A welcome sign hung in the bathroom.

My "Where Am I?" board to help residents find me when I'm needed.

In fact, my residents’ nametags that are hung on the door are an adapted version of the sea turtle craft I used during Fins and Flippers – Sea Turtle Week last July!

Recently, I was awarded the Passive Program of the Series Award as well as the campus-wide February Star Programmer of the Month Award for my educational sea turtle bulletin board that is currently hung in my hallway. This bulletin board covers interesting facts about each species, their geographic range, as well as size charts and a diagram depicting their life cycle.

My award-winning "Sea Turtles" educational bulletin board!

Most of the information I used was taken directly from the blogs that I wrote this summer about sea turtles. It was wonderful to go back and read what I learned during my research this summer.

I also had a great opportunity to partner up with another resident advisor and have a multiple-floor educational event on penguin conservation to celebrate Penguin Awareness Day, which was January 19th.

An advertisement we used to promote Penguin Awareness Day!

This program was very well attended with 35+ residents coming out to celebrate. We had a quiz game with our residents that included information about different species, including diet, range, and natural as well as man-made threats to the penguins.

Resident Ryan Butler celebrating Penguin Awareness Day at our award-winning educational program!

All of our prizes were penguin-related, and the food was loosely penguin-themed as well. This program was also recognized with an Outstanding Active Educational Award.

I intend to continue my environmental education with bulletin boards and/or bathroom posts on the difference between seals and sea lions as well as dolphins and porpoises, the main focus of my summer internship project.

I can’t wait to come back to the National Marine Life Center over spring break to see the progress on the Marine Animal hospital, as well as seeing the progress on the patients I had the opportunity to work with and those patients I haven’t met yet! Watch out Cape Cod, here I come, again!

Here is a closer look.  The back marks are 1mm each.

Further identification requires examination of internal structures, which is traditionally accomplished by clearing, staining, dehydrating, and mounting.  As I am more veterinarian then parasitologist, I opted to turn the specimens into biopsy samples and had them processed into standard H&E 5um slides.  Here is a full worm spread out on a composite digital micrograph.

What is the parasite?

How does it relate to the stranding?

How would you diagnose the infection with a dolphin in rehabilitation?

enjoy . . .

These are roundworms or nematodes.  The first clue was obscured in the original post (didn’t think I was going to make this too easy did you?) and required you to look at the oral opening and the three lips (covered in this case by the capsule). This and the marine mammal host place them in the family Anisakidae.

Here is a close up of the lips from another specimen (in this case a harbor seal, likely a different genus), each red arrow points to a “lip”.

The capsule (a molt) and the point on the terminal end (a mucron), combined with the  lack of spicules or eggs, identifies this as a larval form (L3).

This is a classic group of marine nematodes where the adults inhabit marine mammals and the larva use a huge number of different intermediate and transport hosts.  The Anisakidae are further classified into their respective genus by the morphology of their esophagus, ventriculus and presence or lack of an intestinal caecum (see chart).  In this case, the simple ventriculus identifies the genus Anisakis.

The species identification requires the adult (or L5) males which were not observed in this case.

Many reviews of the Genus Anisakis (Dujardin, 1845) have been published; for the truly geeky see the following:  Davey 1971; Abollo and Pascual 2002.

Known species of Anisakis:
A. physeteris (Baylis, 1923)
A. typica (Diesing, 1860)
A. simplex (Rudolphi, 1809) senso lato complex (with 13 synonyms)
A. simplex s.s.
A. pegreffi (Campana, Rouget & Bioca, 1954)
A. simplex (Nascetti et al., 1986)
A. ziphidarum (Paggi, et al., 1998)
A. brevispiculata (Dollfus, 1966)

Of these,  A. simplex , A. brevispiculata, and A. physeteris have all been found in Kogia.

The larval forms are zoonotic and can be pathogenic to the host, particularly in large numbers or when they cause ulceration.  The worm in the blowhole was likely aspirated as a terminal event, as the worms are inhabitants of the stomach. The genus is intensely studied as the larval worms are human health hazards, typically encountered by eating improperly cooked fish and resulting in the unpleasant disease called Anisakiasis.  Recent genetic studies may hold the key to correct identification of larval forms.

The best way to handle them (besides “with gloves” which I also accepted) is to wash them by shaking them in a jar with 0.9% saline to remove blood and mucous, then fix them in near boiling saline for 5 seconds to straighten the worms, then move them to a vial with 70% ethanol and add a few drops of glycerin.  They can also be fixed in glacial acetic acid for a few hours and stored in 70% ethanol with a few drops of glycerin added.

One of the first things we do for every marine animal rehab patient is take radiographs (x-rays). Upon examining Catch’s x-rays, we noticed a white curved line that looked like a scratch on the film. Subsequent x-ray views showed this line was actually a staple. Somehow, at his previous facility, Catch had eaten a staple! Dr. Williams considered surgery, but this would have been dangerous for then 131.7-gram Catch. Instead, we tube-fed Catch a slurry of lettuce and oil, and within a couple days he defecated the staple. Immediately, Catch began moving more readily in his habitat; that staple must have been painful! Thankfully, the staple must have passed through Catch’s system without causing damage because we never noticed any further symptoms. We then turned to addressing the shell fungus.

When Catch was originally admitted he was treated with a topical medication for several months, which didn’t seem to have any effect on the fungal growth. The decision was made to allow the fungus to grow without treatment in an effort to collect a clean sample that could be identified in a fungal lab. With a specific identification to the species level we could test the fungus’ sensitivity to different medications and then prescribe the best treatment for Catch. After a year and a half of sample collections and working with multiple fungal labs including Cornell University and The Texas A&M Fungal Lab, we still don’t know exactly what type of fungus Catch has.

Why is it so hard to identify his fungus? The first problem is  heavy bacterial contamination (despite collection by sterile techniques). Mixed species are very hard to isolate by PCR. As it stands, Catch-22 suffers only from a disease of cosmetic morbidity (It only seems to be affecting the surface, not causing a deeper infection).

The first set of results from a DNA biopsy revealed a Trichosporon, which  can affect the keratin in human hair shafts.  The treatment for people is shaving off the affected hair, but obviously removing Catch’s shell is not a option! Trichosporonosis in humans mostly affects immuno-compromised individuals, and Zoonotic reports are scarce. We don’t believe that  Catch-22 is at risk for systemic disease, but we felt further investigation was warranted in this fungal infection of the shell on an endangered species.

Using a carapace culture, a second lab reported Chrysosporium anamorph of a fungi closely related to Aphanoascus species (91% homology), but this is insufficient to confirm the genus identification. This sample also had heavy contamination with a mixed bacterial population, and Fusarium solani. Chrysosporium anamorph was too far off for a definitive match. The yeast was sub-cultured and sent to the Texas fungal lab for growth characteristics and to confirm ID, but they failed to grow a definitive form of the yeast. Even without a definitive identification we decided to try and move forward with fungal sensitivity testing to determine the best course of treatment, but all attempts including a thick suspension failed to grow in a suitable fashion.

All of these unsuccessful attempts to identify and verify the identification of Catch’s fungus have taken some time. Catch missed a release window in the summer of 2011, and without treatment we were getting concerned about his potential as a release candidate if we do not eliminate the fungus before the end of summer 2012. The decision was made to move forward with treatment on Catch in an effort to complete his rehabilitation this year. The good news is that the infection has remained superficial without specific treatment, and has even subsided in it’s intensity.

After some literature review and consultation with other veterinarians, two forms of treatment were selected to tackle Catch’s unsightly shell fungus; one topical and one oral.  The oral treatment is itraconizol which is often used by humans for nail fungus. Catch receives this treatment for 7 days, then gets a break for 21 days. During the break periods, blood samples are collected and analyzed to ensure that there are no complications. Fungal medications – unlike antibiotics – tend to take a long time to show results and can cause harmful complications to organs such as the liver. Catch is currently on his third round of Itraconozol treatments and so far has not experienced any negative side effects.

The second form of treatment is a nail lacquer called Curanail with an active ingredient of Amorolfine. These two treatments act separately and but in a synergistic manner. Since we could not find any evidence of the Curanail being used on reptiles, we decided to run an experiment. We are currently treating half of Catch’s carapace with the lacquer and leaving half without. We hope this will help us determine the effectiveness of both treatments. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook pages for updates from Dr. Williams’ Rounds Notes.

We are making every effort to have Catch fungus free and releasable by the summer. With any luck he will be joining the cooters from the 2011-2012 headstart class as they venture out into the wild at the end of May.

Take a look at the pictures and answer the following questions.

What are they ?

Is there any risk in handling them ?

What is the best way to handle them ?

chime in with your comments, I’ll post the answer next month.

(http://www.marinemammalscience.org)

Last week I had the opportunity to attend (for my first time) the 19th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals organized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy. The conference took place from November 27-Dec 2nd in beautiful downtown Tampa, FL. Kicking off the conference was an icebreaker event at the Florida Aquarium on Sunday night, which sadly, I missed due to arriving in town too late to register (I did, however, make it to the aquarium the following day on a solo expedition). I spent 3 days attending informative talks about the current research being conducted by marine mammal scientists across the globe. Originally I assumed spending 6 hours a day in lectures would grow tiresome, but at the end I was disappointed at having to leave a day early to fly back home.

The majority of the lectures I attended were about health issues in marine mammals.  Some topics included toxin exposure from harmful algal blooms, skin lesions in bottlenose dolphins, hair loss in Australian fur seals, hearing loss in harbor seals, and the neuroimmunological effects of translocating beluga whales in captivity.  There were also lectures about conservation, behavioral ecology, and new technology being used to study marine mammals. An example of new technology used in several studies was unmanned aircraft. This was used to conduct aerial surveys of marine mammal population distribution.

I attended a student affairs workshop in order to try and get a better sense of what sorts of careers are out there for recent marine biology graduates. Despite not having a masters degree or a PhD, I still found the information very useful. The workshop helped to solidify my decision to attend graduate school in the near future and what I have decided to study once I get there. I was able to meet with veterinarians and an epidemiologist during a pathology and vet medicine breakout session. While I decided that vet school it not for me, I do want to be involved in research and work dealing with marine animal health. The lectures I attended, as well as working as an intern for the National Marine Life Center made me realize that health issues are where my passion is. Health issues combine my background in marine biology, working as a veterinary assistant, and working for the NMLC.  My previous degree in sociology and environmental conservation (received prior to my degree in marine biology) is also applicable because more often than not, diseases in marine animals is a direct result of human activity. Conservation and rehabilitation go hand in hand in ensuring a healthy future for marine mammals (and sea turtles too!).

Summer Internship Opportunity

The National Marine Life Center (NMLC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitating for release stranded sea turtles, seals, dolphins, porpoises, and small whales, and to advancing scientific knowledge and education in marine wildlife health and conservation.

2011 Intern Brie Teaches a Marine Animal Medical Mystery Program

Education Responsibilities-Interns will assist with environmental education programs, including on-site programs, off-site programs, fairs, and festivals. Interns will assist in giving public presentations to guests of NMLC and educate them on marine animals, conservation, and the NMLC. Interns will assist in the gift shop, assist with various office projects, create displays for the learning center, and help create lesson plans and activities that are aligned with the Massachusetts State Frameworks.

2011 Intern Brian Releases a Red Bellied Cooter Hatchling

Animal Care Responsibilities- Interns will be in charge of maintaining a coastal critter tank in the marine animal discovery center. They will collect and identify the coastal animals and maintain the tank’s water quality. Depending on need/case load interns will assist with the care of the NMLC rehabilitation patients including endangered red bellied cooters, diamondback terrapins & sea turtles.  Animal Care duties will include cleaning and disinfecting tanks, equipment, and environmental enrichment devices, food preparation, administering feeds, record keeping, kitchen maintenance, and water quality testing.  Interns may also assist animal care staff during medical procedures, with admission exams, and at release events.

Other Responsibilities- Each intern will take on a project which they will work on for the duration of their internship. The project must be proposed by the student and agreed upon with the NMLC staff. At the end of the internship the intern will present the project to the staff, volunteers, and members of the public. Each intern will also be assigned a weekly chore to assist with the upkeep of the facility and equipment.

Positions are unpaid, interns must have their own transportation, and housing is not provided, but NMLC will offer suggestions.

Our 2011 Summer Interns Alexa, Brie, Brian, and Brittany!

Qualifications-

-The internship is open to students who are currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from an accredited college or university.  High school students may also be considered.

-The internship is open to students who are currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from an accredited college or university.  High school students may also be considered.

-Preference will be given to students or recent graduates working towards biology, environmental studies, marine science, education, or other related fields.

-Intern should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.

-Students that are adaptable, responsible, hard working, willing to learn, and have attention to detail are encouraged to apply.

-Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.

-Interns must be able to commit to at least three months; start and end dates are flexible due to school schedules.

-Interns must work a minimum of 20 hours per week.

 To Apply- Send your resume, cover letter, and one letter of reference to Kate Shaffer at kshaffer@NMLC.org or PO Box 269, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts 02532. Applications must be received by January 20^th 2012.

PAMS Student Council President and Representative.

Over two thousand miles away from Cape Cod, in the heart of the Navajo Nation, students at the Pinon Accelerated Middle School recently held a talent show to raise money for the National Marine Life Center’s new marine animal hospital.

Stating he “saw a sticker on a box,” one student researched NMLC on the internet and suggested the talent show fundraiser to the Student Council.  Another student cheered “Go turtles!”

PAMS teacher Ms. Kristin Monts

Ms. Monts, the students’ teacher, explained that in the Navajo culture, turtles are very important.  The students wanted to help an organization that helps turtles.  They did the internet research and selected the National Marine Life Center.  During the talent show, one student even brought in a pet turtle as a mascot!

The students read poetry, danced, sang, and played the guitar.  Over the course of an evening, they raised $500 for the National Marine Life Center!  Here is a video the students produced about talent show.

On behalf of our future marine animal patients who will benefit from your donation, thank you students!  You are an inspiration!

Student presenting a reading at the PAMS talent show.

Some of the student talent!

Students dancing in the PAMS talent show.

Students show off their guitar skills!

Announcing the next act!

Another talented musician!

Student checks out the turtle mascot.

It's all about the animals!

You can dine in or take out. Enjoy yummy pizza, fresh salad, or a variety of other mouth-watering dishes including sandwiches, steak, chicken, and seafood. Even beverages! Your meal will be even more delicious knowing that you’re helping save marine animals, advance science, and inspire ocean conservation through education.

A very special thank you to Uno Chicago Grill for this yummy way to raise dough for the National Marine Life Center!