Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>)
Evidence of hearing impairment was identified in a harbour porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) on the basis of scanning electron microscopy. In addition, based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry, there were signs of unrelated cerebral toxoplasmosis. The six-year old individual li...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3058 |
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| author | Maria Morell Lonneke L. IJsseldijk Alinda J. Berends Andrea Gröne Ursula Siebert Stephen A. Raverty Robert E. Shadwick Marja J. L. Kik |
| author_facet | Maria Morell Lonneke L. IJsseldijk Alinda J. Berends Andrea Gröne Ursula Siebert Stephen A. Raverty Robert E. Shadwick Marja J. L. Kik |
| author_sort | Maria Morell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evidence of hearing impairment was identified in a harbour porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) on the basis of scanning electron microscopy. In addition, based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry, there were signs of unrelated cerebral toxoplasmosis. The six-year old individual live stranded on the Dutch coast at Domburg in 2016 and died a few hours later. The most significant gross lesion was multifocal necrosis and haemorrhage of the cerebrum. Histopathology of the brain revealed extensive necrosis and haemorrhage in the cerebrum with multifocal accumulations of degenerated neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, and perivascular lymphocytic cuffing. The diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis was confirmed by positive staining of protozoa with anti-<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> antibodies. Tachyzoites were not observed histologically in any of the examined tissues. Ultrastructural evaluation of the inner ear revealed evidence of scattered loss of outer hair cells in a 290 µm long segment of the apical turn of the cochlea, and in a focal region of ~ 1.5 mm from the apex of the cochlea, which was compatible with noise-induced hearing loss. This is the first case of concurrent presumptive noise-induced hearing loss and toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging harbour porpoise from the North Sea. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:36:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-759c3675b9fa42d98752ff5fef6c4f98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:36:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-759c3675b9fa42d98752ff5fef6c4f982023-12-03T13:26:59ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-10-011111305810.3390/ani11113058Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>)Maria Morell0Lonneke L. IJsseldijk1Alinda J. Berends2Andrea Gröne3Ursula Siebert4Stephen A. Raverty5Robert E. Shadwick6Marja J. L. Kik7Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761 Büsum, GermanyDepartment of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The NetherlandsInstitute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761 Büsum, GermanyZoology Department, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaZoology Department, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaDepartment of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The NetherlandsEvidence of hearing impairment was identified in a harbour porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) on the basis of scanning electron microscopy. In addition, based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry, there were signs of unrelated cerebral toxoplasmosis. The six-year old individual live stranded on the Dutch coast at Domburg in 2016 and died a few hours later. The most significant gross lesion was multifocal necrosis and haemorrhage of the cerebrum. Histopathology of the brain revealed extensive necrosis and haemorrhage in the cerebrum with multifocal accumulations of degenerated neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, and perivascular lymphocytic cuffing. The diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis was confirmed by positive staining of protozoa with anti-<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> antibodies. Tachyzoites were not observed histologically in any of the examined tissues. Ultrastructural evaluation of the inner ear revealed evidence of scattered loss of outer hair cells in a 290 µm long segment of the apical turn of the cochlea, and in a focal region of ~ 1.5 mm from the apex of the cochlea, which was compatible with noise-induced hearing loss. This is the first case of concurrent presumptive noise-induced hearing loss and toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging harbour porpoise from the North Sea.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3058<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>North Sealive strandingpost-mortem examinationencephalitisnoise-induced hearing loss |
| spellingShingle | Maria Morell Lonneke L. IJsseldijk Alinda J. Berends Andrea Gröne Ursula Siebert Stephen A. Raverty Robert E. Shadwick Marja J. L. Kik Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) Animals <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> North Sea live stranding post-mortem examination encephalitis noise-induced hearing loss |
| title | Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) |
| title_full | Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) |
| title_short | Evidence of Hearing Loss and Unrelated Toxoplasmosis in a Free-Ranging Harbour Porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) |
| title_sort | evidence of hearing loss and unrelated toxoplasmosis in a free ranging harbour porpoise i phocoena phocoena i |
| topic | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> North Sea live stranding post-mortem examination encephalitis noise-induced hearing loss |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3058 |
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