Publications by authors named "R H Carmichael"
Article Synopsis
- * Postmortem examinations showed that the manatee suffered from various health issues, including aortic stenosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a plastic bag lodged in its esophagus, alongside cold stress symptoms.
- * Blood tests indicated systemic inflammation and potential coagulation problems, while heart-related findings included severe cardiac abnormalities; however, the exact cause of these cardiovascular issues remains undetermined.
Alabama (AL) is a hotspot in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) for human interaction-related cetacean strandings, including harassment, vessel strikes, and fisheries interactions. We examined four bottlenose dolphins () stranded dead along the AL coast during 2012-2017 with severed peduncles suspected to be related to human interaction (HI). Evidence from each case, including photographs, gross necropsy results, and histopathologic findings when available, was reviewed to determine the mode of severance and whether it contributed to death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeroxisomes are highly dynamic, oxidative organelles with key metabolic functions in cellular lipid metabolism, such as the β-oxidation of fatty acids and the synthesis of myelin sheath lipids, as well as the regulation of cellular redox balance. Loss of peroxisomal functions causes severe metabolic disorders in humans. Furthermore, peroxisomes also fulfil protective roles in pathogen and viral defence and immunity, highlighting their wider significance in human health and disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvaluation of fatty acids and carnitine as biomarkers of PFOS exposure in biota (fish and dolphin) from Galveston Bay and the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol
February 2024
Article Synopsis
- PFOS is a common pollutant that poses various toxic risks to marine life, especially in urban and industrial coastal areas.
- This study examined the relationship between PFOS exposure and levels of l-carnitine and fatty acids in fish and dolphins from Galveston Bay and the northern Gulf of Mexico, finding higher PFOS levels in these organisms.
- Results indicated that l-carnitine is a more effective biomarker for PFOS exposure than fatty acids, as significant correlations between PFOS levels and carnitine were observed, which could indicate possible health issues like dyslipidemia.
Between 2010 and 2014, an unusual mortality event (UME) involving bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus occurred in the northern Gulf of Mexico, associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Cause of death (COD) patterns in bottlenose dolphins since then have not been analyzed, and baseline prevalence data for Brucella ceti and cetacean morbillivirus, 2 pathogens previously reported in this region, are lacking. We analyzed records from bottlenose dolphins stranded in Alabama from 2015 to 2020 with necropsy and histological findings to determine COD (n = 108).
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