Laminar and cytoarchitectonic features of the cerebral cortex in the Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Morphology of the lymph nodes was examined in six bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and three striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Adriatic Sea. All animals had been found dead in nature. One group of the nodes was taken from the tracheal branching area and was marked as bifurcational lymph node, and the other group was taken from the mesenteric root and was marked as mesenteric lymph node. Microscopic analysis showed that the lymph nodes in both dolphin specieswere surrounded by a connective tissue capsule comprising smooth muscle cells. The parenchyma of the mesenteric and bifurcational lymph nodes in bottlenose dolphinwas divided into the peripherally situated cortex with the lymphatic nodules and diffuse lymphatic tissue, and the centrally situated medulla structured of the medullary cords separated by the medullary sinuses. These lymph nodes structurally correspond to the lymph nodes in the majority of terrestrial mammals. The mesenteric lymph node of striped dolphin also had a peripherally situated cortex and a centrally positioned medulla as the majority of terrestrial mammals. In the bifurcational lymph nodes of striped dolphin, there was a central dense lymphatic tissue with the lymphatic nodules and a peripheral less dense lymphatic tissue structured of the cell cords and sinuses. The bifurcational lymph node in striped dolphinresembledporcine lymph nodes and belonged to the inverse lymph nodes.

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Influence of environmental factors on small cetacean distribution in the Spanish Mediterranean

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315408000386 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 88 (6) ◽

pp. 1185-1192 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

A. Gómez de Segura ◽

P.S. Hammond ◽

J.A. Raga

Keyword(s):

Linear Models ◽

Bottlenose Dolphins ◽

Chlorophyll Concentration ◽

Spatial Models ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Cetacean Species ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

Striped Dolphin ◽

Environmental Features ◽

Risso's Dolphin

Habitat distribution models are one of the most up to date methods to study the habitat usage of wildlife populations. They allow animal distribution to be related to environmental features and also the prediction of the distribution of animals based on this relationship. Seasonal aerial surveys were conducted in central Spanish Mediterranean waters from June 2000 to March 2003 to obtain information on the distribution of cetacean species. Data from the three most common cetacean species (striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, and Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus) were related, using generalized linear models, to local environmental features: depth, slope, sea surface temperature and chlorophyll concentration. For bottlenose dolphins, no significant relationship was found with any covariate and no dolphins were observed in waters greater than 1000 m. The distribution of both striped and Risso's dolphin was significantly related to depth. The striped dolphin showed a preference for waters between 900 and 1500 m deep and Risso's dolphin for waters more than 1500 m deep. In addition, for the latest two species, maps of distribution were predicted by means of the spatial models. The areas of higher probabilities of occurrence coincide to a large extent with the marine protected areas previously proposed for the conservation of oceanic cetacean species.

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Concentration of mercury and selenium in tissues of five cetacean species from Croatian coastal waters

Archives of Biological Sciences ◽

10.2298/abs140215116b ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

pp. 1377-1389 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nina Bilandzic ◽

Marija Sedak ◽

Maja Djokic ◽

Martina Djuras ◽

Tomislav Gomercic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coastal Waters ◽

Tursiops Truncatus ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Balaenoptera Physalus ◽

Cetacean Species ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Grampus Griseus ◽

Ziphius Cavirostris

Mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) concentrations were measured in muscle, liver, kidney, spleen and lung tissues of five cetacean species, three dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus and Grampus griseus) and two whale species (Balaenoptera physalus and Ziphius cavirostris), stranded along the Croatian coast during the period 1999-2002. Statistically significant differences in Hg concentrations in muscle, spleen and lung, and Se in liver and lung of the different dolphin species were observed. Mercury levels in liver and spleen and Se levels in liver differed between young and adult T. truncatus species. A significant positive correlation between different tissue types for Hg and Se concentrations was observed. In all tissues tested, the lowest Hg and Se concentrations were found in B. physalus. Mercury concentrations were positively correlated with Se in all tissues. The results present one of few studies related to lung and spleen tissues in these mammals, particularly in the Adriatic Sea. Since very little data are available, this research provides new data on concentrations of Hg and Se in five cetacean species from the Adriatic Sea basin.

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Neurobrucellosis in a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Canary Islands

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-019-2089-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eva Sierra ◽

Antonio Fernández ◽

Idaira Felipe-Jiménez ◽

Daniele Zucca ◽

Gabriella Di Francesco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Canary Islands ◽

Shoulder Joint ◽

Bottlenose Dolphin ◽

Tursiops Truncatus ◽

Histopathological Examination ◽

Systemic Disease ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽

The Brain

Abstract Background Brucella spp. isolation is increasingly reported in cetaceans, although associated pathologies, including lesions of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, are less frequently described. Concerning the nervous system, Brucella sp. infection causing meningitis, meningoencephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis have been extensively reported in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), and less frequently in other cetacean species. Case presentation A juvenile female common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found stranded alive in Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) in 2005, but died shortly after. On physical examination, the dolphin showed a moderate body condition and was classified as code 2 (fresh dead) at the time of necropsy. The main gross findings were severe multiorgan parasitism, thickened and congested leptomeninges, and (sero)fibrino-suppurative and proliferative arthritis of the shoulder joint. Histopathological examination revealed the distinct features of a sub-acute systemic disease associated with Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) infection. However, brain lesions diverged from those reported in systemic CeMV infection. This led to suspect that there was a coinfecting pathogen, based on the characteristics of the inflammatory response and the lesion distribution pattern in the central nervous system. Brucella sp. was detected in the brain tissue by PCR and Brucella antigen was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in the brain and shoulder joint lesions. Conclusions The zoonotic potential of marine mammal strains of Brucella has been demonstrated both in natural and laboratory conditions. In this study, PCR detected Brucella sp. in the brain of a common bottlenose dolphin stranded in the Canary Islands; the dolphin was also co-infected with CeMV. This is the first detection of Brucella sp. infection in a stranded cetacean in this archipelago. Therefore, we stress the importance of taking adequate measures during the handling of these species to prevent the transmissions of the infection to humans.

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Cetacei spiaggiati lungo le coste della Campania dal 2006 al 2011 (Mammalia: Cetacea)

Natural History Sciences ◽

10.4081/18 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 153 (2) ◽

pp. 241

Author(s):

Nicola Maio ◽

Francesco Pollaro ◽

Fabio Di Nocera ◽

Esterina De Carlo ◽

Giorgio Galiero

Keyword(s):

Tursiops Truncatus ◽

Title Page ◽

Font Size ◽

Balaenoptera Acutorostrata ◽

Balaenoptera Physalus ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

Delphinus Delphis ◽

Grampus Griseus ◽

Sono Stati

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">Nel presente lavoro viene riportato il risultato del rilevamento degli spiaggiamenti e dei rinvenimenti in mare di Cetacei avvenuti negli anni 2006 - 2011 lungo le coste della Campania. I dati sono stati raccolti in base ad una collaborazione scientifica tra l’Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, l’Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, il Centro Studi Cetacei e il Centro Studi Ecosistemi Marini, collaborazione, che nel 2008 è stata ratificata da un protocollo di intesa finalizzato agli interventi sui Cetacei spiaggiati lungo le coste della Campania. Nel 2009 la Giunta Regionale della Campania, su richiesta del Settore Veterinario dell’Assessorato alla Sanità, ha decretato la “Costituzione di un Comitato di Coordinamento per l’attuazione del protocollo di intesa per gli interventi in caso di Cetacei e tartarughe spiaggiate” formato dai rappresentanti dei citati enti, delle AA.SS.LL. costiere, della Direzione Marittima di Napoli e dell’A.R.P.A.C. al fine di approvare le linee guida relative alla procedura operativa da adottarsi in caso di intervento per il recupero di carcasse di Cetacei spiaggiati. In totale sono stati raccolti i dati riguardanti 73 esemplari di almeno 6 specie, così suddivisi: 1 Balaenoptera acutorostrata; 4 Balaenoptera physalus; 2 Grampus griseus; 1 Delphinus delphis; 9 Tursiops truncatus; 40 Stenella coeruleoalba; 10 Delfinidi indeterminati e 6 Cetacei indeterminati. Si riporta anche il primo caso di mal rossino diagnosticato in un esemplare di Stenella striata mai segnalato prima per le coste dell’Italia continentale. </div></div></div>

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