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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Evaluation of Immune Function, Chemical Exposure and Morbillivirus Infection In Bottlenose Dolphins from Clean vs Polluted Costal Waters
- Sponsor Organization: US EPA, ORD, NHEERL
- Project Title: EVALUATION OF IMMUNE FUNCTION, CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND MORBILLIVIRUS
INFECTION INBOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS FROM CLEAN VS. POLLUTED COSTAL WATERS.
- Project Focus: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS, EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
- Description: Episodic die-offs of marine mammals have been have been postulated to
be due toinfection with members of the genus Morbillivirus. It has
been postulated that anunderlying cause of these mass mortalities may
be decreased levels of resistance toinfection, as a consequence of
exposure to immunosuppressive environmental pollutants(e.g., PCB's,
dioxins and furans, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and certain heavy
metals). These classes of chemicals cause well-documented
immunosuppression in a variety oflaboratory animals, and high tissue
levels of these compounds have been found in certainmarine mammals
inhabiting polluted waters. These same classes of compounds havebeen
shown to express endocrine hormone-like activity and to disrupt
endocrinehomeostasis in both laboratory animals and in numerous genera
of free-living wildlife. Itis well know that physiological and
pathological changes in endocrine function areassociated with immune
system alterations, either in the form of immunosuppression orrelative
immunoenhancement. This project, still in the developmental
stages, will combine efforts of scientists fromEPA (ETD, DTD and GED),
NMFS, USDA and AFIP. Blood and serum samples will beobtained from
free-living dolphins in relatively clean and polluted areas of the
Gulf ofMexico. Initial feasibility studies will be conducted on blood
samples obtained from captivedolphins, to be followed by evaluation of
feral dolphins. Initially, we plan to evaluate thefollowing
immunological endpoints: lymphocyte proliferation, production of
selected multi-potent cytokine levels, and immunoglobulin levels(ETD).
Antibody titers to Morbilliviruswill also be measured. Estrogen and
androgen levels will be evaluated (DTD), and bloodsamples analyzed by
quantitative RT-PCR for the presence of Morbillivirus antigens(AFIP).
Several approaches will be evaluated for estimation of pollutant
levels, centeringon the ability of the most immunotoxic of these
chemicals to bind to the aryl hydrocarbonreceptor (AhR). Given the
very high cost of congener-specific chemical
analysis(>$1000/congener), this indirect approach is the only feasible
option at this point.
- References: de Swart, R.L., Harder, T.C., Ross, P.S., Vos, H.W. and Osterhaus,
A.D.M.E. 1995. Morbilliviruses and Morbillivirus diseases of marine
R.S., Kuehl, D.W., Stewart, J.L., Rhinehart, H.L. and Via, C.S. 1995.
Decreased lymphocyte responses in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins
(Tursiops truncatus)are associated with increased concentrations of
PCBs and DDT in peripheral blood. Environ. Perspect. 103 (suppl 4):
67-72.
- Category: MODELS, METHODS
- Subcategory: MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH, EXPOSURE AND RISK MODELS, SENTINEL
SPECIES.
- Keywords for Experimental System/Species: FIELD STUDY, EX VIVO, MARINE, TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS
- Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: IMMUNOLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, FEMALE, MALE, SEX STEROIDS, PHYSIOLOGY,
STRESS RESPONSE,TISSUE RESIDUE, AH RECEPTOR, ANALYTE DETECTION,
EXPOSURE MONITORING, RISK ASSESSMENT, RISKFACTORS.
- Chemical Agents: PCB, TCDD, PAH
- Performing Institution: US EPA MD-92 RTP, NC 27711
- Contact: Bob Luebke, Ph.D. MD-92, US EPA, RTP, NC 27711 919-541-3672
luebke@herl45.herl.epa.gov
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