scholarly journals Pandemic danger to the deep: the risk of marine mammals contracting SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabateeshan Mathavarajah ◽  
Amina K. Stoddart ◽  
Graham A. Gagnon ◽  
Graham Dellaire
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Natural Water ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Additional Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Untreated Wastewater

AbstractWe are in unprecedented times with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has impacted public health, the economy and our society on a global scale. In addition, the impacts of COVID-19 permeate into our environment and wildlife as well. Here, we discuss the essential role of wastewater treatment and management during these times. A consequence of poor wastewater management is the discharge of untreated wastewater carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home to marine mammals. Here, we predict the susceptibility of marine mammal species using a modelling approach. We identified that many species of whale, dolphin and seal, as well as otters, are predicted to be highly susceptible to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition, geo-mapping highlights how current wastewater management in Alaska may lead to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to the virus. Localities such as Cold Bay, Naknek, Dillingham and Palmer may require additional treatment of their wastewater to prevent virus spillover through sewage. Since over half of these susceptibility species are already at risk worldwide, the release of the virus via untreated wastewater could have devastating consequences for their already declining populations. For these reasons, we discuss approaches that can be taken by the public, policymakers and wastewater treatment facilities to reduce the risk of virus spillover in our natural water systems. Thus, we indicate the potential for reverse zoonotic transmission of COVID-19 and its impact on marine wildlife; impacts that can be mitigated with appropriate action to prevent further damage to these vulnerable populations.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV2, a threat to marine mammals? A study from Italian seawaters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Audino ◽  
Carla Grattarola ◽  
Cinzia Centelleghe ◽  
Simone Peletto ◽  
Federica Giorda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Animal Reservoir

AbstractZoonotically transmitted coronaviruses were responsible for three disease outbreaks since 2002, with the “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2” (SARS-CoV-2) causing the dramatic “Coronavirus Disease-2019” (CoViD-19) pandemic, which affected public health, economy, and society on a global scale. The impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic permeate into our environment and wildlife as well; in particular, concern has been raised about the viral occurrence and persistence in aquatic and marine ecosystems. The discharge of untreated wastewaters carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home of sea mammals may have dramatic consequences on vulnerable species.The efficient transmission of coronaviruses raise questions regarding the contributions of virus-receptors interactions. The main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2), serving as a functional receptor for the viral spike (S) protein. This study was aimed, through the comparative analysis of the ACE-2 receptor with the human one, at assessing the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 of the different species of marine mammals living in Italian waters. We also determined, by means of immunohistochemistry, ACE-2 receptor localization in the lung tissue from different cetacean species, in order to provide a preliminary characterization of ACE-.2 expression in the marine mammals’ respiratory tract.Furthermore, in order to evaluate if and how wastewater management in Italy may lead to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to the virus, geo-mapping data of wastewater plants, associated to the identification of specific stretches of coast more exposed to extreme weather events, overlapped to marine mammal population data, were carried out. Results showed the SARS-CoV-2 exposure for marine mammals inhabiting Italian coastal waters. Thus, we highlight the potential hazard of reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with its impact on marine mammals regularly inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, whilst also stressing the need of appropriate action to prevent further damage to specific vulnerable populations.Significance StatementGrowing concern exists that SARS-CoV-2, as already ascertained for its SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV “predecessors”, originated from an animal “reservoir”, performing thereafter its spillover into mankind, that was possibly anticipated by viral “passage” into a secondary animal host. Within the dramatic SARS-CoV-2 pandemic context, hitherto characterized by over 110 million cases and almost 2,500,000 deaths on a global scale, several domestic and wild animal species have been reported as susceptible to natural and/or experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this respect, while some marine mammal species are deemed as potentially susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection on the basis of the sequence homology of their ACE-2 viral receptor with the human one, this study addresses such a critical issue also in stranded sea mammal specimens.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV2, A Threat to Marine Mammals? A Study From Italian Seawaters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Audino ◽  
Carla Grattarola ◽  
Cinzia Centelleghe° ◽  
Simone Peletto ◽  
Federica Giorda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Cetacean Species

Abstract Zoonotically transmitted coronaviruses were responsible for three disease outbreaks since 2002, with the “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2” (SARS-CoV-2) causing the dramatic “Coronavirus Disease-2019” (CoViD-19) pandemic, which affected public health, economy, and society on a global scale. The impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic permeate into our environment and wildlife as well; in particular, concern has been raised about the viral occurrence and persistence in aquatic and marine ecosystems. The discharge of untreated wastewaters carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home of sea mammals may have dramatic consequences on vulnerable species. The efficient transmission of coronaviruses raises questions regarding the contributions of virus-receptors interactions. The main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2), serving as a functional receptor for the viral spike (S) protein. This study was aimed, through the comparative analysis of the ACE-2 receptor with the human one, at assessing the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 of the different species of marine mammals living in Italian waters. We also determined, by means of immunohistochemistry, ACE-2 receptor localization in the lung tissue from different cetacean species, in order to provide a preliminary characterization of ACE-.2 expression in the marine mammals’ respiratory tract. Furthermore, in order to evaluate if and how wastewater management in Italy may lead to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to the virus, geo-mapping data of wastewater plants, associated to the identification of specific stretches of coast more exposed to extreme weather events, overlapped to marine mammal population data, were carried out. Results showed the SARS-CoV-2 exposure for marine mammals inhabiting Italian coastal waters. Thus, we highlight the potential hazard of reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with its impact on marine mammals regularly inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, whilst also stressing the need of appropriate action to prevent further damage to specific vulnerable populations.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2, a Threat to Marine Mammals? A Study from Italian Seawaters

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1663
Author(s):  
Tania Audino ◽  
Carla Grattarola ◽  
Cinzia Centelleghe ◽  
Simone Peletto ◽  
Federica Giorda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Receptor Localization ◽  
Sea Mammals ◽  
The Impact

Zoonotically transmitted coronaviruses were responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the dramatic Coronavirus Disease-2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic, which affected public health, the economy, and society on a global scale. The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic permeated into our environment and wildlife as well; in particular, concern has been raised about the viral occurrence and persistence in aquatic and marine ecosystems. The discharge of untreated wastewaters carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home to sea mammals may have dramatic consequences on vulnerable species. The efficient transmission of coronaviruses raises questions regarding the contributions of virus-receptor interactions. The main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2), serving as a functional receptor for the viral spike (S) protein. This study aimed, through the comparative analysis of the ACE-2 receptor with the human one, at assessing susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 for different species of marine mammals living in Italian waters. We also determined, by means of immunohistochemistry, ACE-2 receptor localization in the lung tissue from different cetacean species, in order to provide a preliminary characterization of ACE-2 expression in the marine mammal respiratory tracts. Furthermore, to evaluate if and how Italian wastewater management and coastal exposition to extreme weather events may led to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, geomapping data were carried out and overlapped. The results showed the potential SARS-CoV-2 exposure for marine mammals inhabiting Italian coastal waters, putting them at risk when swimming and feeding in specific risk areas. Thus, we highlighted the potential hazard of the reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with its impact on marine mammals regularly inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, while also stressing the need for appropriate action in order to prevent further damage to specific vulnerable populations.

scholarly journals Feasibility of melting fingerprint obtained from ISSR-HRM curves for marine mammal species identification

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11689
Author(s):  
Wannapimol Kriangwanich ◽  
Kittisak Buddhachat ◽  
Anocha Poommouang ◽  
Siriwadee Chomdej ◽  
Chatchote Thitaram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Issr Markers ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Hrm Analysis ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
High Degree

Currently, species identification of stranded marine mammals mostly relies on morphological features, which has inherent challenges. The use of genetic information for marine mammal species identification remains limited, therefore, new approaches that can contribute to a better monitoring of stranded species are needed. In that context, the ISSR-HRM method we have proposed offers a new approach for marine mammal species identification. Consequently, new approaches need to be developed to identify individuals at the species level. Eight primers of the ISSR markers were chosen for HRM analysis resulting in ranges of accuracy of 56.78–75.50% and 52.14–75.93% in terms of precision, while a degree of sensitivity of more than 80% was recorded when each single primer was used. The ISSR-HRM primer combinations revealed a success rate of 100% in terms of discrimination for all marine mammals included in this study. Furthermore, ISSR-HRM analysis was successfully employed in determining marine mammal discrimination among varying marine mammal species. Thus, ISSR-HRM analysis could serve as an effective alternative tool in the species identification process. This option would offer researchers a heightened level of convenience in terms of its performance and success rate. It would also offer field practice to veterinarians, biologists and other field-related people a greater degree of ease with which they could interpret results when effectively classifying stranded marine mammals. However, further studies with more samples and with a broader geographical scope will be required involving distinct populations to account for the high degree of intraspecific variability in cetaceans and to demonstrate the range of applications of this approach.

scholarly journals Stability of Domoic Acid in 50% Methanol Extracts and Raw Fecal Material from Bowhead Whales (Balaena mysticetus)

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 423
Author(s):  
Emily K. Bowers ◽  
Raphaela Stimmelmayr ◽  
Kathi A. Lefebvre
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Domoic Acid ◽  
Harmful Algal Bloom ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Fecal Material ◽  
Shellfish Poisoning ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Methanol Extracts

Domoic acid (DA), the toxin causing amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is produced globally by some diatoms in the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. DA has been detected in several marine mammal species in the Alaskan Arctic, raising health concerns for marine mammals and subsistence communities dependent upon them. Gastrointestinal matrices are routinely used to detect Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) toxin presence in marine mammals, yet DA stability has only been studied extensively in shellfish-related matrices. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified DA in bowhead whale fecal samples at multiple time points for two groups: (1) 50% methanol extracts from feces, and (2) raw feces stored in several conditions. DA concentrations decreased to 70 ± 7.1% of time zero (T0) in the 50% methanol extracts after 2 weeks, but remained steady until the final time point at 5 weeks (66 ± 5.7% T0). In contrast, DA concentrations were stable or increased in raw fecal material after 8 weeks of freezer storage (−20 °C), at room temperature (RT) in the dark, or refrigerated at 1 °C. DA concentrations in raw feces stored in an incubator (37 °C) or at RT in the light decreased to 77 ± 2.8% and 90 ± 15.0% T0 at 8 weeks, respectively. Evaporation during storage of raw fecal material is a likely cause of the increased DA concentrations observed over time with the highest increase to 126 ± 7.6% T0 after 3.2 years of frozen storage. These results provide valuable information for developing appropriate sample storage procedures for marine mammal fecal samples.

scholarly journals Circumpolar biodiversity monitoring program’s state of the Arctic marine biodiversity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit M. Kovacs ◽  
Rosa Meehan ◽  
Stas Belikov ◽  
Genevieve Desportes ◽  
Steve Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Status And Trends

Marine mammals are top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems and are key to ecosystem functioning. Many Arctic marine mammal species are important resources and hold special cultural significance in Arctic communities. The CBMP (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme) Marine Mammal Expert Network aggregated and reviewed data on the population status and trends of all 11 ice-associated marine mammal Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring (and research) efforts for these species. Changes taking place in the physical environment in the Arctic due to global warming are affecting marine mammal behaviour, abundance, growth rates, body condition and reproduction, and impacting the resilience of marine mammal populations with concomitant effects on the people who rely on them for subsistence, economic and cultural purposes. Effective marine mammal population monitoring will need improved techniques and application at appropriate geographic scales to measure trends that can be evaluated relative to changes in climate (e.g., sea-ice cover) and human activities (e.g., hunting, shipping, mineral exploration). This presentation will summarize current marine mammal monitoring across the Arctic, the status and trends of FECs, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

scholarly journals Marine Mammals Occurring in the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area, Philippines

2021 ◽  
pp. 129-142
Author(s):  
Manuel Eduardo de la Paz ◽  
Jacob Nathaniel Luther ◽  
Stiffy Marie Espinosa ◽  
Bea Chiara Festin ◽  
Rubena Marie Santillan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
The North ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Wetlands Conservation

The Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) is the Philippines’ 7th Ramsar Site of Wetlands of International Importance. It spans 89,607 ha comprising the municipal waters of 10 adjacent towns and municipalities. Its waters are part of the Guimaras Strait in the north and the Panay Gulf in the south. This research aimed to assess marine mammal diversity in these coastal wetlands. Marine mammal species here were documented through strandings, interview surveys, and boat surveys. Ten species of marine mammals, including the dugong (Dugong dugon), have stranded in the NOCWCA for the past ten years. Three species were encountered in the boat surveys: Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), Long-snouted spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris longirostris), and Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). All species were encountered in close proximity to fishing boats, indicating possible interactions. The presence of these marine mammals here highlights the importance of these areas as essential habitats.

scholarly journals Marine mammal sightings around oil and gas installations in the central North Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 993-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Delefosse ◽  
Malene Louise Rahbek ◽  
Lars Roesen ◽  
Karin Tubbert Clausen
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Minke Whale ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Central North Sea

Relatively little is known about the distribution and diversity of marine mammals around offshore anthropogenic structures. We present results obtained from incidental sightings of marine mammals around oil and gas installations located 200 km off the Danish coast. A total of 131 sightings corresponding to about 288 animals were reported between May 2013 and May 2016. A total of seven marine mammal species were identified, five cetaceans: harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), killer whale (Orcinus orca), pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) and two species of pinnipeds: harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). The most sighted species were harbour porpoise (41%) and minke whale (31%). Relative counts and biodiversity of marine mammals observed around installations corresponded well with the expected distribution in the central North Sea. Several taxon-specific correlations were identified between number of sightings and environmental parameters (depth and latitude) or installation characteristics (installation aerial footprint). Furthermore, 85% of sightings were made during spring and summer and it is unclear whether the pattern observed reflected a natural seasonal occurrence of marine mammals in the area or an effect of reduced effort during autumn and winter. Despite the potential caveats, results obtained during this programme provide an insight into the relationship between marine mammals and oil and gas offshore installations in the North Sea.

scholarly journals Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: Decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (15) ◽  
pp. 4531-4540 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
Andrew A. Burbidge ◽  
Peter L. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Land Mammal

The highly distinctive and mostly endemic Australian land mammal fauna has suffered an extraordinary rate of extinction (>10% of the 273 endemic terrestrial species) over the last ∼200 y: in comparison, only one native land mammal from continental North America became extinct since European settlement. A further 21% of Australian endemic land mammal species are now assessed to be threatened, indicating that the rate of loss (of one to two extinctions per decade) is likely to continue. Australia’s marine mammals have fared better overall, but status assessment for them is seriously impeded by lack of information. Much of the loss of Australian land mammal fauna (particularly in the vast deserts and tropical savannas) has been in areas that are remote from human population centers and recognized as relatively unmodified at global scale. In contrast to general patterns of extinction on other continents where the main cause is habitat loss, hunting, and impacts of human development, particularly in areas of high and increasing human population pressures, the loss of Australian land mammals is most likely due primarily to predation by introduced species, particularly the feral cat, Felis catus, and European red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and changed fire regimes.

scholarly journals Impacts of human disturbance in marine mammals: Do behavioral changes translate to disease consequences?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Ann Collier ◽  
Sania Ali ◽  
Janet Mann ◽  
Shweta Bansal
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Human Disturbances

Humans have been altering wildlife habitats and wildlife behavior worldwide at an accelerated pace in recent decades. While it is well-understood how human-induced behavioral changes affect infectious disease risk in terrestrial wildlife, less is known in marine life. Here we examine this link in marine mammal populations by (1) conducting a systematic literature review to determine how human disturbances change marine mammal behavior in ways that can impact disease spread, and (2) examining how these behavioral changes might influence potential epidemics using a mathematical modeling framework. We find that human disturbances can influence marine mammal behavior in a way that increases their exposure and susceptibility to pathogens, as well as their infectivity, or ability to effectively shed pathogens and infect conspecifics. When these changes to exposure, susceptibility, and infectivity are applied in four different marine mammal case studies, epidemics are predicted to be larger and more likely to occur. Considering the rate at which human disturbance is increasing in the marine environment, and the large number of marine mammal species that are endangered oron the verge of extinction, we advocate for the careful consideration of the direct and indirect impact of human disturbance on marine mammal health.

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