[MARMAM] Open Access textbook “Marine Mammals – A Deep Dive into the World of Science”
Dear all, I'd like to present the new Open Access textbook “Marine Mammals – A Deep Dive into the World of Science”. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-06836-2 The book is an introduction to marine mammal biology and medicine, presents career pathways of marine scientists illustrated by exciting case studies and discusses human-derived threats to oceans and animals. The book derived from a project to increase young people’s interest in natural science and to prevent shortage of specialists in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). One effort was to provide learning materials for school teachers and students, which were developed by an international team of experts consisting of marine scientists, educational researchers and teachers. The book contains a collection of materials which introduce scientific topics from current research questions as well as different research methods to students. Table of contents (6 chapters) · Who Are the Marine Mammals? Krishna Das, Helen Sköld, Anna Lorenz, Eric Parmentier · Marine Mammal Acoustics Anja Reckendorf, Lars Seidelin, Magnus Wahlberg · Whaling, Seal Hunting and the Effect of Fisheries on Marine Mammals Mikołaj Koss, Martin Stjernstedt, Iwona Pawliczka, Anja Reckendorf, Ursula Siebert · Plastic Debris and Its Impacts on Marine Mammals Katrin Kruse, Katrin Knickmeier, Dennis Brennecke, Bianca Unger, Ursula Siebert · Chemical Pollution and Diseases of Marine Mammals Anja Reckendorf, Ursula Siebert, Eric Parmentier, Krishna Das · How to Become a Marine Mammal Scientist Katrin Knickmeier, Anja Reckendorf, Dennis Brennecke Enjoy the book and please share it widely! ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication on lungworm infections in German harbour porpoises
Dear all, on behalf of my coauthors, I am very happy to announce that a new paper on lungworms in harbour porpoises has been published. Anja Reckendorf, Eligius Everaarts, Paulien Bunskoek, Martin Haulena, Andrea Springer, Kristina Lehnert, Jan Lakemeyer, Ursula Siebert, Christina Strube. Lungworm infections in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the German Wadden Sea between 2006 and 2018, and serodiagnostic tests. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife The open access article is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.01.001 Abstract: Pseudaliid lungworm (Metastrongyloidea) infections and associated secondary bacterial infections may severely affect the health status of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in German waters. The presented retrospective analysis including data from 259 harbour porpoises stranded between 2006 and 2018 on the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein’s North Sea coast showed that 118 (46%) of these stranded individuals harboured a lungworm infection. During this 13-year period, a significant difference in annual lungworm prevalence was only observed between the years 2006 and 2016. Lungworm coinfections of bronchi and pulmonary blood vessels were observed in 85.6% of positive cases. Mild infection levels were detected in 22.9% of infected animals and were most common in the age class of immature individuals (74.1%). Moderate and severe infections were present in 38.1% and 39.0% of the lungworm positive animals, respectively. Their distribution in immatures (51.1% and 54.3%) and adults (48.9% and 43.4%) did not show significant differences. In stranded animals, lungworm diagnosis can be easily obtained via necropsy, while reliable lungworm diagnosis in living porpoises requires invasive bronchoscopy or faecal examination, which is difficult to obtain in cetaceans. To overcome this issue, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot based on recombinant major sperm protein (MSP) of the cattle lungworm were evaluated as potential diagnostic tools in harbour porpoises. However, in contrast to hitherto other investigated host species, no reliable antibody response pattern was detectable in harbour porpoise serum/plasma or whole blood samples. Thus, MSP-based serological tests are considered unsuitable for lungworm diagnosis in harbour porpoises. Anja Reckendorf Veterinarian, PhD candidate DipECZM (Wildlife Population Health) EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Wildlife Population Health Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) Institute for Parasitology University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 / 25761 Büsum / Germany Bünteweg 17 / 30559 Hannover / Germany anja.reckend...@tiho-hannover.de http://www.tiho-hannover.de/en/clinics-institutes/institutes/institute-for-terrestrial-and-aquatic-wildlife-research-itaw/ ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
[MARMAM] New publication on blow sampling of harbour porpoises
Dear all, on behalf of my coauthors, I am happy to announce the open acccess publication of our paper on harbour porpoise blow collection and cortisol analysis through ELISA. Reckendorf, Anja; Schmicke, Marion; Bunskoek, Paulien; Anderson Hansen, Kirstin; Thybo, Mette; Strube, Christina; Siebert, Ursula. 2021. "Is Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Exhaled Breath Sampling Suitable for Hormonal Assessments?" Animals 11, no. 3: 907. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030907 Abstract: Over the last decades, exhaled breath sampling has been established for laboratory analysis in various cetacean species. Due to their small size, the usability of respiratory vapor for hormone assessments was questionable in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). This pilot study compared three different blow collection devices for their suitability in the field and during laboratory processing: a sterile petri dish covered by a Nitex membrane, as well as sterile 50 mL centrifuge tubes with or without manganese(II) chloride as a stabilizer. Collected exhales varied between three, five or ten, depending on feasibility. Hormones were extracted through an ether mix, followed by centrifugal evaporation and cortisol analysis using an immunoassay. Although close to the lower end of the assay's dynamic range, the ELISA produced results (n = 110, 0.102–0.937 ng/mL). Hence, a simple 50 mL centrifuge tube was determined as the best suited blow collection device, while three consecutive exhales proved sufficient to yield results. These findings are promising regarding the suitability of exhaled breath as a matrix for future endocrine and immune system-related studies in harbor porpoises. If further advanced, blow sampling can become an important, non-invasive tool for studying and monitoring health, stress levels and diseases in harbor porpoises. Cheers, Anja Reckendorf Veterinarian, PhD candidate DipECZM (Wildlife Population Health) EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Wildlife Population Health Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) Institute for Parasitology University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Werftstr. 6 / 25761 Büsum / Germany Bünteweg 17 / 30559 Hannover / Germany anja.reckend...@tiho-hannover.de http://www.tiho-hannover.de/en/clinics-institutes/institutes/institute-for-terrestrial-and-aquatic-wildlife-research-itaw/ ___ MARMAM mailing list MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
