Dear MARMAM Subscribers -
On behalf of the authors, I wish to announce an important new peer-reviewed
study describing mosquito-borne diseases in captive orcas (killer whales).
This study adds to our growing understanding of marine mammal health and
wellbeing as well as documents am potentially important disease vulnerability
in captive orcas.
Citation:
Jett, J.S., and Ventre, J. (2013). Orca (Orcinus orca) captivity and
vulnerability to mosquito-
transmitted viruses. Journal of Marine Animals and Their
Ecology, 5(2):9-16.
Abstract:
Although unreported in wild orca populations, mosquito-transmitted diseases
have killed at least two captive orcas (Orcinus orca) in U.S. theme parks. St.
Louis encephalitis (SLEV) was implicated in the 1990 death of the male orca
Kanduke, held at SeaWorld of Florida. In the second case, West Nile Virus
(WNV) killed male orca Taku at Sea World of Texas in 2007. Captive
environments increase vulnerability to mosquito-transmitted diseases in a
variety of ways. Unlike their wild counterparts who are rarely stationary,
captive orcas typically spend hours each day (mostly at night) floating
motionless (logging) during which time biting mosquitoes access their exposed
dorsal surfaces. Mosquitoes are attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide, heat and
dark surfaces, all of which are present during logging behavior. Further,
captive orcas are often housed in geographic locations receiving high
ultraviolet radiation, which acts as an immunosuppressant. Unfortunately, many
of these facilities offer the animals little shade protection. Additionally,
many captive orcas are burdened with broken, ground and bored teeth through
which bacteria enters the bloodstream, thus further compromising their ability
to fight various pathogens. Given the often compromised health of captive
orcas, and given that mosquito-transmitted viral outbreaks are likely to occur
in the future, mosquito-transmitted diseases such as SLEV and WNV remain
persistent health risks for captive orcas held in the U.S.
Link to article:
http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume5/issue2/caseReport_vol5iss2.pdf.
Thank you,
Lori Marino, Ph.D.
Neuroscientist and Marine Mammal Scientist
Emory University
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