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Dynamics of Vibrio with Virulence Genes Detected in Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) Off California: Implications for Marine Mammal Health

  • Microbiology of Aquatic Systems
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Abstract

Given their coastal site fidelity and opportunistic foraging behavior, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) may serve as sentinels for coastal ecosystem health. Seals using urbanized coastal habitat can acquire enteric bacteria, including Vibrio that may affect their health. To understand Vibrio dynamics in seals, demographic and environmental factors were tested for predicting potentially virulent Vibrio in free-ranging and stranded Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) off California. Vibrio prevalence did not vary with season and was greater in free-ranging seals (29 %, n = 319) compared with stranded seals (17 %, n = 189). Of the factors tested, location, turbidity, and/or salinity best predicted Vibrio prevalence in free-ranging seals. The relationship of environmental factors with Vibrio prevalence differed by location and may be related to oceanographic or terrestrial contributions to water quality. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio cholerae were observed in seals, with V. cholerae found almost exclusively in stranded pups and yearlings. Additionally, virulence genes (trh and tdh) were detected in V. parahaemolyticus isolates. Vibrio cholerae isolates lacked targeted virulence genes, but were hemolytic. Three out of four stranded pups with V. parahaemolyticus (trh+ and/or tdh+) died in rehabilitation, but the role of Vibrio in causing mortality is unclear, and Vibrio expression of virulence genes should be investigated. Considering that humans share the environment and food resources with seals, potentially virulent Vibrio observed in seals also may be of concern to human health.

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Acknowledgments

Samples were collected under permits issued by NMFS (nos. 555–1870 and 373–1868), USFWS (nos. 81640-2009-041 and 81640-2011-002, Don Edwards, and 81590-10007, Humboldt Bay), NPS (PORE-2011-SCI-0003) and IACUC protocol no. 948 issued by San Jose State University. Samples from stranded seals were collected under the Stranding Agreement between The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) and NMFS under section 112 (c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. We thank staff and volunteers from TMMC, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Long Marine Laboratories, Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, Humboldt Bay NWR Complex, the USFWS, and University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Microbiology. This project would not have been possible without their efforts and support. Financial support was provided by TMMC, Earl and Ethyl Myers Oceanographic and Marine Biology Trust, CSU-COAST Marine Science Research Award, and the Packard Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA, 93059, USA

    Stephanie N. Hughes & James T. Harvey

  2. The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA, 94965, USA

    Denise J. Greig & Frances M. D. Gulland

  3. Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Woutrina A. Miller & Barbara A. Byrne

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Correspondence to Stephanie N. Hughes.

Appendices

Appendix A

Table 5 Descriptive statistics, and bin criteria used for categorizing environmental predictor variables to be used in multivariable logistic regression analysis for SFB, from 2007 to 2011. Presence and absence of Vibrio were tested between categories for each predictor using a Pearson’s chi-squared test, and associated P values are reported
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Appendix B

Table 6 Descriptive statistics, and bin criteria used for categorizing environmental predictor variables to be used in multivariable logistic regression analysis for ES in 2010. Presence and absence of Vibrio were tested between categories for each predictor using a Pearson’s chi-squared test, and associated p values are reported
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Appendix C

Table 7 Sequence confirmation for target genes for a subset of isolates collected from harbor seals
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Hughes, S.N., Greig, D.J., Miller, W.A. et al. Dynamics of Vibrio with Virulence Genes Detected in Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) Off California: Implications for Marine Mammal Health. Microb Ecol 65, 982–994 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0188-1

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