Sera from free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (IRL) (n = 122), and the estuarine waters near Charleston, South Carolina (CHS) (n = 82) were collected from 2003 to 2007 and analyzed for antibodies to several bacterial and viral pathogens. Serological evidence of exposure to Chlamydophila psittaci; Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses; and West Nile virus represents the first reports of these pathogens in cetacean populations.
This document is the accepted manuscript version of a published work that appeared in final form in Aquatic Mammals after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/. This article may be cited as: Schaefer, A. M., Reif, J. S., Goldstein, J. D., Ryan, C. N., Fair, P. A., & Bossart, G. D. (2009). Serological Evidence of Exposure to Selected Viral, Bacterial and Protozoal Pathogens in Free-Ranging Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina. Aquatic Mammals, 35(2), 163-170. doi: 10.1578/AM.35.2.2009.163
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #1750.