Dear MARMAM Subscribers - On behalf of the authors, I wish to announce an important new peer-reviewed study describing mosquito-borne diseases in captive orcas (killer whales). This study adds to our growing understanding of marine mammal health and wellbeing as well as documents am potentially important disease vulnerability in captive orcas. Citation: Jett, J.S., and Ventre, J. (2013). Orca (Orcinus orca) captivity and vulnerability to mosquito- transmitted viruses. Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology, 5(2):9-16. Abstract: Although unreported in wild orca populations, mosquito-transmitted diseases have killed at least two captive orcas (Orcinus orca) in U.S. theme parks. St. Louis encephalitis (SLEV) was implicated in the 1990 death of the male orca Kanduke, held at SeaWorld of Florida. In the second case, West Nile Virus (WNV) killed male orca Taku at Sea World of Texas in 2007. Captive environments increase vulnerability to mosquito-transmitted diseases in a variety of ways. Unlike their wild counterparts who are rarely stationary, captive orcas typically spend hours each day (mostly at night) floating motionless (logging) during which time biting mosquitoes access their exposed dorsal surfaces. Mosquitoes are attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide, heat and dark surfaces, all of which are present during logging behavior. Further, captive orcas are often housed in geographic locations receiving high ultraviolet radiation, which acts as an immunosuppressant. Unfortunately, many of these facilities offer the animals little shade protection. Additionally, many captive orcas are burdened with broken, ground and bored teeth through which bacteria enters the bloodstream, thus further compromising their ability to fight various pathogens. Given the often compromised health of captive orcas, and given that mosquito-transmitted viral outbreaks are likely to occur in the future, mosquito-transmitted diseases such as SLEV and WNV remain persistent health risks for captive orcas held in the U.S. Link to article: http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume5/issue2/caseReport_vol5iss2.pdf. Thank you, Lori Marino, Ph.D. Neuroscientist and Marine Mammal Scientist Emory University ________________________________ This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments).