title: Linking the occurrence of cutaneous opportunistic fungal invaders with elemental concentrations in false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) skin.
abstract: Cetaceans, occupying the top levels in marine food chains, are vulnerable to elevated levels of potentially toxic trace elements, such as aluminium (Al), mercury (Hg) and nickel (Ni). Negative effects associated with these toxic metals include infection by opportunistic microbial invaders. To corroborate the link between the presence of cutaneous fungal invaders and trace element levels, skin samples from 40 stranded false killer whales (FKWs) were analysed using culture techniques and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Twenty-two skin samples yielded 18 clinically relevant fungal species. While evidence for bioaccumulation of Hg in the skin of the FKWs was observed, a strong link was found to exist between the occurrence of opportunistic fungal invaders and higher Al : Se and Al : Zn ratios. This study provides indications that elevated levels of some toxic metals, such as Al, contribute to immunotoxicity rendering FKWs susceptible to colonization by cutaneous opportunistic fungal invaders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
authors.forename: Marnel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mouton
authors.affiliation: Materials Research Department, iThemba LABS, National Research Foundation, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa.|AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Physics & Applied Computer Science, Al. A. Mickiewicza 30, Krakow, 30-059, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Przybylowicz
authors.affiliation: Materials Research Department, iThemba LABS, National Research Foundation, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mesjasz-Przybylowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.affiliation: Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, c/o Iziko South African Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botha
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004289:Dolphins / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D000922:Immunotoxins; D000535:Aluminum; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc