Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) exposed to freshwater or low salinity (<10 practical salinity units; PSU) for prolonged periods of time have been documented to develop skin lesions, corneal edema and electrolyte abnormalities, and in some instances they have died. Here we revi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00235/full |
| _version_ | 1818531412348764160 |
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| author | Alissa C. Deming Noel L. Wingers Debra P. Moore David Rotstein Randall S. Wells Ruth Ewing Matthew R. Hodanbosi Matthew R. Hodanbosi Ruth H. Carmichael Ruth H. Carmichael |
| author_facet | Alissa C. Deming Noel L. Wingers Debra P. Moore David Rotstein Randall S. Wells Ruth Ewing Matthew R. Hodanbosi Matthew R. Hodanbosi Ruth H. Carmichael Ruth H. Carmichael |
| author_sort | Alissa C. Deming |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) exposed to freshwater or low salinity (<10 practical salinity units; PSU) for prolonged periods of time have been documented to develop skin lesions, corneal edema and electrolyte abnormalities, and in some instances they have died. Here we review a case of an out-of-habitat subadult, female common bottlenose dolphin that remained in a freshwater lake in Seminole, Alabama for at least 32 days. Due to concerns for the dolphin's health a rescue was initiated. At the time of rescue bloodwork results indicated minor electrolyte abnormalities (hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypoosmolality). Renal function was not affected (normal creatinine and urea nitrogen) and all other bloodwork parameters (hemogram; serum biochemistry analytes) were within normal limits. The dolphin was deemed healthy enough for immediate relocation and release. A satellite-linked tag was attached to the dorsal fin to track the dolphin following its relocation to a nearby brackish water bay (Perdido Bay, AL), a known habitat for bottlenose dolphins. Twelve weeks following release, the dolphin was found dead as a result of a fisheries interaction (peracute underwater entrapment). A full necropsy was conducted and there was complete resolution of the skin pallor and skin lesions and no evidence of chronic renal or central nervous system lesions. Post-mortem analysis of vitreous humor (used as a proxy for serum analytes and to determine post-mortem interval) was challenging to interpret and has not been validated in dolphins. This supports the need for future research in cetaceans to establish a species-specific approach. Elevated barium (Ba) concentrations in tooth dentin corresponded to increased seasonal freshwater discharge patterns, confirming repeated annual exposure to low salinity conditions prior to death and indicating freshwater exposure may pose an ongoing threat to dolphins in the region. This case provides a unique opportunity to follow the progression of prolonged freshwater exposure and recovery in a bottlenose dolphin and highlights that dolphins in nearshore habitats face a combination of persistent natural and human associated threats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:32:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41a95246665b4dd7a478ce16f242b8a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:32:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-41a95246665b4dd7a478ce16f242b8a72022-12-22T00:56:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692020-05-01710.3389/fvets.2020.00235523704Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)Alissa C. Deming0Noel L. Wingers1Debra P. Moore2David Rotstein3Randall S. Wells4Ruth Ewing5Matthew R. Hodanbosi6Matthew R. Hodanbosi7Ruth H. Carmichael8Ruth H. Carmichael9Marine Mammal Research Center, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesMarine Mammal Research Center, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, United StatesMarine Mammal Pathology Services, Olney, MD, United StatesChicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Sarasota, FL, United StatesSoutheast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Miami, FL, United StatesMarine Mammal Research Center, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United StatesMarine Mammal Research Center, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Dauphin Island, AL, United StatesDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United StatesCommon bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) exposed to freshwater or low salinity (<10 practical salinity units; PSU) for prolonged periods of time have been documented to develop skin lesions, corneal edema and electrolyte abnormalities, and in some instances they have died. Here we review a case of an out-of-habitat subadult, female common bottlenose dolphin that remained in a freshwater lake in Seminole, Alabama for at least 32 days. Due to concerns for the dolphin's health a rescue was initiated. At the time of rescue bloodwork results indicated minor electrolyte abnormalities (hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypoosmolality). Renal function was not affected (normal creatinine and urea nitrogen) and all other bloodwork parameters (hemogram; serum biochemistry analytes) were within normal limits. The dolphin was deemed healthy enough for immediate relocation and release. A satellite-linked tag was attached to the dorsal fin to track the dolphin following its relocation to a nearby brackish water bay (Perdido Bay, AL), a known habitat for bottlenose dolphins. Twelve weeks following release, the dolphin was found dead as a result of a fisheries interaction (peracute underwater entrapment). A full necropsy was conducted and there was complete resolution of the skin pallor and skin lesions and no evidence of chronic renal or central nervous system lesions. Post-mortem analysis of vitreous humor (used as a proxy for serum analytes and to determine post-mortem interval) was challenging to interpret and has not been validated in dolphins. This supports the need for future research in cetaceans to establish a species-specific approach. Elevated barium (Ba) concentrations in tooth dentin corresponded to increased seasonal freshwater discharge patterns, confirming repeated annual exposure to low salinity conditions prior to death and indicating freshwater exposure may pose an ongoing threat to dolphins in the region. This case provides a unique opportunity to follow the progression of prolonged freshwater exposure and recovery in a bottlenose dolphin and highlights that dolphins in nearshore habitats face a combination of persistent natural and human associated threats.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00235/fullGulf of Mexicofreshwater skin lesionscorneal edemaout-of-habitathuman interaction |
| spellingShingle | Alissa C. Deming Noel L. Wingers Debra P. Moore David Rotstein Randall S. Wells Ruth Ewing Matthew R. Hodanbosi Matthew R. Hodanbosi Ruth H. Carmichael Ruth H. Carmichael Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Frontiers in Veterinary Science Gulf of Mexico freshwater skin lesions corneal edema out-of-habitat human interaction |
| title | Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) |
| title_full | Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) |
| title_fullStr | Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) |
| title_short | Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) |
| title_sort | health impacts and recovery from prolonged freshwater exposure in a common bottlenose dolphin tursiops truncatus |
| topic | Gulf of Mexico freshwater skin lesions corneal edema out-of-habitat human interaction |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00235/full |
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