Dolphins Show Exposure to West Nile Virus

During the past two years highly alarming reports have appeared showing dolphins have developed resistance to many antibiotics. The work, conducted by Dr. Greg Bossart et al reflect research on dolphins in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina and the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. The research shows that common antibiotics have been ingested by dolphins to the extent that the dolphins have developed resistance to them. This leads to the possibility that super strains of viruses or bacteria could develop among dolphins.

Now Dr. Bossart and his colleagues have detected evidence of Eastern, Western and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses along with West Nile Virus in at least one of the two dolphin populations. The research team also detected Brucella or brucellosis, a widely feared disease in cattle, caused by ingestion of unsterilized milk or meat from infected animals, or close contact with their secretions. Brucellosis is a zoonose - an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals, both wild and domestic, to humans or from humans to other animals.

The combination of these two discoveries indicate the possibility of health problems of an alarming nature.

The entire report may be found at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/eaam/am/2009/00000035/00000002/art00002

Hardy Jones