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Animals
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Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research
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Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 34101

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Claudia Gili

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Director of Department of Conservation of Marine Animals and Public Engagement, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80137 Naples, Italy
Interests: zoo and aquatic animal veterinary medicine conservation medicine; marine mammal conservation; aquatic animal welfare & ethics; communication and dissemination of research and science.
Dr. Cinzia Centelleghe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: marine mammal pathology and diseases; new techniques; cell culture techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine mammals are globally considered as valuable bioindicators with enormous potential for public health monitoring. However, many aspects of their anatomy, physiology, pathology and behavior remain poorly understood. Monitoring marine mammals is crucial for the health assessment of both individuals and populations, as well as providing the scientific basis for analyzing the anthropogenic impact on marine ecosystems.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of marine mammals with a particular emphasis on their physiological adaptations to the aquatic environment and its implications for the conservation of the numerous species that populate marine ecosystems.

Considering your ongoing research in the field of marine mammal research, we invite you to consider submitting your manuscript in the upcoming issue “Recent Advances in Marine Mammal Research” for Animals. We kindly ask you to review the attached instructions for authors.

Also, we request that you pass on the information to your colleagues. If anyone shows interest in submitting a manuscript to our journal, please advise them to contact us directly.

Dr. Claudia Gili
Dr. Cinzia Centelleghe
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Aquatic mammal
  • Anatomy
  • Pathology
  • Physiology
  • Conservation Medicine
  • Behavior

Published Papers (7 papers)

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15 pages, 553 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Gastro-Intestinal Tract of Marine Mammals: A Multidisciplinary Approach with a New Multi-Sieves Tool
by Giorgia Corazzola, Matteo Baini, Carla Grattarola, Cristina Panti, Federica Marcer, Fulvio Garibaldi, Enrica Berio, Cecilia Mancusi, Matteo Galli, Sandro Mazzariol, Maria Cristina Fossi, Cinzia Centelleghe and Cristina Casalone
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061824 - 18 Jun 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3088
Abstract
Organs and content of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of marine mammals are relevant for a variety of investigations and provide data to researchers from different fields. Currently used protocols applied to the GIT for specific analysis limit the possibility to execute other investigations [...] Read more.
Organs and content of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of marine mammals are relevant for a variety of investigations and provide data to researchers from different fields. Currently used protocols applied to the GIT for specific analysis limit the possibility to execute other investigations and important information could be lost. To ensure a proper sample collection and a multidisciplinary investigation of the GIT of marine mammals, a new multi-sieves tool and a specific protocol have been developed. This new device and approach allowed the simultaneous sampling of the GIT and its content for the main investigations concerned. The samples collected during these preliminary trials were suitable to perform all the different research procedures considered in this work. The obtained results show that with a few and easy procedural adjustments, a multidisciplinary sampling and evaluation of the GIT of marine mammals is possible. This will reduce the risk of losing important data aimed at understanding the cause of death of the animal, but also biology and ecology of marine mammals, and other important data for their conservation and habitats management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research)
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21 pages, 3706 KiB  
Article
SARS-CoV-2, a Threat to Marine Mammals? A Study from Italian Seawaters
by Tania Audino, Carla Grattarola, Cinzia Centelleghe, Simone Peletto, Federica Giorda, Caterina Lucia Florio, Maria Caramelli, Elena Bozzetta, Sandro Mazzariol, Giovanni Di Guardo, Giancarlo Lauriano and Cristina Casalone
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061663 - 03 Jun 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4927
Abstract
Zoonotically transmitted coronaviruses were responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the dramatic Coronavirus Disease-2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic, which affected public health, the economy, and society on a global scale. The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic permeated into our environment and wildlife [...] Read more.
Zoonotically transmitted coronaviruses were responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the dramatic Coronavirus Disease-2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic, which affected public health, the economy, and society on a global scale. The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic permeated into our environment and wildlife as well; in particular, concern has been raised about the viral occurrence and persistence in aquatic and marine ecosystems. The discharge of untreated wastewaters carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home to sea mammals may have dramatic consequences on vulnerable species. The efficient transmission of coronaviruses raises questions regarding the contributions of virus-receptor interactions. The main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2), serving as a functional receptor for the viral spike (S) protein. This study aimed, through the comparative analysis of the ACE-2 receptor with the human one, at assessing susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 for different species of marine mammals living in Italian waters. We also determined, by means of immunohistochemistry, ACE-2 receptor localization in the lung tissue from different cetacean species, in order to provide a preliminary characterization of ACE-2 expression in the marine mammal respiratory tracts. Furthermore, to evaluate if and how Italian wastewater management and coastal exposition to extreme weather events may led to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, geomapping data were carried out and overlapped. The results showed the potential SARS-CoV-2 exposure for marine mammals inhabiting Italian coastal waters, putting them at risk when swimming and feeding in specific risk areas. Thus, we highlighted the potential hazard of the reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with its impact on marine mammals regularly inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, while also stressing the need for appropriate action in order to prevent further damage to specific vulnerable populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research)
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17 pages, 420 KiB  
Article
Increasing the Awareness of Animal Welfare Science in Marine Mammal Conservation: Addressing Language, Translation and Reception Issues
by Isabella L. K. Clegg, Rebecca M. Boys and Karen A. Stockin
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1596; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061596 - 28 May 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 8271
Abstract
Integrating welfare principles into conservation strategy is an emerging synthesis that encourages consideration of individual animals’ quality of life in research, policies and law. However, these principles have gained limited traction in marine compared to terrestrial animal conservation. This manuscript investigates several factors [...] Read more.
Integrating welfare principles into conservation strategy is an emerging synthesis that encourages consideration of individual animals’ quality of life in research, policies and law. However, these principles have gained limited traction in marine compared to terrestrial animal conservation. This manuscript investigates several factors that may be contributing to this disparity. In order to gauge current understanding of animal welfare science principles by marine mammal researchers and other stakeholders, a “Welfare in the Wild” workshop was convened at the 32nd European Cetacean Society conference (La Spezia, Italy, April 2018). The workshop was attended by 30 participants who completed pre- and post-workshop surveys on animal welfare principles. The survey results highlight a range of different views about exactly what animal welfare science is and how it can be applied to marine mammals. Specifically, participants’ definitions appeared to vary depending on the type of employment or research they engaged in, indicating a need for an interdisciplinary common language. Secondly, we analysed the peer-reviewed literature in order to ascertain where marine mammal publications exploring welfare were being published. From 1950 to July 2020, a total of 299 articles featured both marine mammal taxa (one or more) and the word welfare in the title, abstract or keywords. This represents just 0.96% of the total peer-reviewed published papers on marine mammal taxa (n = 31,221) during the same period. When examining articles published within “Welfare and Ethics” (n = 6133) and “Aquatic-focused” (n = 139,352) journals, just 1.2% (n = 71) and 0.04% (n = 57) of articles, respectively, featured the word welfare when examining marine mammals. With the aim of exploring how explicitly including welfare evaluations in marine mammal research and management can benefit conservation outcomes, we framed our workshop and quantitative literature review findings to provide practical solutions to the language, translation and reception issues of this burgeoning cross-disciplinary collaboration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research)
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19 pages, 1277 KiB  
Article
Physiological Parameters Monitored on Bottlenose Dolphin Neonates (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) over the First 30 Days of Life
by Barbara Biancani, Guillermo J. Sánchez-Contreras, Stefano Furlati, Francesco Benaglia, Carmen M. Arija and Claudia Gili
Animals 2021, 11(4), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041066 - 09 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3441
Abstract
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. [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research)
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12 pages, 4361 KiB  
Article
Nitrergic and Substance P Immunoreactive Neurons in the Enteric Nervous System of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Intestine
by Cristiano Bombardi, Anna Maria Rambaldi, Giorgia Galiazzo, Fiorella Giancola, Jean-Marie Graïc, Giulia Salamanca, Bruno Cozzi and Roberto Chiocchetti
Animals 2021, 11(4), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041057 - 08 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2370
Abstract
Compared with other mammals, the digestive system of cetaceans presents some remarkable anatomical and physiological differences. However, the neurochemical features of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in these animals have only been described in part. The present study gives a description of the [...] Read more.
Compared with other mammals, the digestive system of cetaceans presents some remarkable anatomical and physiological differences. However, the neurochemical features of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in these animals have only been described in part. The present study gives a description of the nitrergic and selected peptidergic systems in the myenteric plexus (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP) of the intestine of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The distribution and morphology of neurons immunoreactive (IR) for the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and Substance P (SP) were immunohistochemically studied in formalin-fixed specimens from the healthy intestine of three animals, and the data were compared with those described in the literature on other mammals (human and non-human). In bottlenose dolphins, the percentages of nitrergic neurons (expressed as median and interquartile range—IQR) were 28% (IQR = 19–29) in the MP and 1% (IQR = 0–2) in the SMP, while the percentages of SP-IR neurons were 31% (IQR = 22–37) in the MP and 41% (IQR = 24–63) in the SMP. Although morphological features of nNOS- and SP-IR neurons were similar to those reported in other mammals, we found some noticeable differences in the percentages of enteric neurons. In fact, we detected a lower proportion of nNOS-IR neurons in the SMP and a higher proportion of SP-IR neurons in the MP compared to other mammals. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first description and quantification of nNOS-IR neurons and the first quantification of SP-IR neurons in the intestine of a cetacean species. As nNOS and SP are important mediators of intestinal functions and the nitrergic population is an important target for many neuroenteropathies, data obtained from a healthy intestine provide a necessary basis to further investigate and understand possible functional differences and motor intestinal dysfunctions/alterations in these special mammals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research)
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16 pages, 2340 KiB  
Article
Myoglobin Concentration and Oxygen Stores in Different Functional Muscle Groups from Three Small Cetacean Species
by Marina Arregui, Emily M. Singleton, Pedro Saavedra, D. Ann Pabst, Michael J. Moore, Eva Sierra, Miguel A. Rivero, Nakita Câmara, Misty Niemeyer, Andreas Fahlman, William A. McLellan and Yara Bernaldo de Quirós
Animals 2021, 11(2), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020451 - 09 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6903
Abstract
Compared with terrestrial mammals, marine mammals possess increased muscle myoglobin concentrations (Mb concentration, g Mb · 100g−1 muscle), enhancing their onboard oxygen (O2) stores and their aerobic dive limit. Although myoglobin is not homogeneously distributed, cetacean muscle O2 stores [...] Read more.
Compared with terrestrial mammals, marine mammals possess increased muscle myoglobin concentrations (Mb concentration, g Mb · 100g−1 muscle), enhancing their onboard oxygen (O2) stores and their aerobic dive limit. Although myoglobin is not homogeneously distributed, cetacean muscle O2 stores have been often determined by measuring Mb concentration from a single muscle sample (longissimus dorsi) and multiplying that value by the animal’s locomotor muscle or total muscle mass. This study serves to determine the accuracy of previous cetacean muscle O2 stores calculations. For that, body muscles from three delphinid species: Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, and Stenella frontalis, were dissected and weighed. Mb concentration was calculated from six muscles/muscle groups (epaxial, hypaxial and rectus abdominis; mastohumeralis; sternohyoideus; and dorsal scalenus), each representative of different functional groups (locomotion powering swimming, pectoral fin movement, feeding and respiration, respectively). Results demonstrated that the Mb concentration was heterogeneously distributed, being significantly higher in locomotor muscles. Locomotor muscles were the major contributors to total muscle O2 stores (mean 92.8%) due to their high Mb concentration and large muscle masses. Compared to this method, previous studies assuming homogenous Mb concentration distribution likely underestimated total muscle O2 stores by 10% when only considering locomotor muscles and overestimated them by 13% when total muscle mass was considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research)
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7 pages, 595 KiB  
Brief Report
Emergence of Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Morganella morganii in a Captive Breeding Dolphin in South Korea
by Seon Young Park, Kyunglee Lee, Yuna Cho, Se Ra Lim, Hyemin Kwon, Jee Eun Han and Ji Hyung Kim
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2052; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112052 - 06 Nov 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2574
Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) strains of Morganella morganii is increasingly being recognized. Recently, we reported a fatal M. morganii infection in a captive bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) bred at a dolphinarium in South Korea. According to our subsequent investigations, [...] Read more.
The emergence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) strains of Morganella morganii is increasingly being recognized. Recently, we reported a fatal M. morganii infection in a captive bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) bred at a dolphinarium in South Korea. According to our subsequent investigations, the isolated M. morganii strain KC-Tt-01 exhibited extensive resistance to third-generation cephalosporins which have not been reported in animals. Therefore, in the present study, the genome of strain KC-Tt-01 was sequenced, and putative virulence and AMR genes were investigated. The strain had virulence and AMR genes similar to those of other M. morganii strains, including a strain that causes human sepsis. An amino-acid substitution detected at the 86th residue (Arg to Cys) of the protein encoded by ampR might explain the extended resistance to third-generation cephalosporins. These results indicate that the AMR M. morganii strain isolated from the captive dolphin has the potential to cause fatal zoonotic infections with antibiotic treatment failure due to extended drug resistance, and therefore, the management of antibiotic use and monitoring of the emergence of AMR bacteria are urgently needed in captive cetaceans for their health and conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent advances in Marine Mammal Research)
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