Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomography
Nematodes of the genus Crassicauda are parasites that infect various body tissues of cetaceans, including the mammary glands which can influence the reproductive output and hence threaten the survival of endangered cetacean populations. In this study, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was used t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224422000372 |
| _version_ | 1818523628670550016 |
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| author | Brian C.W. Kot Heysen H.N. Ho Edgar K.C. Leung Tabris Y.T. Chung Henry C.L. Tsui |
| author_facet | Brian C.W. Kot Heysen H.N. Ho Edgar K.C. Leung Tabris Y.T. Chung Henry C.L. Tsui |
| author_sort | Brian C.W. Kot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nematodes of the genus Crassicauda are parasites that infect various body tissues of cetaceans, including the mammary glands which can influence the reproductive output and hence threaten the survival of endangered cetacean populations. In this study, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was used to characterise lesions related to Crassicauda fuelleborni infections in stranded Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Hong Kong waters. Using PMCT and subsequently verified by conventional necropsy, Crassicauda-related lesions were found in 52% of finless porpoises examined (n = 13/25), including both males and females. These parasitic lesions were mostly located in the ventral abdominal muscles in both sexes and situated in proximity to the mammary glands in females. C. fuelleborni infections were also found in the male reproductive organs, which to our knowledge have not been reported in this cetacean species previously. PMCT characteristics of the lesions were also correlated with the gross appearance observed at necropsy and the chronicity of the parasitic infections. In conclusion, this study established the use of virtopsy, particularly PMCT, to characterise C. fuelleborni infections in stranded finless porpoises for the first time, which is non-invasive and can be used prior to conventional necropsy to aid disease diagnosis and targeted sampling. This technique can be extended to other species of cetaceans and parasites, as well as being used in the retrospective analysis of past PMCT scans to deepen our understanding of the prevalence, health impacts, and ecological implications of parasitic infection in cetaceans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:47:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0d5efd5e8584f388ac3f49d865005a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-2244 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:47:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0d5efd5e8584f388ac3f49d865005a92022-12-22T01:18:56ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442022-08-01186875Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomographyBrian C.W. Kot0Heysen H.N. Ho1Edgar K.C. Leung2Tabris Y.T. Chung3Henry C.L. Tsui4Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Chemistry, College of Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corresponding author. Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong KongJockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong KongCentre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, City University of Hong Kong, Hong KongCentre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, City University of Hong Kong, Hong KongNematodes of the genus Crassicauda are parasites that infect various body tissues of cetaceans, including the mammary glands which can influence the reproductive output and hence threaten the survival of endangered cetacean populations. In this study, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was used to characterise lesions related to Crassicauda fuelleborni infections in stranded Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Hong Kong waters. Using PMCT and subsequently verified by conventional necropsy, Crassicauda-related lesions were found in 52% of finless porpoises examined (n = 13/25), including both males and females. These parasitic lesions were mostly located in the ventral abdominal muscles in both sexes and situated in proximity to the mammary glands in females. C. fuelleborni infections were also found in the male reproductive organs, which to our knowledge have not been reported in this cetacean species previously. PMCT characteristics of the lesions were also correlated with the gross appearance observed at necropsy and the chronicity of the parasitic infections. In conclusion, this study established the use of virtopsy, particularly PMCT, to characterise C. fuelleborni infections in stranded finless porpoises for the first time, which is non-invasive and can be used prior to conventional necropsy to aid disease diagnosis and targeted sampling. This technique can be extended to other species of cetaceans and parasites, as well as being used in the retrospective analysis of past PMCT scans to deepen our understanding of the prevalence, health impacts, and ecological implications of parasitic infection in cetaceans.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224422000372CetaceanIndo-Pacific finless porpoiseNeophocaena phocaenoidesHelminthsCrassicauda fuelleborniVirtopsy |
| spellingShingle | Brian C.W. Kot Heysen H.N. Ho Edgar K.C. Leung Tabris Y.T. Chung Henry C.L. Tsui Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomography International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Cetacean Indo-Pacific finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides Helminths Crassicauda fuelleborni Virtopsy |
| title | Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomography |
| title_full | Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomography |
| title_fullStr | Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomography |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomography |
| title_short | Characterisation of Crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) using postmortem computed tomography |
| title_sort | characterisation of crassicauda fuelleborni nematode infection in indo pacific finless porpoises neophocaena phocaenoides using postmortem computed tomography |
| topic | Cetacean Indo-Pacific finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides Helminths Crassicauda fuelleborni Virtopsy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224422000372 |
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