Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from estuarine waters of Indian River Lagoon, FL (IRL) and Charleston, SC (CHS) were cultured to screen for microorganism colonization and to assess antibiotic sensitivity. Swabs (n = 909) were collected from the blowhole, gastric fluid, and feces of 171 individual dolphins The most frequently cultured organisms were Plesiomonas shigelloides (n = 161), Aeromonas hydrophila (n = 144), Escherichia coli (n = 85), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (n = 82). In descending frequency, organisms demonstrated resistance to erythromycin, ampicillin, and cephalothin. Human and animal pathogens resistant to antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine were cultured. Escherichia coli (E. coli) more often was resistant in IRL dolphins. Three cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were found at CHS. Emergence of antibiotic resistance is not confined to humans. Bottlenose dolphins may serve as sentinels for transfer of resistance from humans and animals or indicate that antibiotics are reaching the marine environment and causing resistance to emerge through selective pressure and genetic adaptation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10393-009-0221-5 | DOI Listing |
Animals (Basel)
January 2025
Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE-PSL, Université des Antilles, 75005 Paris, France.
The common bottlenose dolphin () exhibits significant intraspecific diversity globally, with distinct ecotypes identified in various regions. In the Guadeloupe archipelago, the citizen science NGO OMMAG has been monitoring these dolphins for over a decade, documenting two distinct morphotypes. This study investigates whether these morphotypes represent coastal and oceanic ecotypes, which have not been previously identified in the region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcol Evol
January 2025
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Adelaide South Australia Australia.
Understanding population demography of threatened species and how they vary in relation to natural and anthropogenic stressors is essential for effective conservation. We used a long-term photographic capture-recapture dataset (1993-2020) of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins () in the highly urbanised Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS), South Australia, to estimate key demographic parameters and their variability over time. These parameters were analysed in relation to environmental variables used as indicators of local and large-scale climatic events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxics
November 2024
Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.
Microcystin (MC), a hepatotoxin produced by cyanobacteria, was introduced into the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, in 2005 through freshwater outflows. Since then, MC has been detected in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife in the lagoon. Potential public health effects associated with MC exposure along the IRL include an increased risk of non-alcoholic liver disease among area residents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFiScience
December 2024
College of Science, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi TX 78412, USA.
Pharmaceuticals prevent and treat diseases, yet inappropriate intake can result in harmful effects including mortality. Contaminants have become recurrent public and wildlife health concerns. Bioaccumulation of contaminants can occur throughout trophic levels of the food web.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAquat Toxicol
December 2024
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.
In tissues of toothed whales from the Adriatic Sea (muscle, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, adipose tissue and skin) the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) were analysed. In total, 186 dolphins were analysed; 155 bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), 25 striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) and 6 Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). Cadmium concentrations in tissue samples ranged from 0.
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