Death associated to methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus ST8 infection in two dolphins maintained under human care, Italy

The present study describes the isolation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from respiratory tract of 2 dolphins of different origin, a stranded juvenile Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) and a captive born common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) calf, which died in the same institution at 1-month distance from the other. A complete microbiological and genetic investigation confirmed the presence of MRSA clone-complex 8, sequence type (ST) 8, spa-type t008 in both individuals. This strain differs from the one previously reported in walruses and dolphins and has never been described in dolphins before, but it is randomly isolated from Italian human patients. Vertical transmission of the infection may also occurs in other species and considering the description and location of the pathological lesions, this seems to be the most likely route of transmission implied in the young bottlenose dolphin. Staphylococcus aureus is known as an opportunistic agent, usually secondary to other pathogens, but its multiple antibiotic resistance and its zoonotic implications suggest a thorough and strict application of animal management hygiene protocols

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in an African lion (Panthera leo)

A 15-year-old female African lion (Panthera leo) maintained at the Zoological Garden of Pistoia, Tuscany (Italy), showed signs of malaise, dyspnoea, tremors, pale mucous membranes and ataxia for two days prior to death. Complete blood count showed anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and severe lymphocytosis. At autopsy, the most relevant finding was severe, generalised splenomegaly. Histologically, high numbers of neoplastic lymphocytes diffusely infiltrated the spleen, liver, heart, pancreas, kidney and lungs. The lymphoid cells were positive for CD79a and negative for CD3 on immunohistochemistry. The histologic features of the neoplastic cells and their immunophenotype are consistent with B-cell lymphocytes. Based on surface membrane co-expression of immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin D in most neoplastic cells, which indicated that they were naïve, antigen-inexperienced and mature circulating resting B-cells, and consistent with their appearance as small lymphocytes with high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios, a diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was made

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated dolphin mortality and the subsequent facility decolonisation protocol

This case reports the presence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a colony of cetaceans maintained under human care. MRSA isolates of the same strain were cultured from multiple organs of two dolphins that died with septicaemia. Following these mortalities and in consideration of the zoonotic potential of this pathogen, a decolonisation protocol was developed and applied to reduce the risk of exposure to humans and animals. After monitoring for MRSA presence in the animals, environment and staff, a strict sanitation protocol was applied for 15 months, with the aim of controlling MRSA. This protocol reduced the incidence of this pathogen and its involvement in acute clinical cases. The transmission between cetaceans and the implication of human reservoirs are discussed as important issues for veterinarians, facility managers and public health officials

Fecal cortisol radioimmunoassay to monitor adrenal gland activity in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) under human care

Fecal glucocorticoid measurement is an important noninvasive tool to monitor animal health. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) method was developed to measure fecal cortisol in bottlenose dolphins under human care. The method was used to measure baseline hormone levels and evaluate the adrenal response to environmental challenges in a small number of individual dolphins. The method was validated by precision and accuracy tests and by comparison with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The parallelism test suggested few matrix interferences. The assay showed a good degree of precision within assay (CV = 5.4%) and between assays (CV = 4.1%). The RIA significantly correlated with the LC-MS method (r = 0.838, P < 0.01). The recovery test and the comparison between RIA and LC-MS suggested that the RIA slightly underestimates fecal cortisol concentrations, although the degree of accuracy was good. This study established that bottlenose dolphins excrete appreciable amounts of fecal cortisol (healthy subjects: 0.2\u20139.5 ng/g). Therefore, chronic HPA axis activation may be monitored in fecal samples by immunoassays after validating a suitable extraction protocol. The RIA could discriminate conditions of stimulation (pregnancy, parturition, isolation, transportation) and inhibition (diazepam administration) f the HPA axis and may, therefore, be useful for monitoring dolphin well-being

Milk composition, fatty acids profile and fat globule size of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) milk at early lactation

RResearch data on milk composition in cetaceans are scattered and fragmentary. This paper analyses the gross and mineral composition, the fatty acids profile and the fat globule size of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) colostrum and milk at early lactation. The milk samplings were carried out on three lactating female of bottlenose dolphins at the 1st, 4-5 and 20- 42 day post partum. High percentages of dry matter (51.88%), fat (26.08%) and protein (13.83%) were found in the colostrum on the first day, while there was a tendency for these components to decrease in the milk. The average diameter the milk fat globule (7.07 μm) of this species was assessed for the first time. The milk was rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which were more than twice compared to the saturated fatty acids (unsaturated / saturated ratio = 2.6). The main fatty acids of dolphin milk were C16: 0, C16:1 n-7, C18: 1n-9, C20: 1 n-11 C20: 5 and C22:6n-3. Several FA tended to increase from colostrum to milk: C12: 0 doubled, C20: 1 n-7 and C22:1 n-11 tripled, C20: 1 n-9 quintupled in later milk samples. Differently, other FA tended to decrease: C18: 3 n-3 was approximately 4 times lower and C24: 0 and C24: 1 halved in milk compared to colostrum. In conclusion, this paper contributes to the knowledge of the nutritional value of milk from bottlenose dolphins maintained under human care. Higher content of nutritional components such as fat and protein was found in the first day colostrum compared to milk. Moreover, the findings of this study highlight abundance of unsaturated fatty acids and large sized milk fat globules in dolphin milk

Physiological Parameters Monitored on Bottlenose Dolphin Neonates (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) over the First 30 Days of Life

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have been bred under human care for more than 60 years. Calves up to 30 days of life have presented the highest mortality rate, although comparable data for free-ranging neonates within this age group is not available. Husbandry measures to increase survivability have therefore been constantly improved. This work shows the results of a structured veterinary program that established the procedures to collect relevant physiological parameters on 13 calves during their first 30 days of life. Standardized observation protocols facilitated statistical analysis of the respiratory pattern, nursing, morphometric measurements and bloodwork. These allow early detection of health issues. Healthy neonates had longer apnea duration, despite the shape and size of the facility. The nursing pattern showed that successful calves started nursing 3 to 18 h postpartum. Although with different individual patterns, a steady increase in suckling time occurs during the first 24 h of life. The healthy neonates grew 0.428 ± 0.102 kg per day and the complete blood count profile, glucose, iron, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatinine and electrolytes values considered normal for healthy calves are provided. Furthermore, cholesterol, triglycerides, α-amylase, lipase, magnesium and cortisol are reported for the first time for such young calves. A list of indications for prompt intervention is included

Comparative Study of the Gastric Mucosa of Risso&rsquo;s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) and Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): A Key to Manage the Diet in Captive Conditions

To histologically evaluate the gastric compartments of Risso&rsquo;s (Grampus griseus) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and provide suggestions for the diet of Risso&rsquo;s dolphins in captivity, we examined 12 stomachs from both species. While slight differences in keratinization were observed in the forestomach, significant differences came to light in the second stomach&rsquo;s mucosa. At this level, in Risso&rsquo;s dolphin, the principal cells are markedly reduced in size and located externally to the parietal cells, not interspersed between them, compared to bottlenose dolphins; differences were also observed in the structure and concentration of the parietal and principal cells of the gastric body glands (p &lt; 0.0001). The quantitative results of G- and D-cell counts in the gastric mucosa show a clear difference, with a higher concentration of G cells in the mucosa of Risso&rsquo;s dolphin (t = 7.334; p &lt; 0.0001) and a higher level of D cells in bottlenose dolphin mucosa (t = 3.123; p = 0.0049). These results suggest that parietal cells undergo greater stimulation by gastrin produced by G cells, with greater acid secretion in G. griseus. Further studies are needed to understand whether an inappropriate diet could lead to severe clinical signs due to gastric acidity in Risso&rsquo;s dolphin