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Immune dysfunction in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with lobomycosis

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Date Issued:
2009
Title: Immune dysfunction in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with lobomycosis.
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Name(s): Reif, John S.
Peden-Adams, Margie M.
Romano, Tracy A.
Rice, Charles D.
Fair, Patricia A.
Bossart, Gregory D.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Article
Date Issued: 2009
Publisher: Informa Healthcare
Place of Publication: London, UK
Physical Form: pdf
Extent: 12 p.
Language(s): English
Identifier: FA00007161 (IID), 10.1080/13693780802178493 (doi)
Note(s): Lobomycosis (Lacaziosis) occurs only in humans and dolphins under natural conditions. We evaluated the immune status of eight dolphins with lobomycosis and 40 healthy dolphins from the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida. Lobomycosis cases had multiple abnormalities in their immunologic parameters when compared to healthy dolphins, The absolute number of circulating lymphocytes and serum albumin concentration were reduced (P<0.05) while the segmented neutrophils, alpha I, total beta, total gamma and total globulins were increased (P<0.05). Although innate immunity was relatively intact and phagocytosis and natural killer cell activity were not affected, the plasma lysozyme concentrations were elevated in dolphins with lobomycosis (P<0.05). Adaptive immunity was depressed with statistically significant decreases found in the absolute numbers of CD4+ helper T cells and CDI9+ and C021 + B cells. The ratios of CD2 + T cells to CD4 + cells and CD2 + to CD21 + cells were increased (P =0.05 and P<0.05, respectively) and the numbers of lymphocytes expressing MHC class II molecules was decreased in dolphins with lobomycosis (P<0.05). Lymphocyte proliferation was reduced in response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and concanavalin A (P<0.05). Antibody titers to Erysipelas rhusiopathiae, a common marine micro-organism, were decreased (P<0.05). In summary, dolphins with lobomycosis exhibit significant impairment in adaptive immunity.
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 1710
This is an electronic published version of an article which may be cited as: Reif, J. S., Peden-Adams, M. M., Romano, T. A., Rice, C. D., Fair, P. A., & Bossart, G. D. (2009). Immune dysfunction in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with lobomycosis. Medical Mycology, 47(2), 125-135. doi:10.1080/13693780802178493
Subject(s): Bottlenose dolphin--Atlantic Coast (U.S.)
Lobomycosis
Immunodeficiency
Tursiops truncatus
Lacazia
Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13693780802178493
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007161
Host Institution: FAU