Molecular identification of tapeworm infection in a bottlenose dolphin, <i>Tursiops</i> sp., in South Carolina, USA
A bottlenose dolphin, <i>Tursiops</i> sp., stranded on the coast of South Carolina, USA was found to be heavily infected in its intestine by tapeworms, which we identified molecularly. Sequencing of portions of the mitochondrial cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase I (COI) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) genes showed the cestodes to be <i>Diphyllobothrium stemmacephalum</i>, commonly known as a broad tapeworm. Infections of marine mammals by <i>Diphyllobothrium</i> have been previously reported in the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean, but only to genus level. Infection by tapeworms may be rare in dolphins in South Carolina, but because this species is zoonotic, its presence indicates the potential for an emerging public health concern.
Authors
- Bonnie Ertel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7938-5737)
- Isaure de Buron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5560-3325)
- Wayne E. McFee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5781-2961)
- Kristina M. Hill‐Spanik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2274-0811)
- Barbara A. Brown
Institutions
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US)
- NOAA National Ocean Service (US)
- College of Charleston (US)
- Consolidated Safety Services-Dynamac (United States) (US)
- Marine Mammal Care Center (US)
- Research Network (United States) (US)
- NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Helminthology
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x25100631
- Primary Topic
- Marine animal studies overview
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- College of Charleston
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science