower levels of disease than those in non-reserves. Similarly, disease prevalence was threefold lower on reserve reefs following chronic exposure to terrestrial run-off from a degraded river catchment, when exposure duration was below the long-term site average. Examination of 35 predictor variables indicated that lower levels of derelict fishing line and injured corals inside reserves were correlated with lower levels of coral disease in both case studies, signifying that successful disease mitigation occurs when activities that damage reefs are restricted. Conversely, reserves were ineffective in moderating disease when sites were exposed to higher than average levels of run-off, demonstrating that reductions in water quality undermine resilience afforded by reserve protection. In addition to implementing protected areas, we highlight that disease management efforts should also target improving water quality and limiting anthropogenic activities that cause injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To forecast marine disease outbreaks as oceans warm requires new environmental surveillance tools. We describe an iterative process for developing these tools that combines research, development and deployment for suitable systems. The first step is to identify candidate host–pathogen systems. The 24 candidate systems we identified include sponges, corals, oysters, crustaceans, sea stars, fishes and sea grasses (among others). To illustrate the other steps, we present a case study of epizootic shell disease (ESD) in the American lobster. Increasing prevalence of ESD is a contributing factor to lobster fishery collapse in southern New England (SNE), raising concerns that disease prevalence will increase in the northern Gulf of Maine under climate change. The lowest maximum bottom temperature associated with ESD prevalence in SNE is 12°C. Our seasonal outlook for 2015 and long-term projections show bottom temperatures greater than or equal to 12°C may occur in this and coming years in the coastal bays of Maine. The tools presented will allow managers to target efforts to monitor the effects of ESD on fishery sustainability and will be iteratively refined. The approach and case example highlight that temperature-based surveillance tools can inform research, monitoring and management of emerging and continuing marine disease threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linking marine epizootics to a specific aetiology is notoriously difficult. Recent diagnostic successes show that marine disease diagnosis requires both modern, cutting-edge technology (e.g. metagenomics, quantitative realtime PCR) and more classic methods (e.g. transect surveys, histopathology and cell culture). Here, we discuss how this combination of traditional and modern approaches is necessary for rapid and accurate identification of marine diseases, and emphasize how sole reliance on any one technology or technique may lead disease investigations astray. We present diagnostic approaches at different scales, from the macro (environment, community, population and organismal scales) to the micro (tissue, organ, cell and genomic scales). We use disease case studies from a broad range of taxa to illustrate diagnostic successes from combining traditional and modern diagnostic methods. Finally, we recognize the need for increased capacity of centralized databases, networks, data repositories and contingency plans for diagnosis and management of marine disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of animals in understanding the problems affecting the environment and the ecosystem before humans. It focuses on the veterinarians and researchers depending on animals to understand the effects of toxic materials on habitats in order to promote habitat conservation. It talks about veterinarian Gregory Bossart's work with bottlenose dolphins to understand human health and marine health.

We study the adaptive harvest of healthy stocks of shellfish that are faced with the risk of high natural mortality from a disease that is spreading along a coastline. This was the situation when Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) spread along the coast of Victoria, Australia in 2006. Abalone mortality on some reefs was thought to have been as high as 90%. In the face of an approaching virus, how should stocks at different reefs be managed? A stochastic, spatial bioeconomic model allows us to examine how optimal preemptive stock reductions are influenced by: (1) the probability of spread, (2) the mortality induced by AVG when it reaches a previously uninfected reef, (3) the form of the harvest cost function, and (4) a regime shift to lower biological productivity, post-AVG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fish pathogen Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida produces the siderophore piscibactin. A gene cluster that resembles the Yersinia high-pathogenicity island (HPI) encodes piscibactin biosynthesis. Here, we report that this HPI-like cluster is part of a hitherto-uncharacterized 68-kb plasmid dubbed pPHDP70. This plasmid lacks homologs of genes that mediate conjugation, but we found that it could be transferred at low frequencies from P. damselae subsp. piscicida to a mollusk pathogenic Vibrio alginolyticus strain and to other Gram-negative bacteria, likely dependent on the conjugative functions of the coresident plasmid pPHDP60. Following its conjugative transfer, pPHDP70 restored the capacity of a vibrioferrin mutant of V. alginolyticus to grow under low-iron conditions, and piscibactin became detectable in its supernatant. Thus, pPHDP70 appears to harbor all the genes required for piscibactin biosynthesis and transport. P. damselae subsp. piscicida strains cured of pPHDP70 no longer produced piscibactin, had impaired growth under iron-limited conditions, and exhibited markedly decreased virulence in fish. Collectively, our findings highlight the importance of pPHDP70, with its capacity for piscibactin-mediated iron acquisition, in the virulence of P. damselae subsp. piscicida. Horizontal transmission of this plasmid-borne piscibactin synthesis gene cluster in the marine environment may facilitate the emergence of new pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the rescue to an adult male bottlenose dolphin found at La Paz Cove, Baja California Sur, Mexico on April 19, 2014. Topics discussed include abnormalities observed with the dolphin which include barnacle infestation around oral cavity, absence of snout at the tip of the upper jaw, and traumatic injury suffered by the mammal.

Vibrio alginolyticus is an important pathogen that causes a variety of diseases in marine animals including the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Herein, we describe a two-phage mixture which may have potential for use as an antibacterial agent to prevent V. alginolyticus infection in the sea cucumber. A Z1210 bacterial isolate was cultured from diseased sea cucumber suffering from skin ulcerations and viscera ejection. The isolate was identified as V. alginolyticus by morphology and sequence similarity analysis. Subsequently, two bacteriophages infecting isolate Z1210 were isolated from the drainpipe of an aquatic market. Morphologically, these two phages were classified as members of Podoviridae ( PVA1) and Myoviridae ( PVA2) and each phage showed high virulence in an in vitro experiment. Additionally, an experiment conducted in a marine environment showed that a mixture of the two phages increased the survival of sea cucumbers (10 ± 2 g) to 73, 50, and 47% when it was used with a multiplicity of infection of 10, 1, or 0.1, respectively. This result differed markedly from the control without phage (3% survival) while there was no significant difference between the 80 and 47% survival observed for two antibiotic treatments (5 mg/L doxycycline and 10 mg/L kanamycin, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitic sea lice represent a major sanitary threat to marine salmonid aquaculture, an industry accounting for 7% of world fish production. Caligus rogercresseyi is the principal sea louse species infesting farmed salmon and trout in the southern hemisphere. Most effective control of Caligus has been obtained with macrocyclic lactones (MLs) ivermectin and emamectin. These drugs target glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCl) and act as irreversible non-competitive agonists causing neuronal inhibition, paralysis and death of the parasite. Here we report the cloning of a full-length CrGluClα receptor from Caligus rogercresseyi. Expression in Xenopus oocytes and electrophysiological assays show that CrGluClα is activated by glutamate and mediates chloride currents blocked by the ligand-gated anion channel inhibitor picrotoxin. Both ivermectin and emamectin activate CrGluClα in the absence of glutamate. The effects are irreversible and occur with an EC50 value of around 200 nM, being cooperative (nH = 2) for ivermectin but not for emamectin. Using the three-dimensional structure of a GluClα from Caenorabditis elegans, the only available for any eukaryotic ligand-gated anion channel, we have constructed a homology model for CrGluClα. Docking and molecular dynamics calculations reveal the way in which ivermectin and emamectin interact with CrGluClα. Both drugs intercalate between transmembrane domains M1 and M3 of neighbouring subunits of a pentameric structure. The structure displays three H-bonds involved in this interaction, but despite similarity in structure only of two these are conserved from the C. elegans crystal binding site. Our data strongly suggest that CrGluClα is an important target for avermectins used in the treatment of sea louse infestation in farmed salmonids and open the way for ascertaining a possible mechanism of increasing resistance to MLs in aquaculture industry. Molecular modeling could help in the design of new, more efficient drugs whilst functional expression of the receptor allows a first stage of testing of their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of phylogenetic inference can be significantly improved by the addition of more taxa and by increasing the spatial coverage of sampling. In previous studies, the brown mussel Perna perna showed a sister-lineage relationship between eastern and western individuals contiguously distributed along the South African coastline. We used mitochondrial ( COI) and nuclear ( ITS) sequence data to further analyze phylogeographic patterns within P. perna. Significant expansion of the geographical coverage revealed an unexpected pattern. The western South African lineage shared the most recent common ancestor ( MRCA) with specimens from Angola, Venezuela, and Namibia, whereas eastern South African specimens and Mozambique grouped together, indicating a non-sister relationship for the two South African lineages. Two plausible biogeographic scenarios to explain their origin were both supported by the hypotheses-testing analysis. One includes an Indo- Pacific origin for P. perna, dispersal into the Mediterranean and Atlantic through the Tethys seaway, followed by recent secondary contact after southward expansion of the western and eastern South African lineages. The other scenario ( Out of South Africa) suggests an ancient vicariant divergence of the two lineages followed by their northward expansion. Nevertheless, the 'Out of South Africa' hypothesis would require a more ancient divergence between the two lineages. Instead, our estimates indicated that they diverged very recently (310 kyr), providing a better support for an Indo-Pacific origin of the two South African lineages. The arrival of the MRCA of P. perna in Brazil was estimated at 10 [0-40] kyr. Thus, the hypothesis of a recent introduction in Brazil through hull fouling in wooden vessels involved in the transatlantic itineraries of the slave trade did not receive strong support, but given the range for this estimate, it could not be discarded. Wider geographic sampling of marine organisms shows that lineages with contiguous distributions need not share a common ancestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of hyposmotic stress and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge in expression was studied in the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Messenger RNA from gills of shrimp submitted to osmotic stress was isolated to identify genes differentially expressed through the suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) method. Two subtractive libraries forward and two reverse were constructed to identify up and down-regulated genes under these conditions. About 192 clones were sequenced, of which 46 genes were identified. These genes encode proteins corresponding to a wide range of biological roles, including defense, cell signaling, electron transfer, cell proliferation and differentiation, apoptosis, intermediary metabolism, cytoskeleton and digestion. Among the identified genes, 19 were up-regulated and 27 were down-regulated in the animals kept at a lower ion concentration. We evaluated the expression of eight genes by RT-qPCR in shrimp submitted to hyposmotic conditions with and without WSSV challenge. The SSH enabled the identification of genes that are influenced by hyposmotic stress. A significant up-regulation was observed in lectin-C, QM, TGF beta inducible nuclear protein 1, ciclophilin, malate dehydrogenase, mitochondrial ATP synthase F chain and ATP synthase subunit 9 precursor transcripts. However, the expression of these genes in L. vannamei was not affected by WSSV infection both at isosmotic and hyposmotic conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Marteilia spp. parasites such as M. refringens are notifiable pathogens of commercial bivalves with detrimental effects on shellfish fisheries and aquaculture. Recently a Marteilia parasite has been described infecting the common edible cockle Cerastoderma edule for the first time in Spain, with only one previous report from elsewhere in the world. Molecular characterization was carried out, based on the rDNA intergenic spacer (IGS), the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) and the 18S rRNA, of the Marteilia parasite reported infecting the cockle C. edule in the Spanish Mediterranean coast in order to better understand the epidemiology of the pathogen. Partial IGS sequences obtained showed 83% of maximum identity with Marteilia refringens when analyzed by BLAST. Further, 86% was recorded for the partial ITS-1 and 98% for the partial 18S rRNA region studied. Comparison by multiple alignment of ITS-1 sequences, genetic distance matrix of the IGS, and a phylogenetic analysis using the IGS sequence support the existence of a new Marteilia species infecting bivalves in Europe. Furthermore, an IGS PCR–RFLP digestion with the BgL II enzyme is described in order to facilitate discrimination between the cockle Marteilia and M. refringens infecting other bivalves in Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Disease affects the growth and survival of reef building corals. Prevalence, severity, lethality, and recovery of dark spots syndrome (DSS) was measured on three common scleractinian corals, Montastraea annularis complex, Siderastrea siderea, and Stephanocoenia michelinii on seven reefs in the Florida Keys. Between 2002 and 2004, DSS was the most common disease, responsible for 71.2%±5.7 S.E. of all disease infections in the total coral population. Prevalence ranged from 26.3%±17.6 S.E. for M. annularis, 7.5%±2.9 for S. siderea to 3.0%±0.1 for S. michelinii. DSS severity (expressed as the percent of diseased colony surface area) ranged from 0.55%±0.12 S.E. for M. annularis, 4.8%±0.63 for S. siderea to 0.83%±0.31 for S. michelinii. DSS rarely caused whole colony mortality (0.0%yr−1 for Montastraea annularis, 0.3%yr−1 for Siderastrea siderea, and 3.8%yr−1 for Stephanocoenia michelinii), but was a significant source of partial mortality. During the 2002–2003 survey period, net tissue loss per annum due to DSS was 0.3%yr−1 for M. annularis, 1.0%yr−1 for S. siderea, and 8.8%yr−1 for S. michelinii. Total net tissue loss for these three species, from all sources of mortality, was 0.45%, 1.0%, and 8.8% respectively, demonstrating that DSS was the only source of mortality for S. michelinii and S. siderea during this period, and accounted for two-thirds of all tissue loss from M. annularis colonies. DSS recovery rates were variable, depending on the target species. DSS signs in 86.8% of M. annularis colonies and 73.3% of S. michelinii colonies identified in 2002 and 2003 persisted through the end of the survey (2004). By contrast, among S. siderea only 33.3% of colonies affected in 2002 and 2003 continued to exhibit disease signs by 2004. Annual recovery rates from DSS were also species-dependent: 32.9% of DSS-affected S. siderea colonies recovered annually, but, by contrast, only 6.6% and 10.0% of DSS-affected M. annularis and S. michelinii colonies had done so. DSS appears to be a significant source of both whole and partial mortality for S. michelinii, but not for the other two species during this survey. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which assessed the case of gas bubble injury in a living marine mammal, particularly in a yearling sea lion that was presented to a rehabilitation hospital facility, to provide some insight in the brain function of such animals. The sea lion Zalophus californianus with hypermetric ataxia and bilateral negative menace reflexes was examined at The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) in Sausalito, California. Among the methods used in the evaluation are the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cognitive function testing, and computed tomography.

The article discusses a study generating a complementary Deoxyribonuclease Acid (cDNA) library of representative mRNAs more specific to parasitic phase Miamiensis avidus, a causative agent of scuticociliatosis in cultured marine fish using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). It notes that the study, which selected 520 clones from the SSH library, found that of the 510 SSH clones, 21 clones of 6 putative genes did not match sequences in the public database and the other 372 clones that met the criterion of E value <1 x 10-5 were matched to 26 known sequences in the database. The study concludes that proteins might be used as antigen candidates for development of scuticociliatosis vaccines

We present a long-term study of epizootics in a migratory fish species that shows major advancements in our understanding of marine disease ecology. On the individual macroscopic level, Ichthyophonus hoferi infections in herring significantly reduced body condition (p < 0.01) and reproductive capacity (gonad weight, p < 0.001). Infection prevalence increased with age (p < 0.001, Radj2 = 0.71). Prevalence in the catches strongly depended on target school size and was thus higher in trawl catches. We found strong seasonality in infection prevalence within years, with peaks in summer and winter. Summer peaks spatially formed an 'infectious belt' off the west coast of Norway, consisting of infected fish unable to follow the migration routes to the feeding grounds. Prevalence varied also between years (p ≤ 0.001). Since 1992, it had declined from stock prevalence levels of 10%, down to almost extinction, with another major peak in 1999. The annual peaks could best be associated with strong year classes (Pearson's r = 0.56), a good overall body condition (r = 0.86), and plastic wintering behaviour. Nous présentons une étude à longue haleine d'une épizootie chez une espèce de poisson migrateur qui représente des progrès importants dans notre compréhension de l'écologie des maladies marines. À l'échelle macroscopique individuelle, les infections à Ichthyophonus hoferi chez le hareng réduisent significativement la condition corporelle (p < 0,01) et la capacité reproductive (masse des gonades, p < 0,001). La prévalence de l'infection augmente en fonction de l'âge (p < 0,001, Radj2 = 0,71). La prévalence dans les captures est fortement reliée à la taille du banc de poissons ciblé et est ainsi plus importante dans les récoltes au chalut. Il existe une forte saisonnalité dans la prévalence de l'infection au cours d'une même année, avec des maximums en été et en hiver. Les maximums d'été forment dans l'espace une « ceinture infectieuse »au large de la côte ouest de la Norvège, composée de poissons infectés incapables de suivre les routes de migration vers les aires d'alimentation. La prévalence varie aussi d'une année à l'autre (p ≤ 0,001). Depuis 1992, le niveau de prévalence de l'infection a diminué de 10 % du stock à presque l'extinction pour atteindre un nouveau maximum en 1999. Les pics annuels peuvent être le mieux associés aux classes d'âge fortes (r de Pearson = 0,56), à une bonne condition corporelle globale (r = 0,86) et à un comportement flexible d'hivernage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveillance data on the distribution of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) in the North Sea (UK), targeting Atlantic herring in areas with previous virus detection, were obtained from research cruises conducted during 2005. The sensitive molecular approach of real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied alongside a newly developed endogenous positive control assay specific for herring (elongation factor 1α) to ensure integrity of template. Three hundred and five pools from 1937 individual herring were tested, and no evidence of VHSV in association with wild Atlantic herring was detected. Samples were obtained from Scottish waters where marine aquaculture is conducted. The results confirm that previous tissue culture studies have most likely not significantly underestimated the prevalence of carrier herring in this area. The significance of migratory species such as herring as a reservoir species for VHSV, with the potential to translocate virus genotypes between geographical areas, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the presence of Aggregata bathytherma sp. nov. in the digestive tract of Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, a deep-sea hydrothermal vent octopus. Materials and methods used in obtaining samples of Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis are described. The sporocysts and sporozoites of Aggregata bathytherma sp. nov. are described. Histopathological findings reveal marked distension of the infected tissue in the intestine and caecum due to the development of the sporogonic stages. Results also show loss of the digestive tract epithelium.

Abstract: Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) is thought to be a major cellular receptor for high-host specificity morbilliviruses, which cause devastating and highly infectious diseases in mammals. We determined the sequences of SLAM cDNA from five species of marine mammal, including two cetaceans, two pinnipeds and one sirenian, and generated three-dimensional models to understand the receptor–virus interaction. Twenty-one amino acid residues in the immunoglobulin-like V domains of the SLAMs were shown to bind the viral protein. Notably, the sequences from pinnipeds and dogs were highly homologous, which is consistent with the fact that canine distemper virus was previously shown to cause a mass die-off of seals. Among these twenty-one residues, eight (63, 66, 68, 72, 84, 119, 121 and 130) were shared by animal groups susceptible to a particular morbillivirus species. This set of residues appears to determine host–virus specificity and may be useful for risk estimation for morbilliviruses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The growing incidence of tropical-marine diseases is attributed to increases in pathogen prevalence and virulence associated with global warming. Additionally, the compromised-host hypothesis suggests that rising ocean temperatures may increase disease activity by making the corals more susceptible to ubiquitous pathogens. We tested the effects of reducing irradiance stress on coral-disease progression rates by shading corals showing signs consistent with white-plague disease. Our results showed that white-plague disease on shaded corals progressed significantly more slowly than on controls. Although the mechanisms are unknown, this study suggests that light intensity influences the rate of coral-disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on scientific research of impact of African dust deposits on coral reefs in Caribbean. Possibility that African dust might have major impact on marine ecosystems and public health; Mention that the Caribbean has had the most numerous and severe coral-reef associated ecological disturbances; Studies of reefs which were conducted by Joseph Prospero, and findings; Effect of black band disease on corals.

Focuses on the effects of climatic and anthropogenic factors on emerging marine diseases. Mortality due to disease outbreaks affecting major taxa in the oceans; Increase in the frequency and number of new diseases among corals and marine mammals; The increase in coral bleaching in 1997-98 coinciding with high El Nino temperatures; Human and climate activities accelerating global transport of species, bringing together pathogens and previously unexposed host populations.

Probes case histories that illustrate concepts about introduced diseases to marine organisms. Recommendations for reducing risks of disease when marine animals are inserted into new environments by human acts.

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous environmental toxin that produces a wide range of adverse health effects in humans. Bioaccumulation of mercury in the aquatic food chain is a public concern for many countries. The aim of this study was to review the prevalence of Hg contamination in marine fauna in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although a bifid cardiac apex is common in certain marine animals, it is an uncommon finding in humans. When present, bifid cardiac apex is usually associated with other congenital heart anomalies. We present a case of bifid cardiac apex that was an incidental finding in a 25-year-old male with sudden cardiac death from combined drug toxicity. On gross examination, there was a bifid cardiac apex with a 2-cm long cleft. There were no other significant gross or microscopic abnormalities. This case represents the very rare occurrence of a bifid cardiac apex as an isolated cardiac anomaly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the outbreak of a disease which killed ringed seals in Alaska. It states that signs associated with the disease include excessive hair loss, lesions on the seal's faces and flippers, lethargy, delayed molt, and labored breathing. Moreover, it is noted that the disease could potentially affect other species of Arctic marine wildlife.

The article reports on the prevalence of Sarcocystis neurona and Taxoplasma gandii in several marine mammals in the northwest region of the Pacific Ocean in the U.S. Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) confirmed that these parasites have inflicted more than 150 sea mammals and caused mortality between 2004 and 2009. Scientists also noticed that the existence of these parasites is caused by zoonotic agents and contaminated waterways.

Animals live in close association with microorganisms, mostly prokaryotes, living in or on them as commensals, mutualists or parasites, and profoundly affecting host fitness. Most animal–microbe studies focus on microbial community structure; for this project, allometry (scaling of animal attributes with animal size) was applied to animal–microbe relationships across a range of species spanning 12 orders of magnitude in animal mass, from nematodes to whales. Microbial abundances per individual animal were gleaned from published literature and also microscopically counted in three species. Abundance of prokaryotes/individual versus animal mass scales as a nearly linear power function (exponent = 1.07, R2 = 0.94). Combining this power function with allometry of animal abundance indicates that macrofauna have an outsized share of animal-associated microorganisms. The total number of animal-associated prokaryotes in Earth's land animals was calculated to be 1.3–1.4 × 1025 cells and the total of marine animal-associated microbes was calculated to be 8.6–9.0 × 1024 cells. Animal-associated microbes thus total 2.1–2.3 × 1025 of the approximately 1030 prokaryotes on the Earth. Microbes associated with humans comprise 3.3–3.5% of Earth's animal-associated microbes, and domestic animals harbour 14–20% of all animal-associated microbes, adding a new dimension to the scale of human impact on the biosphere. This novel allometric power function may reflect underlying mechanisms involving the transfer of energy and materials between microorganisms and their animal hosts. Microbial diversity indices of animal gut communities and gut microbial species richness for 60 mammals did not indicate significant scaling relationships with animal body mass; however, further research in this area is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented concerning the ecological and economic impacts of marine diseases such as seastar wasting syndrome and talks about efforts to pass the Marine Disease Emergency Act in the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2015 to enable research into marine infectious diseases.

The article offers information about Wolfgang Vogelbein, an aquatic pathologist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, and highlights his artistic and scientific pursuits. It provides details about Vogelbein's research which focuses on fish tumors as well as his art, which includes woodwork and landscape photography. Other critical information about Vogelbein is provided.

The article focuses on a study which examined the link between severe illness and co-infection with Sarcocystis neurona and Toxoplasma gondii. The study included over 150 marine mammals that died between 2004 and 2009 in the Pacific Northwest. It found that Sarcocystis neurona exacerbates disease symptoms among the marine mammals. Study authors concluded that mammals with decreased immunity are likely to have worse signs when co-infected with Sarcocystis neurona and Toxoplasma gondii.