Documentation of fishery gear and marine debris interaction is critical in conservation efforts t... more Documentation of fishery gear and marine debris interaction is critical in conservation efforts to mitigate these specific threats in wild cetaceans. Approximately 9% of bottlenose dolphin carcasses necropsied by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab from 2005 through 2014 (n=172) were found to have instances of fisheries interaction, with approximately 50% of those having evidence of foreign body ingestion. The predominant instances of foreign body ingestion were hook/monofilament related; however, other objects were documented as well. Here we present one of those cases involving unusual foreign body ingestion. In 2007, a 244cm female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in Clearwater, Florida. External findings showed moderate to severe emaciation, prominent abrasions on the mandible and a large plastic lure partially protruding from the left side of the mouth. Internal findings presented a large, (~100cm) rubber or hard plastic snake folded within the forestomach, combined with a rat’s nest of monofilament line, sinkers and hooks. The main and pyloric stomachs were empty, indicating that the presence of the snake could have caused a mechanical obstruction and/or anorexia secondary to gastric irritation. Stomach lining ulcerations, substantial emaciation, and enlarged adrenal cortical regions were all indicative of chronic debilitation. Different types of monofilament and fishing gear were found in the stomach, which may suggest the dolphin had a long term history of unnatural foraging behavior such as depredation and/or scavenging behavior, and had ingested the debris during different occasions. This case study illustrates that not only marine pollution but also human impacts altering wild dolphin behavior need to be considered in conservation measures for cetaceans.
Using morphometric data (body lengths, girths and weights) from 110 healthy Florida manatees rang... more Using morphometric data (body lengths, girths and weights) from 110 healthy Florida manatees ranging in size from 98 cm to 379 cm and captured for health assessments from 3 locations around Florida, we compared multiple combinations of straight and curved line lengths with girths at the axilla, umbilicus, anus and peduncle to devise a linear regression algorithm to predict the weight of an animal.
The use of this formula will benefit biologists and veterinarians by allowing for calculation of weight without endangering handlers or animals, and expedite field based health assessments to quickly return the animal to the water.
A dead adult female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was recovered from west Florida with ... more A dead adult female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was recovered from west Florida with a series of rhomboid plaques across the body which showed multiple organ inflammation, vasculitis, neutrophilic infiltration and bacilli consistent with acute bacterial sepsis.
Histologic examination of skin lesions revealed necrosis compatible with infarcts but no evidence of bacilli. Aerobic bacterial culture isolated Photobacterium damselae from spleen, kidney, and blood and Edwardsiella hoshinae from blood. Photobacterium has been known to cause fatal septicemia in the aquaculture industry, and Edwardsiella sp. has been cultured from a cetacean with fatal septicemia.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from spleen and blood samples. The disease in cetaceans has two forms; dermatological (treatable in cetaceans) and septicemic(usually fatal in cetaceans) (Dunn et al 2001). E. rhusiopathiae is zoonotic to humans.
Due to its zoonotic potential, we recommend that all apparent dermatological cases be assessed for systemic infection of Erysipelothrix sp. and the potential role of other pathogenic bacteria to aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment implementation, as well as to minimize risk to humans handling affected animals.
Documentation of fishery gear and marine debris interaction is critical in conservation efforts t... more Documentation of fishery gear and marine debris interaction is critical in conservation efforts to mitigate these specific threats in wild cetaceans. Approximately 9% of bottlenose dolphin carcasses necropsied by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab from 2005 through 2014 (n=172) were found to have instances of fisheries interaction, with approximately 50% of those having evidence of foreign body ingestion. The predominant instances of foreign body ingestion were hook/monofilament related; however, other objects were documented as well. Here we present one of those cases involving unusual foreign body ingestion. In 2007, a 244cm female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in Clearwater, Florida. External findings showed moderate to severe emaciation, prominent abrasions on the mandible and a large plastic lure partially protruding from the left side of the mouth. Internal findings presented a large, (~100cm) rubber or hard plastic snake folded within the forestomach, combined with a rat’s nest of monofilament line, sinkers and hooks. The main and pyloric stomachs were empty, indicating that the presence of the snake could have caused a mechanical obstruction and/or anorexia secondary to gastric irritation. Stomach lining ulcerations, substantial emaciation, and enlarged adrenal cortical regions were all indicative of chronic debilitation. Different types of monofilament and fishing gear were found in the stomach, which may suggest the dolphin had a long term history of unnatural foraging behavior such as depredation and/or scavenging behavior, and had ingested the debris during different occasions. This case study illustrates that not only marine pollution but also human impacts altering wild dolphin behavior need to be considered in conservation measures for cetaceans.
Using morphometric data (body lengths, girths and weights) from 110 healthy Florida manatees rang... more Using morphometric data (body lengths, girths and weights) from 110 healthy Florida manatees ranging in size from 98 cm to 379 cm and captured for health assessments from 3 locations around Florida, we compared multiple combinations of straight and curved line lengths with girths at the axilla, umbilicus, anus and peduncle to devise a linear regression algorithm to predict the weight of an animal.
The use of this formula will benefit biologists and veterinarians by allowing for calculation of weight without endangering handlers or animals, and expedite field based health assessments to quickly return the animal to the water.
A dead adult female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was recovered from west Florida with ... more A dead adult female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was recovered from west Florida with a series of rhomboid plaques across the body which showed multiple organ inflammation, vasculitis, neutrophilic infiltration and bacilli consistent with acute bacterial sepsis.
Histologic examination of skin lesions revealed necrosis compatible with infarcts but no evidence of bacilli. Aerobic bacterial culture isolated Photobacterium damselae from spleen, kidney, and blood and Edwardsiella hoshinae from blood. Photobacterium has been known to cause fatal septicemia in the aquaculture industry, and Edwardsiella sp. has been cultured from a cetacean with fatal septicemia.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from spleen and blood samples. The disease in cetaceans has two forms; dermatological (treatable in cetaceans) and septicemic(usually fatal in cetaceans) (Dunn et al 2001). E. rhusiopathiae is zoonotic to humans.
Due to its zoonotic potential, we recommend that all apparent dermatological cases be assessed for systemic infection of Erysipelothrix sp. and the potential role of other pathogenic bacteria to aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment implementation, as well as to minimize risk to humans handling affected animals.
Uploads
Papers by Kane Rigney
The use of this formula will benefit biologists and veterinarians by allowing for calculation of weight without endangering handlers or animals, and expedite field based health assessments to quickly return the animal to the water.
Histologic examination of skin lesions revealed necrosis compatible with infarcts but no evidence of bacilli. Aerobic bacterial culture isolated Photobacterium damselae from spleen, kidney, and blood and Edwardsiella hoshinae from blood. Photobacterium has been known to cause fatal septicemia in the aquaculture industry, and Edwardsiella sp. has been cultured from a cetacean with fatal septicemia.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from spleen and blood samples. The disease in cetaceans has two forms; dermatological (treatable in cetaceans) and septicemic(usually fatal in cetaceans) (Dunn et al 2001). E. rhusiopathiae is zoonotic to humans.
Due to its zoonotic potential, we recommend that all apparent dermatological cases be assessed for systemic infection of Erysipelothrix sp. and the potential role of other pathogenic bacteria to aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment implementation, as well as to minimize risk to humans handling affected animals.
The use of this formula will benefit biologists and veterinarians by allowing for calculation of weight without endangering handlers or animals, and expedite field based health assessments to quickly return the animal to the water.
Histologic examination of skin lesions revealed necrosis compatible with infarcts but no evidence of bacilli. Aerobic bacterial culture isolated Photobacterium damselae from spleen, kidney, and blood and Edwardsiella hoshinae from blood. Photobacterium has been known to cause fatal septicemia in the aquaculture industry, and Edwardsiella sp. has been cultured from a cetacean with fatal septicemia.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from spleen and blood samples. The disease in cetaceans has two forms; dermatological (treatable in cetaceans) and septicemic(usually fatal in cetaceans) (Dunn et al 2001). E. rhusiopathiae is zoonotic to humans.
Due to its zoonotic potential, we recommend that all apparent dermatological cases be assessed for systemic infection of Erysipelothrix sp. and the potential role of other pathogenic bacteria to aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment implementation, as well as to minimize risk to humans handling affected animals.