Daura-Jorge Fábio G, Simões-Lopes Paulo C
Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Brazil.
Dis Aquat Organ. 2011 Jan 21;93(2):163-70. doi: 10.3354/dao02291.
Lobomycosis is a chronic dermal infection affecting humans and small cetaceans. In 1993, a study identified the presence of the etiologic agent of lobomycosis in a resident population of Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphin) in Laguna, Brazil. Until now, no additional information relating to the persistence or prevalence of this pathogen in this population has been available. Numbering less than 60 animals, the residency of these dolphins in an impacted lagoon system has raised concerns about the health and viability of this small population. Using photo-identification data collected between September 2007 and September 2009, this study evaluated the occurrence of lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) throughout this population. Of 47 adult dolphins and 10 calves identified, 7 (12%) presented some form of epidermal lesion and 5 (9%) had evidence of LLD. The lesions were stable in all but 2 cases, in which a progressive development was recorded in a presumed adult female and her calf (referred to here as the LLD pair). During the first few months of observation, the lesion grew slowly and at a constant rate on the adult. However, in the fourteenth month, the growth rate increased rapidly and the first lesions appeared on the calf. Compared to the rest of the population, the LLD pair also presented a different spatial ranging pattern, suggesting a possible social or geographic factor. Current and previous records of LLD or lobomycosis indicate that the disease is endemic in this population. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring both the health of these cetaceans and the quality of their habitat.
芽生菌病是一种影响人类和小型鲸类的慢性皮肤感染。1993年，一项研究在巴西拉古纳的宽吻海豚（瓶鼻海豚）常驻种群中发现了芽生菌病的病原体。到目前为止，关于这种病原体在该种群中的持续存在或流行情况，没有更多的信息。这些海豚居住在一个受到影响的泻湖系统中，数量不足60只，这引发了人们对这个小种群健康和生存能力的担忧。本研究利用2007年9月至2009年9月收集的照片识别数据，评估了整个种群中芽生菌病样疾病（LLD）的发生情况。在识别出的47只成年海豚和10只幼崽中，7只（12%）出现了某种形式的表皮病变，5只（9%）有LLD的迹象。除2例病例外，所有病变均稳定，在1例推测为成年雌性海豚及其幼崽（此处称为LLD对）中记录到病变有进展。在观察的最初几个月里，成年海豚身上的病变生长缓慢且速率恒定。然而，在第十四个月，生长速率迅速增加，幼崽身上也出现了最初的病变。与种群中的其他个体相比，LLD对还呈现出不同的空间分布模式，这表明可能存在社会或地理因素。目前和以前关于LLD或芽生菌病的记录表明，该病在这个种群中呈地方性流行。这些发现凸显了监测这些鲸类健康状况及其栖息地质量的重要性。
