Bogomolni, A. ., WHOI, Woods Hole, USA, andreab@whoi.edu
Dennett, M. R., WHOI, Woods Hole, USA, mdennett@whoi.edu
Gast, R. J., WHOI, Woods Hole, USA, rgast@whoi.edu
Blachly, C. R., Emory University, Atlanta, USA,
Ellis, J. C., SEANET, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, USA,
Pokras, M. A., Wildlife Clinic, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, USA,
Touhey, K. ., Cape Cod Stranding Network, Buzzards Bay, USA,
Tseng, F. ., Wildlife Clinic, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, USA,
Moore, M. ., WHOI, Woods Hole, USA, mmoore@whoi.edu

ZOONOTIC PATHOGENS IN MARINE VERTEBRATES OF THE COASTAL NORTHEAST U.S.

There is growing concern regarding marine mammals and seabirds as both victims and vectors of disease agents. Human interactions with seals, dolphins, whales and seabirds occur both directly and indirectly. This project is investigating the occurrence of bacterial and protistan zoonotic pathogens in whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and shorebirds in coastal New England. While tissue samples come from stranded or by-caught individuals, fecal samples have been obtained from live and putatively healthy gulls and seals as well. Giardia and Brucella were the two pathogens most often detected, although Cryptosporidium and Leptospira were also detected. Bacterial cultures have yielded a collection of organisms that cause diseases including septicemia, meningitis, gastroenteritis, bacteremia, and pneumonia. Antibiotic resistance has also been detected in half of the bacterial isolates of clinical interest, with a significant number showing multiple resistance to antibiotics used in the treatment of both humans and animals. We will report our current results for over 250 individual animals. The presence of these pathogens and drug resistant bacteria indicates that even open ocean marine animals are exposed to and potentially harbor these organisms.

http://www.whoi.edu/sites/zoon

Oral presentation

Presentation is given by student: No
Session #:120
Date: 03-03-2008
Time: 09:15