title: Evaluation and comparison of the health status of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct health assessments and compare outcomes in 2 populations of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Design-Repeated cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  171 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
  
  
  METHODS
  During June and August of 2003 through 2005, 89 dolphins from the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, and 82 dolphins from estuarine waters near Charleston, SC, were evaluated. A panel of 5 marine mammal veterinarians classified dolphins as clinically normal, possibly diseased, or definitely diseased on the basis of results of physical and ultrasonographic examinations, hematologic and serum biochemical analyses, and cytologic and microbiologic evaluations of gastric contents and swab specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of dolphins classified as definitely diseased did not differ significantly between the IRL (32%) and Charleston (20%) sites. Proportions of dolphins classified as possibly diseased also did not differ. Lobomycosis was diagnosed in 9 dolphins from the IRL but in none of the dolphins from Charleston. Proportions of dolphins with orogenital papillomas did not differ significantly between the IRL (12%) and Charleston (7%) sites. From 2003 through 2005, the proportion classified as definitely diseased tripled among dolphins from the Charleston site but did not increase significantly among dolphins from the IRL. Dolphins from the Charleston site were more likely to have leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, and low serum concentrations of total protein and total J-globulins than were dolphins from the IRL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalences of diseased dolphins were identified at both sites; however, the host or environmental factors that contributed to the various abnormalities detected are unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fair
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Juli D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Forrest I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: McCulloch
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzoil
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Zolman
authors.forename: Larry J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Bossart
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006304:Health Status; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary; D012737:Sex Factors; D013022:South Carolina