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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Lipids of the antarctic sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis.

The blubber, liver, and muscle of the Antarctic sei whale were analyzed for total lipid content, composition of lipid by classes and positional distribution of fatty acids in individual lipids. The major glycerolipids (triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine) were fractionated by silver nitrate thin layer chromatography. The phospholipid fractions were analyzed for fatty acid positional distribution. The whale stomach contained almost exclusively the amphipod Parathemisto gaudichaudi. Its lipids were also studied and compared with the lipids of the body tissues. The results indicate that the stomach content lipids are subjected to modifications before being deposited in the blubber, liver, and muscle. According to the silver nitrate thin layer chromatographic studies, liver and blubber triglycerides resembel each other in their patterns of positional distribution of fatty acids and in molecular species composition. The phospholipids of liver and blubber also exhibited closely related fatty acid distribution patterns. In general, while the proportions of lipid classes and their predominant fatty acids varied from tissue to tissue, the patterns according to which the lipids had been synthesized seemed to be common.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1978

Distinctive medium chain wax esters, triglycerides, and diacyl glyceryl ethers in the head fats of the Pacific beaked whale, Berardius bairdi.

Lipids were extracted from the mandibular fat body (jaw), the fatty forehead (melon), and the dorsal blubber of a Pacific beaked whale (Berardius bairdi) and separated into lipid classes by preparative thin layer chromatogrphy. The head fats were mixtures of wax esters and triglycerides with a very small amount of diacyl glyceryl ether. The blubber fat contained 97% wax ester and 3% triglyceride. Gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of the intac lipid classes indicated an unusually low C26-C30 range for most of the jaw and melon wax esters compared to the more normal C32-C40 molecules found in the blubber. Distinctive lower molecular weight C24-C40 triglycerides occurred in the head fats vs. the usual C44-C58 range in the blubber. Most diacyl glyceryl ethers were in the C35-C46 range, below the molecular weight of hexadecyldipalmitoyl glyceryl ether (C48). GLC of the derived fatty acid methyl esters showed that the lower molecular weight neutral lipids in the head fats were due to high levels of iso-10:0, n-10:0, iso-11:0, iso-12:0, N-12:0, and iso-13:0 acids. The wax ester fatty alcohols and the alkoxy chains of the glyceryl ethers were mostly the C14-C20 chain lengths commonly observed in marine organisms. The distinctive medium chain neutral lipids in the jaw and melon fats of this whale may be related to the postulated acoustical role of these tissues in echolocation.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1997

Artiodactyl interspersed DNA repeats in cetacean genomes.

Interspersed repeats that emerged at different evolutionary times are informative in mammalian phylogeny. Here we show that the ancient short interspersed elements (SINEs) ARE1 and ARE2 are abundantly present in the genomes of artiodactyls and cetaceans but not in other mammalian genomes. This supports the classification of the cetaceans with the artiodactyls by a shared character that is unlikely to be the result of convergence.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Polybrominated diphenylethers and methoxylated tetrabromodiphenylethers in cetaceans from the Mediterranean Sea.

Eight tetrabrominated to hexabrominated diphenylethers were present at ppb levels in liver from cetaceans found stranded on the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy. The highest concentration was found in striped dolphin (sum polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDE] 8133 ng/g l.w.) and the lowest concentration in bottlenose dolphin (sum PBDE 66 ng/g lipid weight [l.w.]). The predominant congener in all samples was 2,2',4,4'-tetraBDE (PBDE # 47) followed by, in decreasing order, the pentaPBDE # 99 and 100 and the hexaPBDE # 154 and 153. In 12 of the 14 analyzed samples, 3 different methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDE # 1, 2, and 3) were detected at semiquantitatively calculated concentration ranges of 2 to 14 ng/g l.w.; 5 to 167 ng/g l.w.; and 7 to 628 ng/g l.w., respectively. In addition, several unidentified bromine compounds were seen when screening the samples in negative-chemical ionization (NCI) mode monitoring m/z 79 and 81, which illustrates the importance of running both electron-impact ionization and NCI when analyzing environmental samples. Electron-impact ionization is more specific for monitoring the molecular ion compared with NCI, which might overestimate the concentration of certain PBDE congeners.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyls in cetaceans from Taiwan waters.

During 2000 to 2001, a total of 73 blubber samples from 13 species of stranded or accidentally captured cetaceans were collected from Taiwan coastal waters for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) analysis. After homogenization, saponification, liquid-liquid extraction, and silica-gel solid-phase extraction, PCB concentrations were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Total concentrations of 19 PCB congeners (SigmaPCBs) were between 0.23 microg/g lipid weight of Risso's dolphin to 33.73 microg/g lipid weight of rough-toothed dolphin. Pentachlorobiphenyls, hexachlorobiphenyls and heptachlorobiphenyls were the predominant PCB congeners species. PCB153 was the most abundant congener in all samples. The PCB153/SigmaPCBs consistently comprised between 20% to 30% of all congeners. The toxicity measured as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) were from 2.7 pg/g lipid weight of finless porpoise to 2,900 pg/g lipid weight of rough-toothed dolphin. PCB 118, a mono-ortho congener, was the largest contributor to TEQs. PCB concentrations and TEQs were higher in mature male than in immature male animals but were inconsistent in female animals because of a possible transferring of PCBs from maternal cetaceans to their offsprings during gestation and lactation. Stranded cetaceans had significantly higher PCB levels than by-catch cetaceans because of their higher lipid consumption during starvation or illness. From the collected samples, we also found that cetaceans from Taiwan waters had relatively lower PCB concentrations and TEQs than those from high-latitude areas.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Bioaccumulation of naturally occurring mixed halogenated dimethylbipyrroles in whale and dolphin products on the Japanese market.

Mixed halogenated dimethyl bipyrroles (HDBPs), which are thought to be produced naturally, were quantified in whale and dolphin products marketed for human consumption in Japan. The major component of HDBPs was 3,3',4,4'-tetrabromo-5,5'-dichloro-1,1'-dimethyl -2,2'-bipyrrole (Br(4)Cl(2)-DBP), accounting for 85% of the total of five HDBPs detected, followed by Br(3)Cl(2)-DBP. Mean concentrations of HDBPs ranged from 0.27 microg/g lipid (n = 31) in minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from the northwest Pacific Ocean to 11.8 microg/g lipid (n = 33) in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops trucatus) from the southwest Japanese coastal water. At higher levels, HDBPs made up 37% of the total organohalogen body burden in Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), whereas the contribution was less than 8.9% in minke whales. In two data subsets from Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), the products from the Pacific Ocean contained significantly higher concentrations of HDBPs than those from the Sea of Japan. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of HDBPs did not resemble those of ubiquitous anthropogenic organochlorines, such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs). Higher concentration ratios of SigmaHDBP/SigmaPCB and different patterns of HDBP congeners were observed in whale products from the Asia-Pacific as compared to non-Pacific Ocean mammals reported previously. These results support the hypothesis that HDBPs and anthropogenic organochlorines have different sources and that the consumption of HDBPs by Japanese individuals could be an exposure/health risk.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Isomer-specific accumulation and toxic assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls, including coplanar congeners, in cetaceans from the North Pacific and Asian coastal waters.

To elucidate the global distribution and toxicological impacts of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on cetaceans, the present study determined the concentrations of individual PCB congeners, including toxic non-ortho (IUPAC Nos. 77, 126, 169) and mono-ortho (IUPAC Nos. 105, 118, 156) coplanar congeners, in the blubber of 10 species of adult male odontocetes collected from several locations in the North Pacific Ocean and along coastal waters of Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and India during 1985-1997. Total PCB concentrations in cetaceans from temperate and cold waters were higher than those in cetaceans from tropical regions. Residue levels were found to be the highest in Fraser's dolphins collected off Kii Peninsula, Japan, and hump-backed dolphins from Hong Kong, reflecting serious marine pollution by PCBs in industrialized Asian countries. Penta- and hexa-chlorobiphenyls were the predominant PCB congeners, accounting for about 70% of the total PCBs. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) of non- and mono-ortho coplanar PCBs in the blubber of cetaceans ranged from 36 (in spinner dolphins from the Philippines) to 510 pg/g wet weight (in hump-backed dolphins from Hong Kong). Toxic evaluation of coplanar PCBs using the TEQ concept indicates an greater impact on cetaceans from mid-latitudes. Toxicity contribution of mono-ortho congener IUPAC 118 was prominent in species from high latitude oceans, such as the Bering Sea and the North Pacific, whereas non-ortho congener IUPAC 126 accounted for the highest contribution in cetaceans from lower latitude regions, such as the Philippines and India. The estimated TEQ concentrations in the blubber of some cetacean species, such as northern right whale dolphin and Pacific white-sided dolphin from the northern North Pacific, Dall's porpoise from the Japan Sea, striped dolphin off Sanriku and Fraser's dolphin off Kii Peninsula, Japan, hump-backed dolphin and finless porpoise from Hong Kong, exceeded the levels associated with immunosuppression in harbour seals.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Genetic identification of novel poxviruses of cetaceans and pinnipeds.

Novel poxviruses were identified in skin lesions of several species of cetaceans and pinnipeds using polymerase chain reaction targeting DNA polymerase and DNA topoisomerase I genes of members of the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. With the exception of parapoxviruses, no molecular data of marine mammal poxviruses were available to infer genetic and evolutionary relatedness to terrestrial vertebrate poxviruses. Viruses were assigned to a cetacean poxvirus 1 (CPV-1) group based on nucleotide and amino acid identities of gene fragments amplified from skin lesions of Asian bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus), Atlantic bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), rough-toothed (Steno bredanensis), and striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins. A different poxvirus was detected in skin lesions of a bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) and provisionally assigned to a CPV-2 group. These viruses showed highest identity to terrestrial poxviruses of the genera Orthopoxvirus and Suipoxvirus. A novel species-specific poxvirus was also identified in skin lesions of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). None of these poxviruses were found to have amplifiable hemagglutinin gene sequences. Novel parapoxviruses were also identified in skin lesions of Steller sea lions and spotted seals (Phoca largha). A significant degree of divergence was observed in sequences of Steller sea lion parapoxviruses, while those of spotted seals and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) were highly conserved.

Alaska↗
PubMed2005

Corynosoma australe Johnston, 1937 and C. cetaceum Johnston & Best, 1942 (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) from marine mammals and fishes in Argentinian waters: allozyme markers and taxonomic status.

Genetic and morphological studies were carried out on acanthocephalans belonging to Corynosoma Lühe, 1904 and referable to the species C. cetaceum Johnston & Best, 1942 and C. australe Johnston, 1937, which were recovered from both definitive and intermediate hosts in Argentinian waters. The aims were to estimate the level of genetic differentiation between the two taxa at any stage of their life-cycle, to provide genetic (allozyme) markers for their recognition and to analyse the systematic status of both taxa. Acanthocephalans were collected from the stomach and intestine of Arctocephalus australis (Zimmerman), the intestine of Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus) and the stomach of Pontoporia blainvillei Gervais & D'Orbigny (definitive hosts) in Argentinian waters. Alternative alleles at all the 13 enzymatic loci studied were observed for C. australe and C. cetaceum. The specimens from the stomach of both P. blainvillei and A. australis were identified, on the basis of the great number of diagnostic loci found, as C. cetaceum; those from intestine of both A. australis and M. leonina as C. australe. A high level of genetic differentiation (D(Nei)=infinity: I(Nei)=0.00) between the two taxa was found, suggesting a generic distinction between the two species. Cystacanths of the two species from the body-cavity of the fish Cynoscion guatucupa (Cuvier) collected from the same geographical area were identified genetically. Morphological patterns, such as the number of hooks and hook rows on the proboscis, the distribution of somatic and genital armature, and other morphometric and meristic differences, in addition to ecological data, enabled the identification of these two species at cystacanth, juvenile and adult stages. However, a number of morphological and morphometric features of the Argentinian material were different to those of C. australe and C. cetaceum described from other regions of the world.

Acanthocephala↗
PubMed2005

Evidence for a new species of Anisakis Dujardin, 1845: morphological description and genetic relationships between congeners (Nematoda: Anisakidae).

In the present study, a new biological species of Anisakis Dujardin, 1845, was detected in Kogia breviceps and K. sima from West Atlantic waters (coast of Florida) on the basis of 19 (nuclear) structural genes studied by multilocus allozyme electrophoresis. Fixed allele differences at 11 enzyme loci were found between specimens of both adults and larvae of the new species and the other Anisakis spp. tested. Reproductive isolation from A. brevispiculata Dollfus, 1968 was demonstrated by the lack of hybrid or recombinant genotypes in mixed infections in K. breviceps. Genetic distance of the new species from its closest relative, A. brevispiculata, was D(Nei)=0.79. The new species is morphologically different from the other species which have been genetically characterised and from the other Anisakis retained by Davey (1971) as valid or as species inquirendae: the name of Anisakis paggiae n. sp. is proposed for the new taxon. Anisakis Type II larvae (sensu Berland, 1961) from the European hake Merluccius merluccius in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean (Galician coast) and from the scabbard fish Aphanopus carbo in Central Atlantic waters (off Madeira), were identified as A. paggiae n. sp. Its genetic relationships with respect to the seven species previously characterised (A. simplex (Rudolphi, 1809) sensu stricto), A. pegreffii Campana-Rouget & Biocca, 1955, A. simplex, (A. typica (Diesing, 1860), A. ziphidarum Paggi et al., 1998, A. physeteris Baylis, 1923 and A. brevispiculata) were also inferred. Overall, a low genetic identity was detected at allozyme level between the eight Anisakis species. Interspecific genetic identity ranged from I(Nei)=0.68, between the sibling species of the A. simplex complex, to I(Nei)=0.00 (no alleles shared at the considered loci) when A. physeteris, A. brevispiculata and the new species were compared with the other species of the genus. Concordant topologies were obtained using both UPGMA and NJ tree analyses for the considered species. In both analyses, A. paggiae n. sp. clustered with A. brevispiculata. They also indicated two main clades, the first including A. physeteris, A. brevispiculata and A. paggiae n. sp., the second containing all of the remaining species (i.e. A. simplex (s.s.), A. pegreffii, A. simplex, A. typica and A. ziphidarum). A deep separation between these two main Anisakis clades, also supported by high bootstrap values at the major nodes, was apparent. This is also supported by differences in adult and larval morphology, as well as with respect to their main definitive hosts. A morphological key for distinguishing adult A. paggiae n. sp., A. physeteris and A. brevispiculata is presented. Allozyme markers for the identification of any life-history stage of the Anisakis spp. so far studied, as well as ecological data on their definitive host preferences and geographical distribution, are updated.

Alleles↗
PubMed2005

Completion of the sequence of a cetacean morbillivirus and comparative analysis of the complete genome sequences of four morbilliviruses.

The gene encoding the large (L) protein and the genome termini of the dolphin strain of cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) were sequenced. The CeMV genome is 15702 nucleotides long and has been compared with other available morbillivirus genome sequences in regards to the "rule of six" and the "phase" of any particular nucleotide, defined as its position within a given hexamer, which here is defined as a group of six nucleotides starting from the 3' end of the genomic RNA. With exception of the position of the start of the F gene, the phase of the transcription start sites of each gene is strictly conserved between the morbilliviruses, but each gene is in a different phase. The lengths of gene transcripts differ between viruses by multiples of six nucleotides with exception of the M and F transcripts. The differences between the various morbilliviruses result from deletions or insertions of multiples of six nucleotides in the 3' and 5' UTRs of the different viral genes. The four bases were distributed non-randomly over the six positions in the hexamer boxes. However, the distribution patterns of each of the four bases indicated that multiples of three were more prevalent than those of six nucleotides. This reflected the positions of nucleotides in codons and codon usage in the reading frames. The L protein of CeMV was found to be 2183 amino acids in length and similar to that of MV and RPV. The CeMV L protein sequence was found to be equidistant between those of the CDV/PDV and MV/RPV subgroups of the morbilliviruses. This concurs with the analyses carried out on the other structural proteins.

3' Untranslated Regions↗